Upgrade From GeForce3 To What?

[Masquet]

I don't know if I can/will upgrade my video card in the near future, but if I do which one would be a good/perfect upgrade from a GeForce3?

My system is around 2 and a half to 3 years old:

Dell Dimension 8200
Windows XP Home
Pentium 4 1.9GHz
512MB RDRAM (256 X 2)
80GB Hard Drive (soon to add an extra 120GB hard drive in second bay)
DVDROM (16X)
CD-RW (24X... I think)
Power Supply (not sure at all but think it is a 250watt)
USB2.0/Firewire combo Card (recently installed)
nVidia GeForce3
Dell 1702FP Monitor (17" display) 1280X1024 max resolution, I think

I would want a card that shows noticeable improvement for things such as gaming, image-editing, video-editing and not be a card that is overkill (expense-wise).

A card that is best-suited to all those specs I gave (above) is what I'm after.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

[richard_cocks]

yeah it's a tough one, I have a gf3, but I'm holding out until the 9800s drop in price some more (they're still way way more than I'd be willing to spend on video performance)

The GF3s are still respectable for gaming, having no problems making new games look sexy enough to play. I'd still hold out until fall, but I might cave in nearer the beginning of summer.

If you're dead set on upgrading now, the 9600XT range are a bargin (esp the 128 versions), but you'll still get plenty (absolutly LOADS in terms of image quality, the gf3 was still back when nv image quality was somewhat ropey) of performance increase, certainly enough to warrant the cost.

[iceblue]

Your Dell Dimension 8200 does in fact have a 250W PSU. A 9800 would be a little risky and considering your CPU is only a P4 1.9GHz (bottleneck), you might want to consider a 9600/5700 or start saving up for a PCI Express-based system.

[Masquet]

So the GeForce FX 5700 would be a good choice then?

and thanks for answering...

[bassman]

The 5700 Ultra is by far a better choice than a R9600; mind that PSU, you have a load of stuff on your PC, it may not be enough (actually I think it's definitely not enough...)

[Masquet]

You mean the power supply ought to be upgraded if I upgrade my card?

...a question occurs to me: Should the PSU be upgraded anyway even if I don't upgrade the vid card? (given that you said I have a lot of stuff on my computer)

...and one more question would be is: What should I upgrade the power supply 'to'?

thanks

[Yoshi]

I would wait a couple of months and then upgrade the whole system:t

[bob05]

Originally posted by Masquet
So the GeForce FX 5700 would be a good choice then?

and thanks for answering...

The 5700 would be perfect for you. Or you could wait for about a week or two and see the new offerings by Nvidia. :t

[bassman]

Originally posted by Masquet
Should the PSU be upgraded anyway even if I don't upgrade the vid card?
Yep...check this out: http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

[Midknyte]

the 5900XT is a much better buy than a 5700U.

[Masquet]

... I appreciate all the help everyone...

...thanks kindly