128MB card VS. 256MB card - which one?

Novice here + first post = Patience please.

I am trying to upgrade my HP Pavillion which I bought despite every voice in me saying no.. build a new one yourself! So I'm an idiot. I am trying to get happy with it, so I want to updrage my video card. Currently my spec's are:

P4 3.06 Prescott LGA 775
512 DDR2 PC3200 Running dual channel
nVidia 6200SE Turbocache 64/256

Before anyone pukes...

I am trying to upgrade to 1 GIG 533 dual channel and a new video card. The computer is sluggish at best when trying to multi task. I cannot play a decent game of BF2 to save my life. So my question finally is this..

I can get a 6600GT DDR3 128mb card for $180 ( I live in New Zealand BTW ). but i dont want to get it if getting a 128MB card is a waste of time these days. I can't afford a card over $225 so the 6600GT is about the best I can do for now. I have just bought 1 gig of 533 DDR2 ram, so haveing that will the card be fine or should I hold out for a 256MB version?

Thanks.

 

well, i would say that it's better to save some money and get a 256mb version most of todays games really runs better with the 256 megs on board and welcome to Guru3D!!

 

You think after I get the vid card and a gig of ram then my 3dmark05 score will get better than 1213?

 

i would say 256MB, some cards out there you can get 512MB for the same price as some 256MB, thats just me though

 

256MB is the best choice.

And welcome to Guru3d Forums! Disciple-NZ

 

a 128 mb 6600GT will be fine though, expect about 4k in 3dm05, and 1280*1024 medium detail in BF2

also, a 6600GT doesnt benefit a whole lot extra from the extra 128 mb, since it suffers a small bit from bandwidth bottlenecking (its only a 128 bit card), so not going for the 128 mb modle simply because you want the 256 is a bit over the top, a 128 mb 6600GT is quite a nice performer

if you can though, try getting a 7600GS, at stock they slightly outperform 6600GTs, all come with at least 256 mb, and they overclock like mofos

 

point is 128 mb is good as long as you dont play on high resolution or activate AA or AF in games. Should run fine on 1024 x 768 for games.

 

the 6600GT would be enuf with 128 MB ...

 

I would consider a 6800GS. I think it would be a better choice for your system and will run great with BF2. I don't if the price you mentioned was US or NZ $ or how much it would be were you live but take a look at it.

 

If your PC can't multi-task well it means that you've probably got too many programs running in the background, so try turning some of them off as well.
You can either go to Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete or go to Start menu, Run, msconfig, go to Startup tab, and uncheck the programs you don't need. That'll free up more RAM.
If you have a PCI-E slot, there are a lot of nice upgrade choices especially in the GeForce 7 series. Or try to get yourself a 6800GS, as the PCI-E ones overclock pretty nicely. Try EBay for your local area.

 

6600GT 128mb would be nice upgrade but 6800GS would be better for long run. In any case you would see much improvment in gaming.

6800nu with 256bit and 128mb is also a good card if you can find. Btw, if you have PCie then 7600GT should be for a good price I think.

 

yeeah the systems pci-express , go for a 7600 series card or a 7300GT gddr3 version , if ya know any good webites that are in new zeleand, im sure the guru's will choose a good card that fits ur budget (me included)

 

if you can get an Xpertvision 6800GS Super PCI-E that would totally rock

i dunno where your looking mate, but you can't get a 6600GT under NZ$250

honestly, you shouldve just gotten another 512 stick of ddr3200.

there isn't that much performance increase with 533 unless overclocking.

 

get a HIS x800gto, its for 120$ ar!!! 6$ shipping... i have it and it overclocks like a beast!!! i play all games on max with 40-70 fps

 

Thanks heaps for the replies. I appreciate all the information.

As a response to good websites.. The only one I could really find that had a good spread was http://www.pricespy.co.nz/ Other than that I just looked up a couple of the local shops. Which were also on that website. But it gets very confusing to me.

All the funds I listed were NZ$. I did pick up the RAM off someone for 120$ NZ for 1GIG dual channel 512. I was thinking of using it with the 512 I already have ruinning 256mb dual channel. Would that be wise or dumb? I know I wouldnt be using the 533.. just the 400.. but at such a low price I couldnt get 3200 at that anyway. I bought the RAM off good ol http://www.trademe.co.nz our version of eBay.

I do want the 6800GS, but its about 325 NZ. And the 7800 or 7900 is about 400-500$ NZ. If there are any US sites that you know of that would ship int'l that would be great but shipping may be the difference in price anyway.

So tempted to buy this.. but dunno if I will regret it in 6 months.. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=62864611

Thanks again for the replies.

Cheers

 

6800gs is about the same performance as a stock x800gto and will get killed by a r480 core that is unlocked to 16pipes and overclocked... it wont beable to keep up and i provided a site for the x800gto.. if u still want the 6800gs its ur choice but u can get the 6800gs from newegg.com too

 

I work for HP and trust me, the PSU's they use in their desktops are garbage. I suggest you upgrade your PSU asap. Just go ahead open the box, and enter the stats in your next reply.

 

Well, in 6 months things will be very different with Conroe and the upcoming proce slash on the AM2 platform, DX10 and Vista...

Maybe a 128mb 6600GT is a good solution for an otherwise aging platform. It all depends on how long to want to keep your rig after the upgrade.

 

I was looking at the x800GTO but never owned an ATI. I always felt people were saying nVidia only in most sections. I am not partial to either really. Just want one that will perform and make me feel fuzzy inside.

The power supply says:
Bestec
model: ATX-300-12Z
output 300 MAX.

Thats bad right? DAMN HP!! I am actually trying to sell it on trademe now, but no takers yet. i want to build one. The amount of money HP's cost is definitely not worth it, but I am stuck into it now. Just trying to upgrade a bit without spending 2000$ to do it.

I want to keep it if I have to, just trying to get decent gaming out of it. i am an overclocking pro, or obsessed with the best. Especially not with an HP. If i built this it may be different. I have learned my lesson.

I have seenan x800gto here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Video-cards/PCIExpress/auction-62971317.htm

After the upgrade I will keep it for a while. it will do what I need it to for a while yet.

Cheers

 

Really, get a 7600GT if you can afford one. Leave the x800gto, an 6800GT/7600GT is a much better choice (shadermark3/HDR etc.)
A X800gto isn't faster than a 6800GT and certainly not in games as doom3/quake4.
The 7600GT is somewhat faster than a 6800GT for it has more efficient shaders and it has transparancyAA.

If I were you I would save up some money until I could buy a nice 7600GT/X1800GTO.