Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

Yeah I know. :P I'm never buying from a store again, getting them built form now on. But I don't really ask for much in terms of preformance since I just use the net, watch videos, download MP3s and play WoW.. And even my play on WoW as of late has been very light.

When I buy my speakers I'll be at just over $600 spent (Around $700 with taxes).. if it does the jobs I want it to do, and does it well.. then I think I made out pretty good.

Also, I looked up replacing the PSU... doesn't seem too hard at all. As long as I'm not extremely distracted while replacing it, it should be easy. :P

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

Yea, he next time, a good website that will custom build computers to your specifications is www.ibuypower.com. I got one from them a long time ago and its been a great computer for me. Pretty good prices I think, I was playing around and I can get a killer rig for just under $1000

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

Yeah, my problem was I had $800 to spend, and didn't have the patience to wait on a custom one this time. At my house my only entertainment is my Ps3 and my computer. I don't have cable or anything else to waste time on. :P

After I get my newer car I'll worry about getting a computer, this one is kinda just a detour from what I was really saving for.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I like how I got the overnight shipping for the Video card, and its scheduled to be in today, then I ordered the PSU seperately with its free 2-3 days shipping and the tracker also says its scheduled to be in today.

I gtuess it helps that the orgin of the orders are straight from California. Badwin park Cali is where they both originated, though they're taking differnet routes for some reason.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

What did you order, if I might ask?

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I went with your sugestion for the PSU since it was lower price and had a lot of good reviews. I went for the Galaxy GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 one however though.

To give exact timing, I ordered the card early in the morning after my post, but before you posted as overnight. And I ordered the PSU the same day in the evening time after I got off from work as the free 2-3 day shipping. However... the PSU (according to the tracker) made it here to bakersfield 2 hours earlier than the graphics card did. If I'd have known it'd be that fast and they were based in california I wouldn't have paid more for overnight.

Also its a possibility that they're rushing for the holidays.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

The PSU I bought simply isn't working, I have to check if I did something wrong. When I installed the old one the computer runs fine again. Gonna have to look that up. The graphics card works, but since I'm on low voltage I'm not about to try and push it.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I've never really fiddled with a psu but is it possible that you have to go into your bios settings and change the power wattage?

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

Nah you don't, I found out the problem is that Compaq has a special set up to where it can only read their own power sources. So I'm going to have to order straight from the horse, or have to find one that's directly compatible with compaq presario.

I'm using my new graphics card, and its working fine for now. But I want to get the new source before any new issues develop. I don't play any intense games so there's no stress on the card, and on the power supply it is running just as quiet and cool as always. I'm just not about to buy a power sucking game and test my luck :P

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

What a load of bull. Thats utter garbage, another reason why I will never buy a name brand computer again...hell, im suprised the Graphics Card worked...

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I won't either, but I'm actually glad I did for this itme, screwing around with this piece of crap has taught me a lot about building computers alone. And the graphics card not only works, it works very well. I guess WoW isn't even a challenge for it, jhust out of curiosity I put all the settings to the highest, and most of the time it stays around 50 FPS, except when I'm in areas heavily populated, but even then it doesn't drop below 30 FPS.

It doesn't get hot or have any noticeable problems, but I'm still going to get a power source from Compaq.

Considering I get it to play the game I want at highest settings, with good sound, and does everything else I want my computer to do, the end amount spent of $600-650 (650 if I count the power source waste) I think I made out pretty good.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I suppouse, but WOW is a 4 year old game...I mean it still looks decent, but not exactly cutting edge anymore...thats almost like saying the Gamecube is a powerhorse...

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

That's something I've come to learn at my work, since I order parts all the time. Usually if you're getting something shipped from the same state and you live in a city, then if you get it shipped ground it will still come the next day and you will save lots of money. (It makes me happy that Mouser.com is based out of Dallas. :))

Glad to see you're successfully tinkering with your computer. That was a wise decision to think about your PSU (and a mistake I made when I bought a new videocard recently). Too bad about Compaq forcing you to buy one of their PSUs, but at least Newegg is good about taking back parts. Good luck on the rest of your adventure.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

I know this is a LAAAATE reply, but my friend and I were having a conversation about this and I thought I'd give an update.

I ended up not buying a power supply from compaq, and ended up keeping the 250 watt one that came with the computer. The graphics card is supposed to require a 400 watt power supply minimum, however its been running perfectly on a 250 watt supply for over 7 months.

Re: Graphics card suggestions?
 

Power Supply ratings are a joke. It's a gross overestimation on their part. The problem is, no consumer sits down and calculates what each piece of the computer might need at any point (don't blame them).

The 9400 GT uses a maximum of 50W. NVIDIA lists 300W as the minimum system power supply, but by the time it reaches the card manufacturer (the thing I hate about NVIDIA products) it now requires 400W.

In reality, it depends on what you're running. If you use less than 200W for the rest of your computer, you'll do just fine.