Need some help regarding computer parts

I'm looking to upgrade my video card in order to run WoW better because atm i can only play decently w/o lag with my video settings set on 'Fair'. Which is like 2nd lowest video setting. I turned off a lot of the graphic intense settings and it's still shitty. On Sind fight i drop between 2-5 FPS. I'm normally at 10-25 FPS. I'm looking for a new graphics card that will allow me to play WoW on the top 2 video settings (Ultra or the one below it). My problem is i don't know how to tell if things are compatible.

Current Specs:
MotherBoard - The MCP61PM-HM (Nettle2)
Video Card - NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
Physical Memory - 3 GB (2.00 GB 800MHz/1.00GB 666 MHz)
Processor - AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ (2.61 GHz)

Let me know if you need any other specs..

Thanks!!

 

Well your board will take a PCI-Express card so thats good. Do you happen to know the PSU (Power supply) thats in there? All the newer cards have pretty high power/amp requirements.

Also.. What is your spending limit look like? With that computer I would prob try to find a Nvidia 260 216core. Should beable to get one for under 200$ and it will run WoW great.

 

I got Everest and i used the hardware diagnostics tool to try and figure out what PSU i have but couldn't find anything. Any ideas?

 

TBH the only way to tell is to take the side off and read the sticker on the PSU. I'm going to guess this was a prebuilt computer? ie.. compaq or something? you MIGHT find the PSU specs online if you look up the model number.

 

Your main issue will be making sure your power supply will give enough voltage on the 12v rail to support the graphics card you buy. As zomgmage said, the better the card, the more it'll need. If you want to find out the details of your current PSU, just open up the side of your case and see if you can read the sticker. If not, see if you can unscrew it to read what it has.

 

Yeah its a prebuilt computer because i have no idea about building computers, and its a HP. So one second and i'll look it up.

 

Had to do a lot of reading i'm guessing it has a 250-watt PSU.

 

So buy a 500-800watt for for about $50 and get a nice video card.

 

I would not spend that much for a GTX260, for what he wants to do he could easily get a way with a 9800GTX+ or ATI 4850 they are half the price. That way it wont hurt as bad when you have to upgrade in a few years and also will require a little less power but still more than 250 watts lol.

 

So which would be good video cards for under $200 to get, if i get a better PSU?

*EDIT*

I'm prolly going to max out my RAM at 4gb since i'm on a 32-bit

 

ATI HD5770 1GB card. It's the mutts nuts. Can probably get the lower end 58 series cards for a decent price now too.

Remember to get a better PSU though, 250w is useless!

 

Yeah, find a psu around 500 watts from a good brand, (corsar, ocz, few others i forgot).

You can prob find a 8800GTX+ for around 100$ or less new. EVGA has a "B Stock" gtx260 -core216 for 130$ on there website also.

 

Will any PSU work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182173 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

 

That OCZ will do you perfect. Its a known brand thats quality made. the other one is kinda iffy.

 

This card is probably the best value buy at the moment(the performance you get for the money you spend). It will run WoW, and all the valve games on the highest settings.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102901

Here is a cheap shitty power supply with over 500 reviews and 4 eggs that will handle this card but not much bigger. Anything modular for this price is badass.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

 

Alright and these would work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118027&Tpk=8800GTX%2b or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447&cm_re=ATI_HD5770-_-14-150-447-_-Product

*EDIT*

Just saw someone posted right before me.

*EDIT*

After reading what butane said, those prices would be perfect. Would those 2 items linked work?

 

Those items should work just fine, the only concern would be if you have one of those super tiny hp cases and the card would not fit, but even the smallest case should be able to fit the 4850.

 

My case is like 1.5ft long x 1.5ft height x 5-8 in. wide it should be fine. Now that i know what PSU and Video card to get, i need to get 1 more gig of ram. It's so lame, 2 of the 4 memory stick slots i have are broken so i can only get two 2gig ram sticks. I already have one 2gig so i just need to upgrade the 1gig to a 2gig.

 

Call me a fanboy but I would rather have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150479 than the 4850. I had 3x 48xx series and had nothing but problems.

 

What kind of problems, i only need a card/PSU that will allow me to play WoW on top 2 video settings w/o problems. and for 10-15$ more i might just get the XFX one.