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Thread ID: 120269 2011-09-01 05:59:00 Gaming Solution xXjaspaXx (16525) Press F1
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1228081 2011-09-05 06:12:00 99.9% any pci express graphics card will be compatible with a new motherboard (only when the motherboard doesn't have a slot or doesn't support specific cards for odd reasons).
It scores extremely poorly: www.videocardbenchmark.net , even on low end builds for gaming you cant skimp on the gfx card, imo you should spend atleast $200 or close to the cost of your cpu.
icow (15313)
1228082 2011-09-05 06:38:00 well I don't really have that sort of money and the games I am looking at running are quite old E.g Fable, Need For Speed underground 2, I don't have alot of money so can't really buy anything over the $150 range for each part unfortunatly xXjaspaXx (16525)
1228083 2011-09-05 06:51:00 regardless of this, you must take into consideration certain things.

My laptop is alright, it runs l4d2 pretty well for what it cost. similar gpu to what you're currently fencing around.
However, if you got any decent sort of screen either now or in the future, your graphics card would suddenly have a whole lot more strain put on it.
Sure you could play at lower resolutions, but that would look nasty if it was a non-native resolution.
If it would play at all.

After I upgraded from a 1440x900 screen to this 1080p one, my fx5500 struggled like HELL to play cs1.6.
that's halflife 1's engine.

Same deal with the laptop. I can play things fine on my laptop screen, but connect an EXT screen and use another res, even slightly higher? big frame drop.

Basically, as far as I can tell that motherboard will come with a GPU on board. Anything you get in the current price range is going to basically be on par with that, plus a few frames more.
What you would be best off doing if you're really after a pc right now, would be get the integrated running, save your pennies, buy an ultra card later on, and that WILL make you go 'wow'.
8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1228084 2011-09-05 08:31:00 ok well that is always an option, we shall see what happens... thanks for all the help guys xXjaspaXx (16525)
1228085 2011-09-05 08:52:00 If your spending $150 tops on each part your looking a a total build cost of $600+. Are you only intending on spending that much? If so second hand gfx card is probably a good option.
Example of build intending to spend the max on each part:
Mobo: $88
CPU: $150
GFX: $150
RAM: $40
PSU: $100
OS: $163
icow (15313)
1228086 2011-09-05 09:01:00 My laptop is alright, it runs l4d2 pretty well for what it cost. similar gpu to what you're currently fencing around.
However, if you got any decent sort of screen either now or in the future, your graphics card would suddenly have a whole lot more strain put on it.
Sure you could play at lower resolutions, but that would look nasty if it was a non-native resolution.
If it would play at all.

After I upgraded from a 1440x900 screen to this 1080p one, my fx5500 struggled like HELL to play cs1.6.
that's halflife 1's engine.


Yes.

Now, I think you should never skimp on GPU for gaming PCs. That's the whole point - gaming.

But if you really, really have to get some lame card, then TURN the resolution DOWN.

I would much rather have all the nice effects and detail at a lower res than a high res and crap looking graphics.

People always
1)Skimp on the GPU
2)Run at high resolutions and suffer the consequences in frame rates and/or detail.
pctek (84)
1228087 2011-09-05 09:20:00 If you really are set on spending <$150 on a graphics card trademe might be a better bet.
BUT - honestly if you build a cheap machine, and use a smaller low res screen - say 1440x900, and your games are all a little older, then sure it'll play them fine and with almost any discrete graphics card. It's still a good Idea to spend as much as you can afford on graphics. For example an $89 CPU www.computerlounge.co.nz with a $200 Graphics card www.computerlounge.co.nz will game better most of the time than if you get a quad core and a cheaper graphics card.

What people here are trying to advise you on is that if at any time you try and run on a higher res screen or a newer game you may well find your machine isn't up to it, people often start out only wanting to play a few easy games and quickly find themselves annoyed their new machine won't play new games well. You CAN build a cheap gaming machine and it WILL play games quite well, but bear in mind you are stuck with older or less demanding games or forced to reduce the graphics until it looks worse than a console.

I prefer PC gaming, but on a tight budget maybe you should consider an XBOX360 or a PS3? not trying to be funny.
dugimodo (138)
1228088 2011-09-05 10:10:00 I was going to have a look on trade me, and see how much mum's discount from PB Tech is... I dislike Xbox and PS3 as I never used them when I had them, I prefer to game online or play games on a PC... as time go's on and I get a job I will then be upgrading the PC that I build this is only a cheap temporary build to allow me to play some of the games I currently have that don't play on my laptop e.g. Left 4 Dead, Sims 3, and a few other games xXjaspaXx (16525)
1228089 2011-09-05 10:13:00 does your mum work at pb?
Failing that just ask if you can get a bundle deal, or something to that effect.
8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1228090 2011-09-05 10:19:00 no she works at Imatech solutions but they get a discount from pb tech due to being on a business account xXjaspaXx (16525)
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