Graphics Card for Dell E520 to play Counter Strike

[renardo]

Hello,

Im new to this forum and am not a computer expert! I have a Dell E520 on XP and have recently got counter strike source, my graphics card is what i got with the computer, a Intel G965 Family Chipset wish i guess isnt very good. I would like a better graphics card so the quality of gaming is better! Could anyone reccomend a card for me?!

Thanks

[osprey4]

The good news is that you have a PCI Express slot, so you've got some decent upgrade options. You didn't mention your budget but here are a couple ideas. For a tad over $100 (inc tax and shipping), the GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150230

For about $70, the GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card is a very decent choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150185

I'm a little gun-shy about the ATI cards due to some recent issues with cheap video ram. Here's a recent Dell forum thread discussing the use of a GF 8800, if you're really intent on going high end:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...cending&page=1

[tony_j15]

I had that system for a while and there's a few things you need to consider. open your case and check how much room you have, because it won't be much. check your PSU (probably 300 watts) and see if a card can run on that.
I think the 7600gt that osprey linked would be a good choice.

that dell thread made me laugh. I bought an 8800 and was having the same problem. I decided it wasn't worth the hassle to dremel half my case apart, so i bought a new mobo, case, psu and threw everything in it.

[osprey4]

It's not minor surgery.