new RAM or video card?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: new RAM or video card?

I am getting a little ## back for taxes, first time in 7 years and my wife says I can get something for my computer...I am trying to decide out of RAM or video card.

I currently have 1 gig of RAM and my video card is a Nvidia 7600GS...what do you think?
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

The RAM will make the game load faster, don't think it will make the play any better. A video card will help with the game play best, but that is if your motherboard will support it.

So... motherboard and video card if you can afford it.
My $.02.

-Barb
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

If your machine is a pci-x get a vid card... if not... make a little bank account for future pc build... you don't need anymore ram. Just make sure your ram is set up as dual channel, and that the timings are maxed in the bios.

I still run 1 gig of ram, and have no issues. I think running 4 gigs of ram is pointless and a waste of money at this point.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject:

im running 1 gig of ram right now but i bought 2 gigs but 1 came defective so eventually i'll send it back and get 2 gigs working runs fine with 1 if ur only gonna use photoshop i would get a another gig but other wise its point less just save for a future build
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

dude bullet i wood get a better video card man because ram is so cheap if you save just 10 bucks a week you can get your self another gig easy man!!!!
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

If you're running Vista, then you need more RAM... If you're running XP, then you need a new video card... If you're running 98, then you need a new computer...

Just my not-so-humble opinion...
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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

thanks everyone for your input...any suggestions for a video card?

my mothorboard is a GIGABYTE GA-K8NXP-SLI
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

I don't know how much you were really looking to spend, but you might be able to get both...

Pretty good video card, also reasonable enough should you want to run SLI at some point.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150276

No reason you couldn't really get ram too, and you do a lot of photoshop having 2 gigs is a good thing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146841
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

and before that, what is does your motherboard support for video cards? AGP or PCI-E?

you could add a nice new 9600 series, but if the rest of your PC can't handle it, then you would be better off putting the money aside for a better system.

depending on your finances, spending limit, and current PC age, even a store bought system with a beefier vid card would smoke an older PC for less money than a custom build.

just tell your wife your testicles said you could buy a new computer for your computer... then donate the old one to charity.

also, have you tried mowing lawns and selling plasma for extra $$$? if you ain't, you ain't trying hard enough.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:21 am Post subject:

If I remember correctly didn't you say you had a dual core AMD 4800? If so, I would agree with 10K, you can get a decent 9600GT for less than 150 after MIR. The 8600GTS is better than your 7600GS, and the 9600GT should give you almost twice as many FPS than the 8600GTS if not more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150277

And the ram sraz suggested would then give you 3gigs total (helpful with your photo shop stuff). So for less than 210 (after MIR) you get both. That would give you enough power for your photo shopping and gaming for quite some time.

Of course if you're running only single core, a complete overhaul is in order.

Those are my thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:32 am Post subject:

ok, here is my computer info:

Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Hard Drive: 296 GB Total
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Sound Card: Realtek AC97 Audio
Speakers/Headphones:
Keyboard: USB Root Hub
Mouse: USB Root Hub
Mouse Surface:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

If you can spend ~220, then I stand by my last post. If it's ~300, then I would go for the 8800GT and 2gigs of ram. I think you'll be satisfied either way.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject:

Here is a great article that gets updated each month:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card,1923.html

It should help guide you on your decision.

rip

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

Both!!!
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

Can get an 8800GT now for about $199.

A gig of ram will do ya good for now til you get a new build/archetecture.

Clock your memory to its dual channeled specs in your bios. I still use a gig, and run all my recent games just fine.
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