EggXpert

Hello,

      Please, I need some help choosing a new video card for my machine. I do not know too much about computers which is making this harder for me.  I was looking at something in the Nvidia 8600 / 8800 range but I am not sure if this would be best. I mostly play Everquest 2 and would love to be able to play on high settings. I did not want to spend over $200 (excluding tax and shipping). I may possibly need a new power supply to go along with this. My computer is a Dell Dimension 5100 with the following specifications. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

nVidia 9600GT, probably the best your CPU and power supply can handle.

Your biggest problem will be to find both a new PSU that will fit in that Dell case and make sure that the VC is not going to be so long that it won't fit once you solve these problems then you can make an informed decision about what parts you will purchase. I would suggest you remove the side panel after shutting down and disconnecting the power cord and measure the PSU and the distance you have for the VC then post the measurements so we can better assist you.

Tell you what, stick to HD 4670...no PCIE connector, power efficient, fits in all cases, and almost as powerful as 8800GT

Okay, I made some measurements. What I'm looking at is a PSU that is 5 1/2" long (there is a little more room to go longer, maybe 6 1/2" max) 6" wide and 3 1/2" high. For the video card slot, I should be able to do a max of 8 3/4" for a single slot and 6 3/4" for a double, but for the double if the fan is on top of the card this will put it right in front of the heat sink for the cpu so it will be getting some hot air blowing on it. There is plenty of room underneath the video card, I just have a little fan there that hooks into an empty slot pulling air out.

The Dell Dimension 5100 may be one of the units that uses a proprietary PSU. You may have to get a PCPC Silencer unit made for Dell OEMs.

http://www.pcpower.com/products/power_supplies/dell/

NE has some of these too, at better prices.

(Though I'm not totally sure, you'll want to check out if it is proprietary, b/c if it is and yu sue a non-compat, you'll be in a world of dung.)

Penewah!

Ok Penewab is correct on the PSU's so please check out the specs on your PSU, NE does carry the 500 watt that I have linked below. As for the VC you would have to drop back to a 9500 to fit a Nvidia chipset VC cause none of the manufacturers are posting the lenght of the cards and I have spent hours searching for them, so I would recomend you try the ATI chipset, I have listed 4 that will fit and work well with what you have in the 4670 series and none of them require a 6/8 pin plug but they may require a higher rated amperage than what your Dell PSU supplies so I would still advise you change out the PSU to be on the safe side.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703016 PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000380048%201305520549%20106792627%201295318922&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16814102792%2CN82E16814121274%2CN82E16814125244%2CN82E16814102804 VCs

Okay, how do I tell if I have this proprietary psu? I have the original psu sitting out, the 400 watt is just something I picked up for a little extra juice, but I don't know anything really about it except that it works and it's not from Dell.

Well you just answered your own question, if you bought an off the shelf PSU and it has worked all this time then you don't have the proprietory type PSU. So it would be safe to put a different type PSU in as long as it fits, which the PC P&C 1 I recomended should do the job for you.

Thank you for your help.

You are more than welcome!!