Low profile video card help please

[bioman63]

Hello I am in the process of upgrading my system to play this sim. Here are the facts. I have one AGP slot but it would have to be a low profile card to fit. I have three full size PCI slots. My power supply is 325 watts. I have a budget of 150 bucks. I would like to upgrade my memory also.
My question is what card would you suggest?
Here is the cards I am looking at.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170092
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130255
Here are the specs on my pc. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx270/en/ug/index.htm
Thanks for any help.
Scott AKA. Blackdog AKA. Bioman63

[Gizzmoe]

The Geforce 6200 is the better card.

[Kruger]

:cry: they're both 64 bit video cards. Of course they're no match for your intergrated display adapter, but really...don't expect much from them. On a 6200 64 bit, even the counter strike 1.6 freezes in smoke. And that's a direct x7 engine.

[GT182]

Scott, may I suggest you upgrade your PSU to a minimum of 450 watts. Then get a graphics card with a fan on it, I don't trust passive cooling. And seeing you only have 3 PCI slots you don't have room for a PCI slot fan to take out the heat from the 6200 128mb card you're looking at.

A better palce to find a card is PriceWatch.com. Many great bargains there. I'm using a GF5600Ultra 256mb card that runs SHIII just fine. Here's one that's as good of a bit better and has free shipping.... http://www.pricewatch.com/video_cards/5884-1.htm

Edit: The 6200 is better than the 5500. But the 5700 256mb card is about the same or even a bit better than the 6200, which has only 128mb of RAM but does not have a cooling fan. And you do want a fan for cooling seeing you're running the Dell which has no cooling fans other than the PSU.

Next computer you get, it would be better for you upgrade wise, if you build your own. You'll have a much better pc than you can buy, and for less money than for one that's comparable from any of the companies.... Dell, HP, Compaq or whatever.

[Gizzmoe]

Scott, may I suggest you upgrade your PSU to a minimum of 450 watts.
That would be a waste of money, his 325w PSU is more than enough for such a low-end card.

[GT182]

As I said, he doesn't want a graphics card that has no fan. That means the 6200. His Dell has no cooling fans except for the PSU which is inadequate to cool the 6200. With the Dell passive cooling case he needs a card with a fan. Do a bit of reasearch Giz before you steer him to the 6200. Cheaper does not mean better.

He needs a minimum of 350watts then even for a card with a fan. I take back the450 watts recommendation. So he still needs to upgrade his PSU.

[Gizzmoe]

As I said, he doesn't want a graphics card that has no fan. That means the 6200.
Have you seen that huge heatsink on the 6200?

http://tinyurl.com/ja37s (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=14%2D170%2D092%2D01%2Ejpg%2C14 %2D170%2D092%2D02%2Ejpg%2C14%2D170%2D092%2D03%2Ejp g%2C14%2D170%2D092%2D04%2Ejpg%2C14%2D170%2D092%2D0 5%2Ejpg&CurImage=14%2D170%2D092%2D01%2Ejpg&Description=Albatron+AGP6200AL+Geforce+6200+128MB+ DDR+AGP+4X%2F8X+Low+Profile+Video+Card+%2D+Retail)

I´ve seen non-cooled video cards with much smaller heatsinks that worked just fine even at room temperatures >90°F.

I agree though that it´s generally better to have a card with a fan than one without. The 6200 still is the better card, if possible I would either add a small fan to the heatsink or one into the case to create some additional airflow.

He needs a minimum of 350watts then even for a card with a fan. I take back the450 watts recommendation. So he still needs to upgrade his PSU.
He doesn´t, the 6200 doesn´t draw much power. I had a (very cheap) 300W PSU in my old system, it powered an Athlon 2600+, 1GB, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (needs about 45W under load), a sound card, a PCI IDE card, a TV card and four harddisks. 325W is more than you think...

Here is a page where they tested the system power consumption with different cards, the test system has a 3.6GHz P4:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2238&p=4

The peak system power consumption with a 6200 was 200W, only 10W more than the integrated video.

[GT182]

I don't really care how big the heatsink is, he doesn't want a card with no fan in that case. Also he might not be able to add a fan to the case, with out cutting holes in it. And I'd not recomment that being done to a Dell case like his. It's doesn't have the room. No place for a fan in front or the back and too narrow for one in the side. This is not a normal case that Dell uses. I've seen one up close and personal that my son-in-law has, and it's not a case too fool around with.

This is the case Scott and son-in-law's is the same..... from Scott's link... http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx270/en/ug/sffabout.htm#1184855 The issue is heat and just a heatsink adds to the heat problem in this Dell case.

[Gizzmoe]

Well, then instead of the case fan he can add a tiny fan onto the heatsink itself. The card even has a connector for that as you can see on the picture.

[bioman63]

Thanks for all the advice and yes. next time I will build a machine but this one was almost free.

Here is the card I bought.http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7638292&type=product&id=1130987962366

I got a discount because I new someone at the store;)

I added a gig of ram at the same time.

Everything installed fine but the game froze everytime the opening video started. I renamed the video files and they dont play and the game runs fine. Every now and then the screen will be off center???

I have finished the first 4 exams. Its a real thrill!!!!

Thanks again bd

[Gizzmoe]

That´s the PCI version, why didn´t you buy an AGP card??? It also doesn´t seem to be a low-profile card?!?

[bioman63]

The pci would fit the AGP would not fit in the case. bd