Lookin' to upgrade my videocard

Mattie

Right now my computer is running with a GeForce 6150 LE that came with my machine. I'd like to get something that'll last me a while but not over the $250 range. Something that'll work with this Direct X 10 dealie I keep hearing about :P

Drez

I have to run, but I'm pretty sure we'll need to know what motherboard you have so we can direct you properly. For DX10, you'll need at least a single PCI-Express slot on the motherboard. Also, be prepared to shell out major cash...I think the GeForce 8800s are 550 bucks each, or something like that.

Locust76

For 250 bucks you can kiss DX10 goodbye. You won't find anything like that for anything less than premium bucks. On the other hand, if your motherboard has the extra expansion slot required, 250 bucks will get you a hell of an upgrade versus what you've currently got.

robaal

You'll have to wait at least until march to get a DX10 card at that price. You will also need a PCI Express x16 slot most likely (at least in shape).

If you would want a DX10 card now you'd have to spend at least ~$400 on the GeForce 8800GTS, which is the cheaper of the two DX10 nvidia cards currently available - the 8800GTX costs ~$600.

edit: seems that the GTX has fallen to $550 actually

Mattie

robaal wrote:

You'll have to wait at least until march to get a DX10 card at that price. You will also need a PCI Express x16 slot most likely (at least in shape).

If you would want a DX10 card now you'd have to spend at least ~$400 on the GeForce 8800GTS, which is the cheaper of the two DX10 nvidia cards currently available - the 8800GTX costs ~$600.

I can wait till March. I just want whatever card that I get to last me at least a couple years. I'd rather wait out and get a DX10 card later than get an upgrade now and have to upgrade again in a year.

edit: And ya I have a PCI Express x16 slot free.

TychoCelchuuu

Even if you weren't concerned about DX10 I'd still say hold off. You have the right idea, but there aren't any affordable DX10 cards available yet. You've been told March a few times and I'd agree with that; buying anything other than DX10 is a little silly right now, and for $250 (really, for any reasonable price) the cards just aren't out yet.

Liquid Hellz

Don't mean to de-rail the thread or anything but reading it has led me to a few questions.

Firstly, will most of the newer games coming out right after the DX10 use ONLY DX10? Meaning I have to have a DX10 card to play them? Or will they have an option to run DX9?

Also, will my 7900 GT be able to run DX10 at all? Or im going to HAVE to purchase a totally new card?

robaal

Liquid Hellz wrote:

Firstly, will most of the newer games coming out right after the DX10 use ONLY DX10?

Obviously not right after.
At least the first games that will use DX10 won't require it to run - I believe Supreme Commander is one example, the beta of which you can run even now. I'm not entirely clear about how easy it will be to have DX9-compatibility in the game, some people think that it won't require too much from the devs, while I was under the impression that it would require the engine to be rewritten completely, which I think would be a great incentive for devs to drop DX9 support fairly quickly.

Also, will my 7900 GT be able to run DX10 at all? Or im going to HAVE to purchase a totally new card?

I think that DX10 is incompatible with older versions, so it isn't really a question of missing graphical features. And no, DX10 requires Shader Model 4.0 and I think also a unified architecture, which series 7 GeForces do not have.

You will also need Vista - DX10 won't be released for older OSes (supposedly because it can't be ported without rewriting them or something like that).

Janin

Liquid Hellz wrote:

Don't mean to de-rail the thread or anything but reading it has led me to a few questions.

Firstly, will most of the newer games coming out right after the DX10 use ONLY DX10? Meaning I have to have a DX10 card to play them? Or will they have an option to run DX9?

Also, will my 7900 GT be able to run DX10 at all? Or im going to HAVE to purchase a totally new card?

Since DX10 is for Vista only, it's likely most games for at least the next few years will be released for DX9.

And I'm pretty sure the 7900 GT can't do DX10

Liquid Hellz

Ahhh yes, I forgot it is Vista only... which I am not planning on getting for some time. Thanks guys.

Wezoin

ATI X1950's are top of the line DX9 (or as far as I believe)

Normal price at Futureshop (CAD): $350
on Boxing Day a friend grabbed one for: $199 CAD

I'd imagine if your $250 is US you could find it in your budget.