Vista - I Want A New GPU...But Whats Compatible With my System?

Hey guys. I have a Dell Vostro 410. Please see the specs below:-

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9450 @ 2.66GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_053C10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 1778 MB
Dedicated Memory: 499 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Dell E228WFP

I want to buy a new graphics card as I feel the 8800GT is 'weak' now. I want to play games on much higher settings and higher resolutions. This involves buying a more powerful graphics card.
Now my question is how do I know / what graphics cards are compatible with my system. Is compatibility motherboard dependent? I know that the Dell PC I have does not have an SLI motherboard, so can it run any GPU?

Also I don't know what power supply the PC has. But if it can power an 8800GT it should be okay in powering other cards right?

Also do you have any recommendations as to what I should get. Price should be below £160 / 181 EUROS / $261

I'd really appreciate your help and look forward to receiving and reading your replies.

The members of this forum have extensive knowledge and I would like to learn from that.

Many thanks in advanced.

hmm.... what kind of chipset do you have?

I have no idea what motherboard it is. This is all I know LOL

--------[ Motherboard ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Motherboard Properties: Motherboard ID 06/20/2008-1.0.3-6A79O009C-00
Motherboard Name Dell Vostro 410
Front Side Bus Properties: Bus Type Intel AGTL+ Bus Width 64-bit Real Clock 333 MHz (QDR) Effective Clock 1333 MHz Bandwidth 10664 MB/s
Chipset Bus Properties: Bus Type Intel Direct Media Interface Motherboard Manufacturer: Company Name Dell Computer Corporation Product Information Dell Laptops, Desktop Computers, Monitors, Printers & PC Accessories BIOS Download Dell Support Home Page Driver Update DriverAgent.com Download Windows device drivers and printer updates BIOS Upgrades http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/in...m?refererid=40 --------[ Debug - PCI ]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ok it looks like a Intel mobo.... which means if i was you i'd get a HD4890 they are about
$200 and they kick every single gpu card out of the water, and you would have $60 left over for a new psu if you needed it haha it should be about 140 euros

Here's what the sticker on the PSU says:

MODEL:- DPS - 350VB - 1B

INPUT 100 - 127V ~ 10A, 200 - 240V ~15A
___ ___
OUTPUT +12VA --- / 12A +12VB --- / 18A
___ ___
MAX POWER +5V --- / 18A +5VAUX --- / 2A
___ ___
350W +3.3V --- / 17A -12V --- 0.8A

The Combined Power On +12VA & +12VB Total 300W Max
The Combined Power On +5V & +3.3V Total 160W Max

So all I know from this is that it is a 350W PSU.
Is this any good for running the GPU's people have mentioned in this thread (4890 and GTX) ?

Ahh right. So the ATI is better than the GTX?

the HD4890 is roughly equal to a GTX275 (which is a single core, the 295 being a dual core gpu) but uses less power, although thats not quite enough juice... pick up a 600 watt psu and that card and you will be set to run your games at max here are some benchmarks for it
Charts, benchmarks Gaming Graphics Cards Charts 2009 (High Quality), Sum of FPS Benchmarks 1920x1200

Just a warning about Dell PSUs. For a period of time, Dell used standard size PSUs and standard connectors; however the main 20/24 pin connector was not wired according to the standard ATX specification. I don't know whether this still applies to current models (I suspect not), but it is something to be aware of.

i would check that two when you try to get a new one haha thanks for that dwarf i didn't remember that

dell is bad at motherboards and psu's id go with a4850 or 480 if you wanna push it dell usualy hand out 400-500 psu' never more

thats why he would get a new psu