New video card

[TotallyAwesome]

Alright bros, can you help me decide, out of these 2 video cards, which of these would you recommend?

Newegg.com - MSI N94GT-MD512 GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

OR

Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-95TEH3P-HSL GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[kword88]

i suppose, if you intend to ever use two video cards, you want the one with SLI...

 

[amigo max]

Well out of those two 9500GT is better...(Correct me if i am wrong)

 

[AstaLaVista]

Without digging deep, I would have to say the the Brand MSI is more knowned than the Zotac. Now, being said that and seeing as to how you have posted this on the "Gaming" forum, I am going to have to say that, even though you will be able to play some of the latest games, you won't get to do so on High or even Med resolutions and settings.

Why don't you give us a little more info on what you are trying to accomplish? We might be able to guide you a bit better w/o braking the piggy bank

WAIT A MINUTE? I just went to check your specs and see that you also have a 9800GX2. So... am I assume you are just looking for a PhysX card?

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Without digging deep, I would have to say the the Brand MSI is more knowned than the Zotac. Now, being said that and seeing as to how you have posted this on the "Gaming" forum, I am going to have to say that, even though you will be able to play some of the latest games, you won't get to do so on High or even Med resolutions and settings.

Why don't you give us a little more info on what you are trying to accomplish? We might be able to guide you a bit better w/o braking the piggy bank

WAIT A MINUTE? I just went to check your specs and see that you also have a 9800GX2. So... am I assume you are just looking for a PhysX card?

No, I'm building a PC for my brother.

He does some light gaming, such as TF2 and L4D, so he won't be throwing anything like Crysis at it.

 

[amigo max]

If you are building a PC for light gaming it would be better to get a Gforce 9600GT instead of the other two. By reading much about those cards its better to go for an 9600GT or if u dont want it i would get the 9500GT from your choice

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Well he has a very tight budget and $50 is my limit on a video card. I couldn't find a 9600 on newegg for under $50.

I think I'm going to go with the 9400, he doesn't need SLI.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Go to [H]ard|Forum - Powered by vBulletin and check out their HOT DEALS forum, if you or your brother are patient, you can find very good deals there. another site to check is Slickdeals.net - The best coupons, lowest prices, and hottest deals.

Now, unless you have already purchased the other hardware, why don't you let us help on it as well? I love to spend other people's money :D

 

[amigo max]

Well if you are in a really tight budget of 50$ then i'd go for the 9500GT as it would be the updated version of 9400GT. Or if yu would spend just 5 more bucks on a 9600GT it would be good. its here Newegg.com - ASUS EN9600GSO/DI/512MD3/V2 GeForce 9600 GSO 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

And we could even help you for a full setup as astalavista said.. unless you got everything else.
​

 

[lemur]

Check out EVGA vs MSI. Both have the Nvidia cards, and both are good, but I think you might get better pricing with EVGA.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Go to [H]ard|Forum - Powered by vBulletin and check out their HOT DEALS forum, if you or your brother are patient, you can find very good deals there. another site to check is Slickdeals.net - The best coupons, lowest prices, and hottest deals.

Now, unless you have already purchased the other hardware, why don't you let us help on it as well? I love to spend other people's money :D

Well if you are in a really tight budget of 50$ then i'd go for the 9500GT as it would be the updated version of 9400GT. Or if yu would spend just 5 more bucks on a 9600GT it would be good. its here Newegg.com - ASUS EN9600GSO/DI/512MD3/V2 GeForce 9600 GSO 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

And we could even help you for a full setup as astalavista said.. unless you got everything else.
​

Check out EVGA vs MSI. Both have the Nvidia cards, and both are good, but I think you might get better pricing with EVGA.

HIS BUDGET IS $350-$400.

@ Asta: I have already decided on a motherboard, CPU, and case, so if you guys want to help out aswell with the rest of the parts selection that would be great.

Here are the currently selected parts:

Newegg.com - Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 350W 20+4 pin connector Power Supply - Computer Cases

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

@ amigo: Thanks for the link I'll check it out. I would love it if you guys could help me find parts to meet this budget.

@ lemur: From what I've seen on newegg, EVGA is more expensive.

 

[amigo max]

Well, hi again
Case kind of looks good and its cheap but i think a 350w PSU wont be enough for your system.. my old Pentium 4 PC has 400w PSU. I am not sure how powerful PSU you should get but a 450w or 500w would be good. You got a good choice of a processor.
But your mobo is kind of bit high for coming in the budget. I found this mobo, tho its a lower level one its cheaper Newegg.com - ASUS M2A74-AM AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
If you like it go for it. Plus i got you a combo deal which saves you 5$.
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

Well good luck choosing...

 

[AstaLaVista]

Don't do your brother a disservice by getting that case/psu combo, he will only recent you later. Tell him to be patient and spend some time on those 2 forums I told you... you will be hard press to see what you can come up with for the money you want to spend.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

Alright bros, I have compiled the parts list. Opinions always welcome, yo!

Newegg.com - RAIDMAX Scorpio ATX-868WUP Blue Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Computer Cases

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - ASUS M2A74-AM AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000KSRTL 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

Newegg.com - HP Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R IDE 22X DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Edit: forgot the video card!: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127412

And there it is.

 

[thepizzaman]

ok two things.... ya'd be better off gettin a sata dvd drive and a different brand of ram.... somethin like cosair, ocz, or patriot.....
somethin more like this.... even if it is the same price its the better brand
Newegg.com - Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC22G6400LLK - Desktop Memory

 

[TotallyAwesome]

GSKILL > Patriot bro. And a SATA drive is more expensive! Think of the good, clean money I would be shelling out! Thanks for your post, however.

 

[thepizzaman]

g.skill isn't better...... i did the price comparable one.... not the viper series of patriot mem.... :D

 

[Frostmourne]

As long as you know that this PC will never do gaming or video encoding at a fast rate then its OK. I would go with a Corsair HX modular PSU along with Corsair RAM. I'd also wait for a better quality case than just a basic box.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

I'd also wait for a better quality case than just a basic box.

I don't think a round case would be very efficient.

 

[AstaLaVista]

As long as you know that this PC will never do gaming or video encoding at a fast rate then its OK.

+1

I'd also wait for a better quality case than just a basic box.

The consensus of people in the know is that one never buys a Case/PSU Combo because what you are getting is the cheesiest of PSUs. Cheesier than "Kraft Macaroni & Cheese"

The reverse is also true at times.

It is good as an All-Around/All-Season PC though... if that's what your brother is looking for.