Video Card Selection -- Please Helpp!!

[KnowLedge]

I have a computer built last year, but I didnt buy a video card becuase it was meant for non gaming.
I wanna start gaming on this one but am unsure which video card I should get.

CPU = AMD phenom X4 9750
Mobo = 785GTM-E45 (MS-7549) from Micro-Star International
Memory = DDR2 - 4gb
graphis = ATI radeon HD 4200 <-- on the motherboard, but I want to buy a video card so its gamable

can anyone advice what I should do and which numbers should I try to match to look for combatipality?

[Dmonix]

Well having just bought a new card myself I can say after looking through the options and such I went with the GeForce GTX560

It's the balance between good speed and processing power and ridiculous price (I paid R2000 for the card the next card up was R2700 and that was just an overclocked GTX 560)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

That's a comparison list of GeForce cards and below is a list of AMD cards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati_graphics_cards

The Radeon HD 6xxx is comparable with GeForce 5xx series. What you're looking for is number of transistors as that's what does most of the processing most cards are 1GB generally so that no longer matters much it's the processing power behind it.

[KnowLedge]

Geforce or Nvidia cards will work with my AMD processor right? or just those AMD ones?

[Dmonix]

Geforce or Nvidia cards will work with my AMD processor right? or just those AMD ones?

I have an AMD 4400+ dual core processor, PCI-Express interface is a PCI-Express interface regardless of the company that made it

[Neo Dragon]

You shouldnt have any problems. CPU should never conflict with your graphics card(s) im running...

Intel Core i7 CPU 980
and 2
AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series

no conflicts there.

[Solus]

From the other side of the board here, I'm running an AMD processor (Phenom II x4 955 black, 3.2 quad core) while my GPU is an NVidia GTX570-SOC.

Processor conflicts aren't anything to worry about. The CPU considerations in the past were mainly down to SLI vs Crossfire (Multi-GPU setups). Crossfire was specific to AMD/ATI cards and as such would be only available on AMD based motherboards. SLI setups were the same, but with Intel and NVidia. Today however, SLI and Crossfire aren't restricted to the CPU manufacturer, but they are still specific to the motherboard. (you cant put an AGP card in a PCI-E clot and vice versa.)

As for your choice? Go for an NVidia based card. Generally, they boast better prices for the raw grunt, and are usually the better choice in terms of how game developers try to optimize their product. There are a number of games in recent times, and not a small amount either, that have performance issues with AMD cards. Sometimes they don't run at all. To choose a video card based on GPU performance or a benchmark chart alone is..... not the best idea (benchmarks are good for a general idea, and to compare AMD cards with other AMD cards, NVidia cards with NVidia cards.... but not the be all and end all). As I mentioned, AMD's of late have had more issues with gaming when compared to NVidia, despite performance figures of each. So basically NVidia, for a gamer is the more reliable option.

The main advantage of an AMD card however, is the 'eyefinity' technology for multiple displays. NVidia cards can send signal to more than one screen, but not anywhere near as many displays as AMD. But chances are, you wont ever need that tech. so an NVidia card would be a better option for you.

also, you need to take into account your Power Supply. It needs to be able to deliver the amount of power you need on its 12v rail for the video card. For example, the documentation with my GTX570-SOC, asks for a 650W PSU, but the figures here are more of an approximate. And you may need an adapter for some internal power connections depending on what card you get - normally they come with the card if need be.

~soul

[Neo Dragon]

While i will agree as a gamer in the past AMD cards have had a few problems with compatibility with some games but most if not all have been patched and work just fine and isn't really a problem anymore. Also in most current Nvidia cards they are pushing 3D gaming which requires overly expensive monitors to use the parts that have been set aside for only 3D gaming.

So im gonna disagree with sol on what type is better. Dollar for dollar and i feel AMD cards are better for gaming and utility. I use my two set up with cross-fire for kick ass gaming in my free time and i have 3 monitors set up with them also since i do alot of remote access and networking i like to be able to watch a movie and use the internet without having to stop doing the other things i have to do lol

[Solus]

I agree a good Crossfire rig is a good thing, but you mention patching, something that more times than not you dont have to worry about with an NVidia card. And if there are issues they tend to be lesser on an NVidia card. It still happens today, a good example would be Saints Row: The Third. Both brands are having issues, but there are far more issues with ATI GPU's. All I'm really saying is that out-of-the-box performance is generally better on an NVidia, keeping in mind, 9/10 times a patch to fix issues like these requires extensive research and such on behalf of the game dev's based on feedback from their customers. And if the issue is great enough that NVidia cards can at least play, but ATI's cant, I'll take the NVidia and avoid the frustration of buying a game at full price and not being able to play it.

~soul

[Dmonix]

Another thing I thought I'd mention if you're feeling brave with a new card is if you look at the wiki lists I posted you'll notice that cards come in catagories of number of transistors and that if you compare them between each other it's usually the memory and clock frequency that's been changed, so if you want to save some money you can always install a program called MSI Afterburner which allows easy card overclocking.

Had it with my old card was running it at the frequency of the top card with similar transistor count but remember to have a proper cooling system to do things like this. I take no responsibility for burnt out cards

[KnowLedge]

thanks all!

I thought about getting the nvidia 460 or the 550

but didn't ended up getting a new video card.. becuase I have an old nvidia 250 or something and it plays skyrim on high quality.. so no real need to upgrade just yet.