Need help in upgrading graphics card.

MuRdEr_DoLL · May 17, 2006, 11:30 PM

Hey guys, I am currently using GF 6800 GT AGP on my PC, and next month I'm thinking on upgrading to GF 7800 GS AGP (my motherboard doesn't support PCI-E). I just want to ask if it's worth it, and will the performance difference be apparent?

douglasbzittrer · May 18, 2006, 04:55 PM

I currently have an ATI Radeon X800XL and was also thinking of upgrading to a 7800GS. From what I've heard, this is going to be the last of the higher end AGP cards. There's still a very small chance the 7900GT will be released but I wouldn't hold my breath. The thing is that it'll probably be more worth it to save up your money and get a PCI-Express motherboard. There's a good chance DirectX 10 cards will only be released for PCI-Express. I realize that it's going to be about two years before we see strictly DirectX 10 games but the real question is what's your budget. For me, I would have to pay around $400-450 Canadian just for the card and another $100 to get a more powerful power supply. i'm starting to think that it might be better, for me, to save up like $1500 to $2000 and get a brand new tower with a new processor, new hard drive, new power supply and a PCI-Express Motherboard since it'll last me longer. From what I've heard it seems like people are happy with their upgrade to the 7800GS but if you ask me, I think it's better to save up and change to a PCI-Express motherboard as it'll be good for quite some time.

MuRdEr_DoLL · May 22, 2006, 03:05 AM

Thx for the reply, I think I'm gonna get it anyway, btw stupid Q's but do I need a new PSU? mine is currently 460W

the big Firefly · May 22, 2006, 09:44 AM

no 460w will do..

but think about it agp is going out of date pritty fast so uprading to pci-e would be the best on the long run exept if you gonna build a hole new system in the near future.

a 6800gt is not bad for know you know.

MuRdEr_DoLL · May 22, 2006, 11:26 PM

Well, now I'm having second thoughts. Do 6 series VGA's support HDR? What other stuff do I need to change in order to get PCI-E motherboard?

kingsownall · May 23, 2006, 09:44 AM

i dunt think the 6 series supports hdr.they support sm 3 shaders but not hdr i think. if ur going to change from a agp mobo to pci express. there realli isnt much to change except for the video card, probably ur processor and ur rams if ur old ones arent compatible with ur new mobo. oh u have to make sure ur psu has a pci express connector. if it doesnt. get a new one. plus u gotta reformat ur harddrive i think

MuRdEr_DoLL · May 23, 2006, 12:52 PM

Thx for the reply, I think I'll wait for Windows Vista and DirectX10 cards to be released and see what happens. But thx for the reply.

fobis · May 23, 2006, 04:09 PM

Waiting for Vista and DX10 will be the best way to save money, to be sure, but Vista isn't slated to release until early next year (MS bumped it back from November this year).

Vaerilis · May 25, 2006, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingsownall

i dunt think the 6 series supports hdr.they support sm 3 shaders but not hdr i think. if ur going to change from a agp mobo to pci express. there realli isnt much to change except for the video card, probably ur processor and ur rams if ur old ones arent compatible with ur new mobo. oh u have to make sure ur psu has a pci express connector. if it doesnt. get a new one. plus u gotta reformat ur harddrive i think

They do support HDR.
The Geforce 6 series cards support SM3 and HDR.

An example:
http://www.techreport.com/reviews/20.../index.x?pg=10