[patman1987]

Hi all, my knowledge of computers is fairly limited so be kind!

I recently bought Unreal Tournament 3 and realised my computer badly needs a graphics card. My computer has 2Gb RAM, 3.6 Ghz Pentium 4, and I will be playing games at 1024 x 768, or possibly a bit higher. I'm running Windows XP and my budget is anything up to and around £200.

So yea, which graphics card would you recommend?

Thanks for any help

[alex]

Next resolution up is 1280x1024.

A decent card for this or the lower resolution, allowing for a minimum of 25fps with AA and decent detail settings is the 8600GTS.

A higher spec'd card (8800GT, GTS) is overkill at these resolutions and you won't see the benefit.

Getting the 8600 may also save you getting a new psu as the higher spec'd cards command higher ampage on the 12v rails.

You'll be able to run that spec with the 8600 on a 400w psu.

[mcbee]

Is your graphics slot AGP or PCI-E? If you are not sure your computer specs would help (mainly motherboard)

[patman1987]

I'm not really sure about motherboard specs an don't really know where to find out. It's just a standard computer (I sound like my mother) so whatever the basic specs are, thats probably what I've got. I'm not sure how much help that is.

My friend has recommended that I get the 8800GT as its fairly cheap and according to him its more future-proof than the other cards in the price range.

Also I can't find out what psu I've got, I had a look on the back on the computer but couldnt see it anywhere. I bought my computer new in 06 so whatever was the standard then is what ive probably got!

[Hybr!d]

Well you need to know if you are AGP or not.

Because if you still are which is likely you will need a new mobo, graphics card, RAM and CPU in order to upgrade to a 8800.

[patman1987]

Ok just found out its PCI-E. Computer model is Advent T9306

[alex]

Okay, what you've got there is a single core 6 series p4, I think it's the prescott core 650.

PC worlds own brand of pc's.

Anyway, you'll have either a 400 or 450w psu in there.

I wouldn't try to run a high ghz p4 and a high end gpu on that psu. But the choice is yours. I'd highly recommend an upgrade to a 600w psu if considering any card higher than the 8600.

P4's suck juice as do high end cards (as well as amps).