PC Video Card Recommendation

[MJ4H]

So, I was just given a "medium-old" desktop for basically free. I haven't had a desktop computer for the last 10 years (only a laptop), so I know nothing about video cards and PC gaming. Would it be possible to throw a video card in this thing and play some games?

It currently has an integrated nvidia 6150 (it's garbage). I definitely do not want to spend hundreds of dollars here. If there's a cheap way to get something usable in there, I'm interested. If not, I'm out.

Help?

[DaddyTorgo]

What does it have for RAM and CPU?

[Edward64]

After you find out about CPU and RAM, go here for the deals. If you can, wait closer to Thanksgiving.

Search on radeon and GeForce

Hot Deals - Slickdeals.net

[weegeebored]

An equally important question is, what kind of games?

[MJ4H]

It's an HP Pavilion a6320n.

CPU is a AMD 64 X2 5000+ (I think 5600)
RAM is 3 GB.

I'd like to run some fairly modern games reasonably. Don't care about the highest resolutions and details. I would just like to cheaply be able to do something. As it is now, it can't run bit trip runner in a playable state.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

It's an HP Pavilion a6320n.

CPU is a AMD 64 X2 5000+ (I think 5600)
RAM is 3 GB.

I'd like to run some fairly modern games reasonably. Don't care about the highest resolutions and details. I would just like to cheaply be able to do something. As it is now, it can't run bit trip runner in a playable state.

Reviews begin in 2007. I'd give up on it. You can buy a nice current machine for < $500 nowadays before the graphics card.

[MJ4H]

I think you are overestimating what I want. I want a reasonable graphics card for less than $100 that will allow me to play some reasonable games. I do not want to turn this into a good gaming PC. Are you telling me I can't get a decent graphics card for < $100 for this thing?

[MJ4H]

And to be clear, I have absolutely no interest in buying a current machine.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

I think you are overestimating what I want. I want a reasonable graphics card for less than $100 that will allow me to play some reasonable games. I do not want to turn this into a good gaming PC. Are you telling me I can't get a decent graphics card for < $100 for this thing?

He's saying that even with a new GPU you will never play AAA games on it. The CPU is the bare minimum required for even the older tier of releases such as The Witcher 2. Basically if you spent $100 on a CPU you might be able to run games like the Witcher 2 at about 10 FPS with the RIG. Up to you if it is worth that.

As an above poster said, what type of games are you expecting to play with this computer?

[MJ4H]

I don't know? Just some games? Right now it can't even play bit trip freaking runner. I haven't played PC games in 10+ years. I don't care about AAA games whatever that means. Can't I get a big discount on video cards that are like one or two generations old? I just want a usable computer here, not a world-beater. I have no idea what The Witcher 2 is.

Let's say, something like Arkham Asylym, which "can you run it" says my video card is the only thing that isn't up to specs. The latest and greatest is not even remotely important to me. Nor is the highest resolution and detail.

[MJ4H]

How about can you just tell me what video cards for less than $100 or so, even used, are my options? I have literally no idea and there isn't much out there that will tell me without learning a whole lot of terms and jargon that I'm not interested in learning.

[Edward64]

I can say that there are video cards under $100 (after rebate) that would run a lot of games I play just fine (with lowered graphics setting). The games I play are Civ, Skyrim, Space Rangers II).

What I'm not sure about is whether those current cards (e.g. < 2 or 3 years old) would play in your 6-7 year old PC.

Sorry.

[MJ4H]

Well wouldn't that be easy to figure out based on what type of slot it requires? (PCI or whatever it is these days)

[dubb93]

Look at the AMD Radeon 7000 series. The 7850 would probably suit you well if you could find it in your price range. I think you can wait for a sale and snag it. The 7750 is much cheaper, but comes at a fairly substantial performance loss (roughly 1/2 I believe).

Taper your expectations. Your CPU is going to drag down your video card resulting in less than desired performance out of your investment.

[MJ4H]

I have no expectations. I just got a free computer. With a cheap video card, anything usable is gravy.

[MJ4H]

Thanks for the recommendations.

[weegeebored]

Probably the best place to look -- Best Entry-Level Graphics Cards: $110 And Under - Best Graphics Cards For The Money: September 2013. You just need to make sure that you have a PCIe expansion slot. Probably yes, but no need to spend money if you can't install it.

[MJ4H]

Awesome, thank you so much! Looks like the very first card in that article is precisely what I was looking for.

[dubb93]

Not sure if you have already done anything here or not, but Newegg is running a sale on the NVIDIA 660. Card is $150 after a $50 instant rebate and a $25 mail in rebate. Plus you get the Batman Arkham Origins game for free. That game is currently on sale for $49.99 on Steam.

This is out of your price range you listed, but I mention it because I know you mentioned Batman games earlier in the thread. If you were going to buy this game anyway, this would put a $200+ NVIDIA GPU in your price range.

EVGA GeForce GTX 600 SuperClocked 02G-P4-2662-KR GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Newegg.com

[gstelmack]

I just bought a 660Ti for around $230 after rebates. Sigh.

FWIW, the ASUS 660/760 cards have a very nice cooler that is very quiet and generally worth the little bit of extra money.

But not the $80 extra for the full Ti version given this sale. Ah well, I learned long ago that no matter how much research and preparation you do, any computer hardware purchase will be cheaper / faster the week after you buy yours.