Ok, i have:

CPU Type Intel Pentium 4E, 3000 MHz (15 x 200)
Motherboard Name Intel La Crosse D865GLC
1024MB ddr400 SDRAM
An encer 300w psu
ATI Radeon 9600Pro 256MB card

I need to upgrade both psu and graphics card and can spend $300.
I live in South africa so have to buy local.

Options are:
Aerocool ZeroDBA-S500/APFC 500W Gamers PSU ($99)
Cooler Master Extreme Power PSU - 550w ($83)
Asus A45-GA PSU - 450w ($96)
AOpen 500Watt 24-pin Power Supply ($86)
Cooler Master Extreme Power PSU - 650w ($106)
AOpen 700Watt 20/24-Pin ATX 2.0 12V Power Supply (Dual Rail) ($122)

ASUS N7600GS/HTD/256M Silencer , with silentcool heatpipe technology , no noise , agp 8x , geforce 7600GS , 256mb 128bit DDR2 , 12 pixel shader engine , core/memory : 400/800mhz , dvi+d-sub , HDTV tvout ($150)

Chaintech GEFORCE 7600GS 256MB AGP, 128-BIT DDR2, AGP 8X INTERFACE, CORE CLOCK 400MHZ, MEMORY CLOCK 533MHZ, 12 PIXEL PIPELINES, SUPPORTS DIRECT X9, SUPPORTS SHADER MODEL 3, SUPPORTS OPEN GL 2.0, HDTV-OUT, DUAL DVI, HDTV, R.O.H.S LEAD FREE ($134)

XFX T43K-YAL3 , AGP 8x , geforce 7600GS , 512mb 128bit DDR2 , 8 pixel shader engine , core/memory : 500/950mhz , 2 x dvi , HDTV tvout - retail pack ($188)

Asus AX1650PRO/HTD/256M/A , agp8x , X1650PRO , 256mb 128bit DDR2 , 12 pixel shader engine , core/memory : 600/800mhz , dvi-i +d-sub , tv-out - retail pack ( $168)

Palit ATI X1300Pro AGP Graphics Card with 256MB, 128bit DDR2 Memory, 600 MHz Core Clock, 800 MHz Memory Clock with 4 Pipelines, Single GPU Only, Dual DVI, TV-Out Video Output. Standard Fan Cooling and Requires 1 Slot, ($85)

Now, why im seeking advice is that i don't want to fry anything on my system with psu and i don't want anything to bottleneck and of course, all u guys who know more than me to suggest the best combination for price and performance, even if i can spend $300. Maybe i don't have to. Either way, some advice appreciated

I'm making a complete guess on the PSUs because I do not know them well enough:
Cooler Master Extreme Power PSU - 550w ($83)

Cooler master makes good quality PSUs. Is this a good quality PSU from CM? I honestly don't know. However, you do not need that much power for the cards you are looking at. 450 or 550 will do you well. You can run a 8800GTX system on 450 (if the 12v rails are right) so any AGP card you can buy should be more than fine of 450, much less 550.... again, as long as the 12v rails are right and the PSU is good quality. $83 for 550w from CoolerMaster seems like a good quality buy.


For the Vid card, it's a tossup between:

XFX T43K-YAL3 , AGP 8x , geforce 7600GS , 512mb 128bit DDR2 , 8 pixel shader engine , core/memory : 500/950mhz , 2 x dvi , HDTV tvout - retail pack ($188)

Asus AX1650PRO/HTD/256M/A , agp8x , X1650PRO , 256mb 128bit DDR2 , 12 pixel shader engine , core/memory : 600/800mhz , dvi-i +d-sub , tv-out - retail pack ( $168)


Both are great companies, so you don't have to worry about quality. The XFX is going to work a LOT better at higher resolutions though, so if you have a CRT, I'd definitely go w/that. Either would be fine really. If you grab that $83 CoolerMaster PSU though, could you step up to a X1650XT or 7600GT?

Thanks, I don't know the psu's well either, so i don't know how the rail thing works. I can't get the xt or gt online, but will find out from some local suppliers.

If any one can give me the rail requirements for all those cards, including the xt and gt, i'll find out from the suppliers for the specs of the psu's.

will be greatly appreciated.
And what's a CRT?

This is definitely a buy in the next month, as i decided not to build a new rig anymore for a while.I still play xp games.

So i need a good buy.

Thanks millions again

Oh yes, I also want to play at at least 1280 x 1024 res, as it allows me to lowwer aa for better frame rates. And it looks the same as 6x aa to me.

Ok, I got it!

MSI NX7600GT-TD512, 512MB Geforce NX 8X AGP (DVIx 1, TV-out) DDR3 128Bit, GPU Fan, Dual Mon Support

$196

A good deal don't u think?

Now, how many watts psu with how many amps on 12v rails.
I have to poer hdd, stiffy (if i decide to keep it connected) Dvd -combo

and a fan.

And how much diff is this card gonna make? A lot i pressume? 30fps to 60fps?

By the way, i can't find 8600. Only 8800's, and they are Way, Way out of my budget (by at least$200)

Glad you found a gt as far as the psu goes you will be fine i am running a x1650xt which is kind of the equivelant ati version of the 7600gt but the gt draws way less power than i do and im on a generic 400watt psu.
My numbers are
+12 18A
5v 40A
3.3 28A

-5v 0.5A
12v 0.5A
+5v/sb 1.5A Just to give you a referance

But as i say any of those psu`s you listed will run it fine

Mactronix