[Mongoose]

I really really appreciate the offer, Stealth, but I think I'll pass on it.  I don't have the income to purchase new games right now, so there isn't much sense in me getting a new video card for titles I won't be playing anyway.  And I honestly wouldn't feel right about foisting that sort of purchase on someone else.  Again, though, thanks for the offer.

(Plus, I'm not entirely sure which sort of 4670 my motherboard would support...or even what sort of motherboard I have. )

[Wobble73]

If you are willing to ship to the UK Stealth, I'd be interested!! 

[Stealth]

I really really appreciate the offer, Stealth, but I think I'll pass on it.  I don't have the income to purchase new games right now, so there isn't much sense in me getting a new video card for titles I won't be playing anyway.  And I honestly wouldn't feel right about foisting that sort of purchase on someone else.  Again, though, thanks for the offer.

(Plus, I'm not entirely sure which sort of 4670 my motherboard would support...or even what sort of motherboard I have. )

If there's any other hardware i can help you with Mongoose, i'd be willing to...

[Stealth]

I really really appreciate the offer, Stealth, but I think I'll pass on it.  I don't have the income to purchase new games right now, so there isn't much sense in me getting a new video card for titles I won't be playing anyway.  And I honestly wouldn't feel right about foisting that sort of purchase on someone else.  Again, though, thanks for the offer.

(Plus, I'm not entirely sure which sort of 4670 my motherboard would support...or even what sort of motherboard I have. )

Mongoose - too late, i'd already ordered it for you.  I have it here, so send me your address and i'll ship it over...

[S-99]

Mongoose, you're neglecting the fact that you can have fso max out your system, don't forget nexuiz, that can max out your system pretty good too. Free games, think free games until you get money.

[Mongoose]

I really really appreciate the offer, Stealth, but I think I'll pass on it.  I don't have the income to purchase new games right now, so there isn't much sense in me getting a new video card for titles I won't be playing anyway.  And I honestly wouldn't feel right about foisting that sort of purchase on someone else.  Again, though, thanks for the offer.

(Plus, I'm not entirely sure which sort of 4670 my motherboard would support...or even what sort of motherboard I have. )

Mongoose - too late, i'd already ordered it for you.  I have it here, so send me your address and i'll ship it over...

Wow.  I...really don't know what to say.  This is amazing. I guess I can't really refuse if you've already gone through the trouble of ordering it.

There are one or two reservations I have on the technical side of things, though.  My current system is a Dell Optiplex GX280 P4 3.0 GHz HT with 3 GB of DDR2 RAM (which I threw in there myself to replace the original 512 MB).  The original video card I'm still working with is a Radeon X300 64 MB in the single PCI-E slot (which is 1.0a, according to my system specs).  From what I've heard in the past, I'm assuming that PCI-E 2.0 cards can still function in a 1.0 slot, just with somewhat-reduced capability.  I think the motherboard itself supports only up to DDR2, so I don't know if this card having DDR3 RAM would pose a problem.  Also, I only have a 250W power supply, though whoever in the IRC channel first recommended the 4670 to me felt like that wouldn't be a problem, since it doesn't require a separate power hook-up.

And just to add one more item onto the pile, this machine isn't exactly the best thing in the world at heat dispersal.  (The single variable-speed fan revs up to something resembling a jet turbine every time I'm doing something even remotely system-intensive.)  I don't know how well it would cope with a higher-powered video card...though on the other hand, the addition of an extra fan in there might actually help matters.

If you think that none of these technical issues should pose a problem, I'll gladly shoot you a PM with my address.  Thanks again for this.  Whenever I get myself working again, if there's anything you ever need that I can help you with, I'll be glad to.

[Stealth]

yeah it's worth a try - shoot me your address and i'll send it over.

not so sure about that power supply, but if i have to send you a new PS i will

[Klaustrophobia]

i'm pretty sure you'll be fine.  a PCI-E 2.0 card will indeed work fine in a 1.0 slot, i doubt there will even be any performance loss.  someone did a test when 2.0 first came out, and even on the highest powered cards of the time, physically blocking half the pins (simulating half the link bandwith) did nothing to benchmarks.  i don't imagine heat or power will be a problem either.  that card has the latest bells and whistles, but is not exactly a raw powerhouse.  your biggest worry is probably your PS having a connector for it, which is easily solved with an adapter.  as for the memory, the memory on the vid card is in no way related to your motherboard's memory standard.  you could have SIMM for all it cares

[Mongoose]

Yeah, what the hell, let's do it.  If my box randomly turns off as soon as I install the thing, I'll know something went wrong.

And Stealth, even if this doesn't work out, there's no way I'd let you track down a power supply too.  What you've done is already more than generous enough, and I'd be in a better position than I am at the moment anyway.

[Stealth]

ehh i have power supplies lying around anyway.  just let me know what type connectors your board requires, and i'll find one that fits...

[Mongoose]

Well if you already have spare ones you don't need lying around, and my current supply winds up having trouble with the new card, I'll let you know. I'll just owe you a few additional cases of beer beyond the current tally.

[Stealth]

lol no problem, just please let me know in the next 12 hours, because i want to ship this power supply out by noon central time tomorrow, so need to know by then......

[Mongoose]

I honestly wouldn't even want to bother you about a power supply unless my current one decided to roll over and play dead when attempting to run the new video card.  Whoever on IRC recommended this card to me in the first place seemed to think I'd be fine with a 250W PS, since it apparently doesn't require any sort of additional power connection beyond just the PCI-E slot.  And I stumbled across a hardware site review of the 4670 that had their test system for it drawing only something like 170W peak power, which would still be within my limits.  For right now, I think I'm all right.

[Stealth]

if the card "only" draws 170W peak, you DO realize that there are other components within your computer, such as, say, the PROCESSOR, hard drive, etc. that are also drawing power, right?

[Mongoose]

No, the power load was for the entire system, not just the card.  And now that I looked up the article again, the number was only 147W, not even 170.  If that holds up, I feel like I should (hopefully) be in good shape.

[Stealth]

ok cause i sent a 500W antec power supply anyway

[Mongoose]

...did anyone ever tell you that you're ridiculously awesome?

[Klaustrophobia]

hopefully it fits your case

[Stealth]

it will.  the box is huge, but i peeked inside it before shipping, and the card is like 1/4 the length of the box lol

[Klaustrophobia]

i meant the PS.  Pre-built computers often have proprietary PSU mounts.