Well I plan to get a new graphics card sometime end of next week (when I get my PC) and I was looking towards the 280 gtx and HD4870. The GTX is almost 2 times more expensive, so I wonder if it's all that better. Does anyone here have any experience with any of these cards? Also if anyone does what kind of power supply would I need to support the card?

Personally I would go along with the HD4870, I've found that ATI cards run the game just as well as their Nvidia cousins, and the fact that it's much cheaper should clinch the deal.

The HD4870 requires:

• PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16
  lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
  
• 500 Watt or greater
  power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power
  connectors recommended (600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors
  for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)
  

If you feel like splashing out though, take a look at the HD4870 X2 (2GB). It requires:

• A single x16 PCI Express slot, so you won't need a CrossFire-enabled motherboard unless you want to run two X2 cards.
  
• ATI recommends using a 650W power supply for a single card and 1000W for two cards.
  

Although it's pricey at almost £350 and there be no point splashing out on
that something like that if you a processor less that 2.4GHz Dual Core.

Well I looked at the X2 as well but it seemed it needed more power. I've got atm GF 7600GT and 1.8 dual core overclocked to 2.2-2.3
I was tempted at the 280GTX because it has that phys engine and because it s based on 512 bit instead of the usual 256 bit, but the ati is DDR5 so it makes it hard to decide. As for 2 cards I never found it necessary to have 2 so one will do.

Might want to get a new processor while you're at it.

I would if I had any experience at changing it. Don't you need some kind of paste and stuff?? Besides I need to check how much my motherboard supports and I can't do that now since the PC isn't here yet (lousy UPS).

Aqura wrote:I would if I had any experience at changing it. Don't you need some kind of paste and stuff?? Besides I need to check how much my motherboard supports and I can't do that now since the PC isn't here yet (lousy UPS).

Nope, if you buy it already boxed, you can just pop it i. But if you arn't confident in doing something like that then i wouldn't bother.

Wait so I just pop the old one out and put the new one in? Hmm have to check what the compatibility is and the prices of new cores. I'll post here and come on vent asap when I got my PC XD

Aqura wrote:Wait so I just pop the old one out and put the new one in? Hmm have to check what the compatibility is and the prices of new cores. I'll post here and come on vent asap when I got my PC XD

That how I understood it, of course you have to check that your motherboard has the right slot for the faster processor (But finding out that stuff aint too hard) that you want to put in, and that the fan can manage as well.

But apart from that, yeah. Might want to ask at your PC shop or whatever for a bit more advice, as I've never atcually tried switching them out.

Aqura wrote:Wait so I just pop the old one out and put the new one in? Hmm have to check what the compatibility is and the prices of new cores. I'll post here and come on vent asap when I got my PC XD

The only thing you need is to look at your mobo manual to see which processor slot it has,order your processor according to slot type and your bios (on auto cpu setting) will do the rest concerning processor configuration.
There is a distinct marking (usually a tringular arrow)on one of the four corners of your processor chip,be sure to allign that correctly when installing new processor.Just take note of it when you remove the old one,it is pretty obvious to notice.
As for the fan and heat sink attachment it is not as hard as it sounds.You need to clean both contact surfaces with alcohol and apply aprox the equivalent of half a pea worth of heat paste at the center of processor surface (heat paste is usually included with heatsink/fan).Pressure when you attach the heat sink will disperse the paste evenly between the processor and heat sink surface.Afterwards you can use a system monitor program to check if heat levels are adequate,meaning you have installed your heat sink/fan correctly.Also check your BIOS or windows system info to see if windows has recognized the new processor correctly.
Thats all there is,have fun while your at it.

Important Note: Do not let power through the processor
when the fun is of ( A.K.A. don't turn the computer on), it will
fry in a couple of secs (it is not a metaphor you can smell it).


Flat.

Flatline78 wrote:Important Note: Do not let power through the processor
when the fun is of ( A.K.A. don't turn the computer on), it will
fry in a couple of secs (it is not a metaphor you can smell it).


Flat.

With contemporary machines (no pun intended)the bios will shut down the power long before it fries,you get a couple of beeps and then all power is cut,I know cause I have tried it.

Tue brother i've tried it with older machines,
can't tell on newer systems. ( Pentium I and early II
used to go in smokes prety fast though ).


Flat.

Flatline78 wrote:Tue brother i've tried it with older machines,
can't tell on newer systems. ( Pentium I and early II
used to go in smokes prety fast though ).


Flat.

Lolz,very true,I have tried that too.

Is it necessary to change the heat sink and fan? Are they attached to the old chip or? In that case I might have to buy new one to get that paste and to get something better than my current. I should get my PC delivered today and can check motherboard details and such.

Aqura wrote:Is it necessary to change the heat sink and fan? Are they attached to the old chip or? In that case I might have to buy new one to get that paste and to get something better than my current. I should get my PC delivered today and can check motherboard details and such.

If you get a much stronger cpu it will be best to change the heat sink as the factory ones are already weak to start with,I have seen a 30% increase(that is alot) in general performance (benchmarked and in games) when I replaced mine with an aftermarket copper one.
The heat sink/fan apparatus is not welded onto your old chip if that is what you mean,and you can actually use the same as long as it is in good condition (not choked with dust,and the fan motor revving as it should be).You can also purchase the heat paste seperately,as you most certainly will need it even if you keep your old CPU.You see the CPU and the heat sink/fan are not attached to eachother,the heat sink/fan is attached directly to the mobo with removable brackets or something similar and just sits on your CPU held in place by the brackets I mentioned above,so when you remove your CPU and heat sink/fan from your old mobo they will be two distinct parts NOT attached to each other in any way.This is where the paste comes in,it is imperative that you clean their connecting surfaces from the residue of the old paste that was between them and apply a fresh drop ( drop being the key ammount here ) when you install them on your new mobo.
In the case you purchase a new CPU, paste is always included in the package,as is the factory heat sink/fan that accompanies the CPU.I will strongly advise replacing the factory heat sink/fan even if you keep your old CPU ,with a performance aftermarket one (asus,thermaltake etc.etc.) if you can afford it (about 50 euro) cause it will definetly improve performance as heat dissipation is paramount.Above suggestion applies the same to a new CPU also, as I have said before the factory ones are minimally adequate.
If you still find the whole attaching procedure too troublesome you can ask the shop selling you the upgrade mobo to do it for you,I am sure they will be happy to help,regardless if you get a new CPU or just give them your old one to attach.