I want to get a new video card. The one I have now is the nVidia GeForce 6150SE. It is integrated. I need a card that's good for GAMES. I am confused about the whole PCI/AGP/PCI-E thing. From what i could find, PCI is the oldest interface, AGP is newer and faster, and PCI-E is the newest and fastest interface. The computer is an HP Pavilion a6000n. It has 1 GB ram. The processor is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz. I am thinking about getting this card, it seems like a good deal.
http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=AT0160

Is it compatible with my system?You need to find out what MBoard you have first so we can assist further...
DLoad install and run Everest Home.It appears that it has a PCIe slot

http://www.amazon.com/Pavilion-A6000N-Desktop-Processor-SuperMulti/dp/B000O5D43G

but you may need to get another power supply, because HP's traditionally ship with 250 or 300w units. The guy at the store said that it has a PCI-E slot when i bought it. How do i find out if i need a new power supply? I downloaded everest but when i go to motherboard under motherboard name it says unknown. Maybe it's because I have Vista?Look at the power supply and note the brand name and wattage.

Now go to the web site for that video card and see what it requires.

Compare and contrast, then post back.Before you go any further, shop around and think about your budget and how much video power you want.
Read the GPU FAQ (FAQ SECTION, then Hardware) to give yourself an overview of all but the newest cards.Visit eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5 for help in determining your power supply requirement. Would it be possible to make an SLI setup?Quote from: SovietGenius on May 25, 2007, 04:03:27 PM

Would it be possible to make an SLI setup?

Look at the power supply and note the brand name and wattage.

Now go to the web site for that video card and see what it requires.

Compare and contrast, then post back.

It's cheap

So which brands are more reliable?

Look for a known named brand, such as Antec, Akasa, Cooler master, Seasonic, Thermaltake, Zalman.

Quote from: Calum on June 08, 2007, 03:18:49 AM

Look for a known named brand, such as Antec, Akasa, Cooler master, Seasonic, Thermaltake, Zalman.

If you don't know much about something, please don't comment.

The brand name is not the most important thing to look for. I would say the most important thing is 'how much power the PSU gives'.

Quote from: Jess607 on June 08, 2007, 03:03:50 PM

Quote from: Calum on June 08, 2007, 03:18:49 AM

Look for a known named brand, such as Antec, Akasa, Cooler master, Seasonic, Thermaltake, Zalman.

If you don't know much about something, please don't comment.

The brand name is not the most important thing to look for. I would say the most important thing is 'how much power the PSU gives'.

I would say you're a very naive Newbie. Take your own advice and, "If you don't know much about something, please don't comment."

Certain brands have a reputation for higher quality. A cheap brand with a stated high power rating is quite likely to be less reliable than any quality brand of a lower power rating.

I would say the most important thing is 'how much power the PSU gives'.

The thing that name brands have in their favor is that they actually DO make great PSUs and I wouldn't trust a non name brand PSU, except for the low end, or even mainstream.

I want to get a new video card. The one I have now is the nVidia GeForce 6150SE. It is integrated. I need a card that's good for games. I am confused about the whole PCI/AGP/PCI-E thing. From what i could find, PCI is the oldest interface, AGP is newer and faster, and PCI-E is the newest and fastest interface. The computer is an HP Pavilion a6000n. It has 1 GB ram. The processor is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz. I am thinking about getting this card, it seems like a good deal.
http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=AT0160

Is it compatible with my system?

If you have an 800W PSU that is a cheap knock-off and fails after a week, that's not better than a 400W PSU that gives you the right amount of power and lasts for years.
Agreed?

if you have a pci express (x16) slot on the mobo might i suggest http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189 as i have it and i couldnt be happier runs all my games at full settings even fsaax8

I will get a higher quality PSU, i think it's worth the money.

It was an example, not a hard fact.
I can only give my own personal advice, which is to buy a named brand PSU with a good reputation rather than the cheapest you can find.

I'm basing my knowledge on other people's knowledge, true.
I have only a little experience as I am using a laptop.
But several family member's PCs have been the victim of a failed PSU, a cheap one.

If I can make an analogy - what would you choose, were you looking for a car - a named brand, such as Ford or Toyota, or something with bright colours and advertised as having a powerful engine, but with no brand?

You keep contradicting yourself, saying that a cheap PSU will not fail more than a branded one, but then saying you would get a branded one anyway.

I'd LOVE to see someone build their own car from "scratch".....

... and came to the conclusion that cheaper PSUs dont really fail on you more than more expensive PSU.

... Heck, u can build ur own car from scratch.

I say that I myself will buy a name-brand because there are no non-name brand PSUs that meet my amprage needs.

... because there are "less-known name-brands" which usually make great PSUs.

Just build your own power supply then. It sure would be no-name then.
Besides, building a power supply is much easier than building your own car from scratch.

Statements like this - that assume something to be fact, but is unproven - are just opinion.

I specifically said that while it may be possible to build a car, you cannot build a PSU.

Quote from: WillyW on June 14, 2007, 10:19:09 AM

Statements like this - that assume something to be fact, but is unproven - are just opinion.

You are right. Let me clerify.

The PSUs found in pre-built PCs, such as Dells and HPs are what I refer to as "non-name-brand". We actually don't know who manufacturers these PSUs and they are probably of the lowest Tier.

PSUs which are part of Tier 3 or Tier T are what I call "less-known-name-brand". They are usually pretty OK PSUs and if u find a powerful one it wouldnt be too bad of an idea to buy it.

You want proof that those power supplies wont fail on the first day?

I give u my personal experience that suggest so.

I've has cheap no-name brand PSUs fail on me dozens of times...

and I get them back up and running without any mess, and no, they did not blow up. Thats just a myth.

Most retailers use the cheapest PSUs possible. Dell constantly use 300w PSUs on their current machines.

Quote from: Jess607 on June 15, 2007, 12:31:45 PM

You want proof that those power supplies wont fail on the first day?

No.

Quote

I give u my personal experience that suggest so.

Right. Which is the basis for your opinion. If you want to back up and say that that is all that you are stating, that's fine.

Quote

I've has cheap no-name brand PSUs fail on me dozens of times...

I've read many times that they tend to fail. I'm glad you agree.

Quote

Most retailers use the cheapest PSUs possible. Dell constantly use 300w PSUs on their current machines.

And.... this is in referrence to .... what?

The fact that i put 1500$ in parts into a computer and then power it with a 20$ psu makes no sense to me.

Quote from: TehGerg on June 15, 2007, 01:12:01 PM

The fact that i put 1500$ in parts into a computer and then power it with a 20$ psu makes no sense to me.

How about buying a 1500$ PC and then controlling it with a 20$ mouse? Make sense to u?
There's not much difference.

Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote from: Jess607 on June 15, 2007, 12:31:45 PM

You want proof that those power supplies wont fail on the first day?

No.

Thats an interesting contradiction.

This is what u said before "We were talking about unproven statements used as fact."

So are u withdrawing your request for proof?

Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote

I give u my personal experience that suggest so.

Right. Which is the basis for your opinion. If you want to back up and say that that is all that you are stating, that's fine.

Wrong. Experience is NOT opinion, it is fact. And even if it was souly my opinion, it is still an opinion based of facts, not faith.

Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote

I've has cheap no-name brand PSUs fail on me dozens of times...

I've read many times that they tend to fail. I'm glad you agree.

Then all you have are opinions based on anecdotal evidence, which may have a high probability of being wrong.

And this time, they really are wrong.
My cheap no-name brand PSU only failed because it's fan broke

(which was my fault). After I replaced the fan, the PSU regained it's life and has been working ever since. 5 years and going. And its only one of my many cheap no-name brand PSUs that have never actually died.


Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote

Most retailers use the cheapest PSUs possible. Dell constantly use 300w PSUs on their current machines.

And.... this is in referrence to .... what?

This, "Aren't some of those big brand names using proprietary power supplies?".

No, it is not.

Quote

So are u withdrawing your request for proof?

Well, so far - you've offered nothing. It's up to you. If you want to state your opinion, fine. If you want anyone reading this to feel that you have even a modicum of knowing what you are talking about - then go for it.

Quote

Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote

I give u my personal experience that suggest so.

Right. Which is the basis for your opinion. If you want to back up and say that that is all that you are stating, that's fine.

Wrong. Experience is NOT opinion, it is fact. And even if it was souly my opinion, it is still an opinion based of facts, not faith.

".... it is still an opinion...."

Thought so.

Quote

Quote from: WillyW on June 15, 2007, 01:03:47 PM

Quote

I've has cheap no-name brand PSUs fail on me dozens of times...

I've read many times that they tend to fail. I'm glad you agree.

Then all you have are opinions based on anecdotal evidence, which may have a high probability of being wrong.

I forgot to say - these people that said these things - they are people that I feel do know what they are talking about. Search the forums here - you'll get a feel for it.

Quote

And this time, they really are wrong.
My cheap no-name brand PSU only failed because it's fan broke

Your fan broke dozens of times?

Alright, do to this reply, I will not be continuing this conversation

because I see that you are not even listening to me,

but just miss-representing everything I say.

It is an opinion BASED ON FACTS.

Maybe you should have your eyes checked.. or your sense of decency.

Quote

I forgot to say - these people that said these things - they are people that I feel do know what they are talking about. Search the forums here - you'll get a feel for it.

Thats completely un-fair.

You take these people's words over mine without any proof?

I know more than most people here about hardware.

My cheap no-name brand PSU only failed because it's fan broke

No, it never actually broke.

Alright, so all in all this conversation can be summed up by you not willing to take my word for anything, and you trying to make it seem as if I dont actually know what I am talking about

through miss-representation of what I say.
If you come out of the conclusion that I am wrong, and try to do this little hit-job

you tried to pull off, then you only need to be very ignorant to succeed.

And btw, your sentence structure cannot be more difficult to understand. Why so many spaces between each word?