[Killer Whale]

I really hope you guys are okay with me coming here and asking a question after ages of no input. I wasn't getting much response over on another forum and I thought yous (There really should be a plural of you in the English language) would be the experts so it would make good sense to come here:

I got a new computer a while back, the uncles who told me how to build it said it was a 'basic performance computer'.
I was a bit unhappy when BP: WIH was giving me 4 frames per second (6 when I changed around my performance options), so slow that the music ended like a minute before the intro cutscene did (which is only a couple of minutes long).
I believe it would help if I actually had a graphics card.

Windows 7
4.7 windows experience index
Intel (r) core (tm) i5 CPU, 650 @ 3.20 GHz 3.20 GHz
Ram: 4.00 GB (3.46 usable)
32-bit operating system
motherboard: asus p7h55-m
It's a Desktop with a 1920 x 1080 monitor.

So I was wondering what would be a good graphics card to add to my system to get that FPS up a bit. I don't have any plans for getting one yet (other than "hey dad, they say this would be a good card, *hint* *hint*". However that might have a reasonably fast response) so I might not put advice into practice right away.

How do I tell whether a graphics card is compatible with my motherboard (without physically testing it out)? I tried to put in an ati gigabyte gv-r92128dh (which dad had floating around), but it didn't go.

[Grizzly]

What you need for maximum compatability is a card which fits with the PCI-Express ports. Any modern graphics card will fit. The old Ati Gigabyte something (which is an 9200, for the other people replying) only fits with an AGP port. Esentially, it's too old.

As for a new graphics card, it all depends on your budget. Personally, I reccomend getting something equivelent to the ATI HD 5670 (which is what I use), since it does not require an extra power cable. It just fits, which is probably what you are looking for. But I am a bit behind on all the graphic cards stuff, so there might be newer and faster stuff around for the same price.

EDIT: Such as the 6850, apperently. It is not very power hungry, apperently, so it might be an option.
I appear to have forgotten, but you have to make sure that the power supply in order. While the 6850 power hungriness is relatively low, it still uses 230 megawatts.

[newman]

How do I tell whether a graphics card is compatible with my motherboard (without physically testing it out)? I tried to put in an ati gigabyte gv-r92128dh (which dad had floating around), but it didn't go.

Basically there are two main standards for graphics cards: the old AGP which is being phased out, and the PCI-E. Pretty sure an i5 motherboard would be using the PCI-E slots, and the card you listed is AGP. Frankly, you don't want to use that old system if you can help it; in your case you don't have a choice either.
I look at graphics cards as the most expendable and short lived of hardware you'll buy; they tend to age quicker than the other stuff. With that in mind the best cost effective option is usually getting a higher spectrum of the mid-range cards. You'll save a ton of cash compared to the high end ones and get maybe like 5-10% lower performance. You shouldn't really notice this in most games, and the high end cards become obsolete just as fast. Meaning your 1000$ card will be just as slow and obsolete in 2-3 years as the much cheaper mid range one.
On to specifics, you can get a GTX 560 for a decent price these days. Can get the 460s cheaper if money's an issue. I'm not much for ATI, but I'm sure the ATI crowd here can give you advice on that range if that's more your thing.

[Grizzly]

The 6850 and the 6870 are mid ranged AFAIK. It all depends on your budget. I still have good fun with the 5670. Especially now I found out that ATI Overdrive bassicly allows overclocking without your system blowing up.

Just make sure that the card does not consume too much power or requires an extra power cable (Extra hassle, and I don't like extra hassle. It makes me want to eat someone). And that it uses PCI-express.

[Fury]

Geforce GTX460 or Radeon 6850 will give you plenty of performance for very reasonable price. If you have a bit more money to spend, then Geforce GTX560 and Radeon 6950 are good choices. Other GPU's don't really offer as good bang for the buck, unless there happens to be a good deal around.

However, I would strongly suggest looking at particular models that use custom cooling solution. Such as Asus DirectCU, Gigabyte WindForce, MSI Twin Frozr. If for nothing else, then only to reduce the noise coming from your computer. These are usually slightly more expensive than the models with reference cooling solutions, but decrease in noise is totally worth it.

[Grizzly]

I really hope you guys are okay with me coming here and asking a question after ages of no input

No, not at all. HLP has become uncharacteristically insane in some places lately. Your post is like an oasis of peace.

(That's probably overstating it, but you should never worry about that here).

[Zacam]

Geforce GTX460 or Radeon 6850 will give you plenty of performance for very reasonable price. If you have a bit more money to spend, then Geforce GTX560 and Radeon 6950 are good choices. Other GPU's don't really offer as good bang for the buck, unless there happens to be a good deal around.

However, I would strongly suggest looking at particular models that use custom cooling solution. Such as Asus DirectCU, Gigabyte WindForce, MSI Twin Frozr. If for nothing else, then only to reduce the noise coming from your computer. These are usually slightly more expensive than the models with reference cooling solutions, but decrease in noise is totally worth it.

+1 for Justice. Plus it's pretty much exactly what I would have said.

[BloodEagle]

I thought yous (There really should be a plural of you in the English language)

Y'all / you-all.

Of course, you could always go crazy and use two words together.  Like 'you guys', or something less polarized. 

[AtomicClucker]

For budget, got GTX 460 Radeon 6850.

Like others said, embellishment goes with GTX560 & 6950.

Drivers wise, I recommend doing some digging on the pitfalls of driver versions - until recently, I kept with the older 197 nVidia drivers for stability. Nothing ruins a graphics card experience like jumpy drivers.

[Kolgena]

On that same note, nVidia has a better reputation than ATi for drivers, though I think ATi is cheaper for the performance it packs.

[Ghostavo]

On that same note, nVidia has a better reputation than ATi for drivers

Not lately they don't.

[Kolgena]

Okay, touche.

It's just that ATi has had nearly a year-long run of bad monthly drivers, and pretty much all of them are buggy or suck on various models.

[Zacam]

nVidia's 260.99 Drivers are quite stable and hassle free so far. About to test the 268.55.

[Suongadon]

I appear to have forgotten, but you have to make sure that the power supply in order. While the 6850 power hungriness is relatively low, it still uses 230 megawatts.

I should hope not. I mean, that's like a 200 dollar an hour video card 

not funny lulz aside, X bit labs says the 6850 needs 90 watts peak. (well, 90 watts during crysis warhead) * While some overhead is required, 2.5x is absurd.


* is there like a hyperlink-your-words button I'm not seeing or is my browser just stupid? Source: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd6870-hd6850_9.html#sect0


Back to the OP: knowing what sort of power supply you have is essential to a recommendation (so you kind of have to open the case and look). However, your motherboard at least will support any new, half new, kinda old ect. PCI-E 2.0 or 2.1 video card. - also supposing it fits in the case, but that probably won't be a problem unless you can afford a very high end card.

[Zacam]

Suangadon: I think he was being facetious with the "megawatts" statement. Rather "Back to the Futur"-ish Doc Brown with the "gigawatts".

Most systems have more than adequate power supplies. For the cards recommended for the budget conscious consumer, an 800watt would be over kill.

I like using this to get a general idea what sort of power usage I'm looking at.

Best recommendation for a power supply: Get one that is 80+ Certified (Gold Preferred), Modular (if you can) and SLI/CrossFire Rated (even if you're not planning on doing either). But realistically, as long as you existing PSU is pushing at least 500w and has a good 12v Rail Amperage to meet the cards requirements, you should be just fine as long as you don't have a lot of other power hungry equipment in the case.

[AtomicClucker]

When it comes to PSUs, I recommend Corsair. Definitely pricy, but they're hardy little boxes that can take a lot of crap short of a well placed power surge or a shotgun. If you've got some spare cash, then look at a half-baked surge protector when the unexpected happens.

[Zacam]

I go more SeaSonic myself.

Their support communications sucks balls, but then, never having to need to have to use it (and all my PSU's lasting well beyond the warranty period anyway)

[Suongadon]

mega prefix aside, I've read amd/ati recommending a psu that does system + 230W for a 6850, so...

Dunno why everyone knocks seasonic support. The one and only time I had to use it, it took a little more than a week to get back, and I got a new X series as replacement rather than a dusted-off 4 year old psu from the back of the warehouse to boot.