Acer aspire T310

[Nabx3n]

Hi everyone

I have been trying to find the right Video card for Acer aspire but I'm pretty afraid of the problems that it may cause to my computer.

 

it's acer aspire T310 Celeron D core Duo 2.67 2.66

atm ram is just 512Mb but I'll upgrade it to 1.25Gb hopefully

and the video card i have is only 64Mo lol I'm poor.

 

this is an image of it's motherboard:

 

 

someone please tell me a good and (cheap if possible) Video card that is between 512Mo and 1Go? please?

 

[Slamman]

You're confined to AGP x4 or AGP x8, so look over eBay for the best card at the best price, if you can't use Ebay to purchase, at least you have an idea what to look for anywhere else. The Celeron D is not dual core, it's a higher level of 478 socket Celeron. Only the PENTIUM D is dual core, so check that out, or I could run a tech-spec check for you.

 

>> I checked eBay, not much there under your model, so Here's Acer's link... it's stuck loading up for me

 

http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/...reT310sp2.shtml

 

Here's a similar query, just looking into it, AGP x8 appears the right card, and these are now basically all replaced by PCI Express now, but you can get an 8 series nVidia or as I did with my Celeron D Compaq Presario SR1220NX, replace the Celeron with a Pentium as he did, make sure it's HyperThread, and 2GB DDR400 (I presume) as well as, in my case, an 8400 nVidia, for PCI slot anyway, I don't know if they did one for AGP users, but I was thinking it possible

 

Here's that REALLY got ATI Radeon series, 1GB of video RAM, but it's defeated by a lack of dual core for that mobo I suspect, HT will give you a fascimile of performance for multi-thread apps

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...08114547AAvYEfO

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIS-IceQ-H467QS1GH...#ht_2783wt_1185

 

 

Edited December 4, 2011 by Slamman

[Nabx3n]

thanks man, after all I'm still afraid about it.

and not sure about tech-specs but sure man, thanks a lot!

 

also are these good ones?

 

GeForce 7300GT 512MB DDR2 AGP:

 

 

ati Radeon HD 4650 512MB AGP:

 

 

 

[Nabx3n]

You're confined to AGP x4 or AGP x8, so look over eBay for the best card at the best price, if you can't use Ebay to purchase, at least you have an idea what to look for anywhere else. The Celeron D is not dual core, it's a higher level of 478 socket Celeron. Only the PENTIUM D is dual core, so check that out, or I could run a tech-spec check for you.

 

>> I checked eBay, not much there under your model, so Here's Acer's link... it's stuck loading up for me

 

http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/...reT310sp2.shtml

 

Here's a similar query, just looking into it, AGP x8 appears the right card, and these are now basically all replaced by PCI Express now, but you can get an 8 series nVidia or as I did with my Celeron D SR1220NX, replace the Celeron with a Pentium as he did, make sure it's HyperThread, and 2GB DDR400 (I presume) as well as, in my case, an 8400 nVidia, but try and get an 8800 if there is one, it's one of the best series cards

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...08114547AAvYEfO

thanks a lot man!! I'll look for it

[Slamman]

Don't double post, that's against rules. I added the most expensive current eBay link to the above, the best card on there, slightly more then $100 USD

 

I bought from Microcenter in the USA and the card was around $50 for 8400GS, nVidia with 512 or 256MB video Ram, only a PCI motherboard though, but it's got an 8 series nVidia now! Nice find I felt. AGP x8 is somewhat rare since I only have one of those myself. I bought a 6200 AGP card and that's pretty woeful these days

 

The 8600 nVidia is the minimum for gaming GTA IV on PC, and that game is tough! It required dual core or more from your CPU, but it will install in a HT enabled CPU

 

The HD4670 it looks like, a good gaming option for AGP users! I'd get one myself. AMD owns ATI these days, I got some of their under-performing cards, like the 9250 for PCI Express! X300 as well, not very good at all! haha

 

This card is similar to what I bought for my CelD Compaq

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NVIDIA-GeForce-840...a8#ht_500wt_969

 

Here's a 3.4 if you can find out for sure your motherboard supports it.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentium-4-3-4GHZ-H...#ht_1513wt_1200

 

Not a bad price, 800Mhz Front Side bus. Check specs to match on your computer, that's mainly a highest end CPU there

You seem to be able to use a Pentium 3.2, which is the same clock as dual and quad cores, in the mainstream, but it will only be Hyper Threading. Modern CPUs use HT tech (Intel) as well on each core, so every core has two thread capability if it has HT technology

 

Here's the safe bet, lower price 3.2Ghz

 

Nothing to be scared of installing these, per instructions, the power supply could use an upgrade as noted above in the link!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-SL6WG-Pentiu...#ht_3086wt_1185

 

Here's something of a review, Prescott and Northwood CPUs show as supported

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Review/18221...spire-t310.aspx

 

If you opt to replace the motherboard, this guide is fairly good, I prefer picture guides myself!

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_7292297_replace-mo...spire-t310.html

 

Remember when you change VAST hardware like a mobo and components, Windows previous formatting won't recognize it and likely Blue Screen of Death on you, unless you can get a chipset match that's close enough, and they don't have to be exact if it's Windows XP!

 

From your photo I can tell you have a SiS southbridge, would would seem to suggest SiS northbridge under that heatsink

There's a chip for Realtek audio as well near the PCI slots, and by looking at the markings, you can get an idea what drivers you'll need for that particular board

Edited December 4, 2011 by Slamman

[Nabx3n]

thanks a lot man, im thinking about getting nvidia geforce 8400 gs 512mb but im trying to evoid changing anything on the computer except rams and video card.

here is more infos about my computer:

 

 

computer type: PC monoprocessor ACPI

CPU type: Intel celeron D 330, 2666 MHz (20 x 133)

Motherboard name: Acer E61ML

Motherboard chipset: SIS 661FX/GX

System memory: 1280 Mb

Monitor: LG 775FT Plus [17" CRT]

 

I'd prefer an Agp type video card that would be above 512Mo, is there any? thanks in advance

[Slamman]

That one with 1GB of video RAM, in the mid-2000s you were looking at lower RAM specs, but you can get 2GB of DDR400 and the machine spec on CNET is 333Mhz

 

DDR PC3200 is what you need for the old P4 boards.

SiS is Silicon Integrated Systems, they make the chipset in my PCCHips BookPC, and that's not very high end, it's meant for Networking, but I maxed it out to 1Ghz Pentium II and 1GB of RAM! haha

 

The best card as mentioned, ATI Radeon most likely, and just over $100, luckily it's Newegg's eBay so you can go through their site looking as well

SiS661FX

That's the Northbridge ^^

I see you got some specs, I would ditch the Celeron D however, the FSB is 533Mhz, and not 667 or 800Mhz, according to CNET, so that might limit the Prescott choices, but to know it will allow that generation Pentium 4 is enough to keep looking for a good deal on one! Keep a note taped to your PC case (inside) of the spec options. I use a felttip marker to make some notes on spec upgrades.

 

Celeron is lacking internal instruction set, and you can note in the review, Prescott adds to Northwood's instruction set, so it will be better suited to all manner of software, and allow HyperThreading, HT is the most important feature for older CPUs since it can act like a dual core without being actual dual core.

 

Here's one that's still going, you can see this and still bid, for 2 + hours, counting down!!

The price is under $100, still the same spec DDR3 1GB video RAM, these are so nice, I'll be getting one too!!

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Radeon-HD-4670...4#ht_500wt_1202

Edited December 4, 2011 by Slamman

[Nabx3n]

wow man, thanks a lot! I really apreciate your work! I'll get that too!

[leik oh em jeez!]

When it comes down to it, no cheap AGP card is going to be able to use more than 512Mb, even if it has it. Worry about the fastest chip for the best price and make sure it's a 512Mb card.

 

I'll also point out that $100 for any AGP card other than a collector's item is a rip off. Even faster AGP cards shouldn't cost you more than $30-40

[Slamman]

There were AGP cards selling at MC for a long time into the PCIe era. I believe it will be hard to get the BEST of the BEST for anything less then an investment, and I would imagine if you keep an AGP board around, and it is 8x!!! then you'll want the best card for it, I know the 8400GS I have for PCI is bottlenecked, but it seems the CPU is causing it. I uploaded video on YouTube showing some tests from my Compaq, which uses Intel chipset, Extreme Graphics integrated and 533Mhz FSB

 

I did upgrades to keep my systems running whatever they could, but I agree that the Celeron won't be a good gaming option, for needed horsepower

[leik oh em jeez!]

He's not building a collector's system. He already stated he's got that system because he is NOT pouring money into it. He's just trying to upgrade what he has. The HD4670 is a bit slower than the 8800GT (8800GT being up to 80% faster in some games) and 8800GTs generally sell for $35-45. Hell, GTX260s can be had for $60 or less if you know where to look. GTX285s, a f*ck ton faster than any AGP card can imagine, generally sell for $100 now, and GTX480s are dropping below $200.

 

You'd have to be a complete moron to drop $100 on an AGP card to go into a cheap pre-built system. It's one thing to shoot for a world record AGP system if you've got the money. I can understand that, but that's not at all what this is.

[Slamman]

He's interested in something that will allow most games of the vintage spec wise to run, or I'd assume he'd be content with the 7 or 6 series, They ARE better then integrated graphics. My point is that AGPx8 is the best of that variety, and the card can remain if the computer goes, making it a collectible item of hardware, SAVE your cards if you can use them later, that's what system builders do and people who like to tinker. I do agree the prices are a bit steep, but all those cards were listing over $100. No where near $40 for the top model AGPs.

 

My angle is what can you max the boards out at, and then anything below that is fair game as well.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Slamman

[leik oh em jeez!]

Being a console gamer and using a cheap prebuilt system shows he's not a tinkerer like you and I. If he ever were to replace his main board for an upgrade, there would be no reason not to upgrade to a PCI-e board, in which case he wouldn't be able to use his card anymore. I'll also bring back the point that with a memory bandwidth of 21 GB/s, that $68 card would never use 1GB of memory and will perform the same as a 512MB card. Compare that to 112GB/s on a GTX260 for the same price.

 

Add that to the fact that he'll be paying collector price for a card that collectors may not be looking for if he ever needs to sell it, and paying premiums for such a card really starts to seem like a bad idea. If I were him, I'd look for a cheap but fast 512Mb card without a box to throw in until I've got the money to build a new system, or even to keep for good. No point in paying 300-400% more for 5% more performance, if that.

[Slamman]

Most people who own an old computer have the collection of software for it, they may require older specs in some instances, but my idea was to show him the complete upgrade path, that means the best you can do, and work your way around the lesser spec'd upgrades. If he's comfortable with the added cost, that's fine. Seems he's more concerned about doing it himself. And it's fairly easy to tackle normal upgrades, and I find it very enjoyable.

 

As mentioned in the last link of the post beforehand, he can swap out the motherboard instead, and get a Core2Quad if he wanted, the key thing is removing the JackBack plate for connections in some case, and making sure the case front panel wires up to the new board. As well, a PSU upgrade to 400~500 watts is something to consider, but that's likely 20 versus 24 pin I'm sure... No SATA connectors, but if there's Firewire, it's good for many digital cameras and video editing.

 

Of course, not everyone concurs with my philosophy but computers that still work should be put to good use, how I see it. I'd like for all my AGP boards, which are 4x to be 8x speed. I'd asked on a PCIe card I had about that 1GB Vram that supposedly never gets tapped, Why engineer that much over-kill?? It makes no sense to do such a thing, unless they're doing it for large spec numbers. I would think engineering a card by design should make it perform and not just look neat with added components it doesn't need.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Slamman

[Finn 7 five 11]

For over a $100 ON AN agp card you could buy a second hand pre-built much better than what he currently has.

[Slamman]

I spent over $100 on the 9250 Radeon!??!

 

I'd need a better AGPx8 anyway, but as I said, it can be hot-rodded, updated, or retrofitted, I'd request that he offer some pictures of the case, how things attach wire-wise. That way you can figure out what "pin outs" one would need to match. Manuals certainly help. I can't find much info for that model.

 

Here's some large images, I thought it was a SFF full board ATX from some of that posted, but it seems, like eMachines and Compaq, it's just a miniTower mATX platform, restricting mobo retrofitting;

 

http://concepcion.olx.cl/cpu-acer-aspire-t...0-iid-165344676

 

Translator was used in the web browser ^

Edited December 6, 2011 by Slamman

[Nabx3n]

ok guys, after searching all over the places here are more infos about my computer...

 

Power supply: 200Watts

AGP 1.5V

Ram 1.25 but can upgrade it to 2Go if i had to

Monitor: 17" Tv like but flat screen.

 

ok so I'm not able to upgrade anything but graphic card and ram atm but what now worries me more is the "watts" I kinda like this card (HIS RADEON HD 4670 1GB AGP)

 

 

but they said it needs a 400Watts power supply

 

my question is, is it alright to use that card? i could upgrade to 2gb ram but for 200Watts, not that easy in my country.

 

would it atleast keep working without using HD games such as Gta IV? as working on it normal or playing old games such as Gta sa?

 

thanks for the help guys!

[Slamman]

I'd use that card too, I saved the package pic off eBay to remind me later on, if you have AGPx8, which is hard to come by where I am, I'd say use that over PCI, but if you prefer PCI and low cost, the 8400GS will work, is low profile and has Shader Model 4.0 as well as CUDA softwware/hardware implementation. I ran a software suite on my 2005 Compaq called Geeks3D, it should be online, thought it came on disc for me, download their app to run some graphic tests benchmarking your system's hardware, When I ran the apps I had (PC Utilities magazine in the UK) it included CPU and RAM meters that are active and displayed as a tab on the upper right of your display, my Vista OS uses a similar Intel OSD for both CPU cores and RAM sticks, it's been updated on a site for Windows third-party gadgets (Windows opted to drop Gadgets from support and development)

 

For any games falling within the 2000 era, the cards should be up to snuff, but the CPU will become a bottleneck. Look for 400watt or higher PSU, that's Power Supply Unit. It won't need to power the card directly like PCIe systems, just have enough watts for all board components running on your PC.

 

I uploaded my system testing the above app;

 

 

I had another video showcasing the "Fuzzy Cube" effect, but it seems lacking, I refer to "Celeron D", at the end I meant to say "Pentium D" for the dual core First Generation that does support 533Mhz FSB, but I believe only the 775 sockets

Here's a similar setup with Crysis running on it

 

 

Edited December 7, 2011 by Slamman

[Wolf68k]

Well since Slamman is going to give out his usually bits of babbling BS that doesn't really answer your question, I guess I'll have to.

 

Since the system requirements for that card says you need a 400W PSU then no, do not try to run that card on your 200W PSU. Even if the system started up with problems, the moment you go to start stressing the card by playing a game you could at best end up with the system turning itself off or at worse damaging the card and possibly other parts of your system. I think you'll find that most AGP gaming cards will need between 300-400W.

 

As old as that system is it would be best to just save up until you have enough to buy or build a whole new system that is a lot newer. That system has lasted long enough, and while it might still be going on, it would cost you more money to try to upgrade it than it would be to build or buy a new one.

 

I know that's not the answer/suggestion you want to hear, but it's the truth.

[Nabx3n]

wow, thanks a lot man i really apreciate your help bro and nice video

 

so here is what i could now get. so tell me if it's good or would there be issues?

 

2 of these: (2Gb ram)

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-OPTIMA-PC3200-De...23287506&sr=8-2

 

1 of this: (his radeon 4670 1gb)

http://www.amazon.com/HIS-Radeon-Native-Gr...23287132&sr=8-1

 

and also this: (430watts psu)

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-EA-430D-Power-...23286980&sr=8-1

 

would be all good then?

[Slamman]

If you have 1GB DDR400 already, you'd only need one more. Some of what you read for new PC with 4 to 6 cores is that games can't use them unless they're written as such, the games of the mid 2000s had no way to exploit current technology and anything just out in the past few years must be written for it, software-wise.

As mentioned, of course, bottlenecks can happen anywhere in a system however, like good card, poor CPU and poor peripheral connectors restrict data flow, and it all has to flow when requested and needed, memory always helps.

 

Since you can go HyperThreading a CPU setup to use it will benefit. They obviously keep HTT around on new processors because it's working well over the years.

The instructions sets SSE are all helpful for more advanced CPU tasks. I think you got good hardware options you picked out, you just want to have it all add up at a good cost. Certainly depends on where you are in the World, but do upgrade the power supply! 430 watts is fine for a single core CPU setup.

 

@Wolf, Everyone knows they'll want to upgrade, especially if you read postings here, everyone's in favor of it. I'm the kind who says, SEE what you CAN do with what you have, spending more money on it is a question everyone has to ask him or her self.

I wouldn't advise mis-matching power requirements. I got my 400 watter cheap, off eBay, not looking for boutique hardware and paying for spendy brand recognition.

Never had my PSU blow up in my face, or a graphics card go dead on me. The 8400GS would provide a re-usable PCI solution for any computer you have, BASICALLY EVERY computer has a PCI slot so it's great for system testing on anything as well!

Should be only $40 or so, then save up for the more spendy AGP if the PSU is required first

Edited December 7, 2011 by Slamman

[leik oh em jeez!]

 

wow, thanks a lot man i really apreciate your help bro and nice video 

 

so here is what i could now get. so tell me if it's good or would there be issues?

 

2 of these: (2Gb ram)

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-OPTIMA-PC3200-De...23287506&sr=8-2

 

1 of this: (his radeon 4670 1gb)

http://www.amazon.com/HIS-Radeon-Native-Gr...23287132&sr=8-1

 

and also this: (430watts psu)

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-EA-430D-Power-...23286980&sr=8-1

 

would be all good then?

You'd be better off building a new system. That right there is $185. I saw someone sell a triple core AMD system with an 8800GT and 450w PSU (copmlete system) for $200. The bad part about upgrading this system is that if you do ever build a new one, you won't be able to reuse any of the upgraded parts from this one except (maybe) the power supply.

 

Start checking around locally for used computers. most HP micro towers are easily upgradable and you can probably get a used PCI-e/DDR2/dual core system for $100-$150. Then the ONLY thing you would need is a graphics card. Most HP micro towers and mid towers (NOT the slimline systems) come with enough PSU headroom to run a 9800GT without problem. I've seen 9600GTs sell for as little as $20-30.

 

And if you did want to take a new system even further, a 500w PSU and a GTX260 would do fine. Like I said earlier, GTX260s can be had for $60, and would provide TONS more performance than any AGP card.

 

 

That said, Slamman has several good points in his above post. While I still highly recommend against it, IF you choose to upgrade your current system, you would only need one stick of RAM. And the 8400GS, while a bit slower, would at least be reusable if you build a new system.

 

I'm just trying to say you can spend $20-30 more and easily get 40-80% more performance. A new system would not only be a lot faster now, but it could be upgraded cheaply in the future.

Edited December 8, 2011 by leik oh em jeez!

[Slamman]

Of course, if you have a used market available, however, I do always and continue to advocate maxing a system so it retains and remains useful computing. Compare to when you got it and those parts probably loomed on the horizon in some respects, it would prove MORE expensive buying them new, so get the best cost per value of the hardware you can. I'll be uploading the other video I made of my Compaq, and since I paid $400 and decked it out, I keep it around, I did mention problems with Firewire, but I believe Firewire is still very useful considering TONS of video cameras that used it since it's inception. SA will work nicely on it, if you can score the parts mentioned

[leik oh em jeez!]

I like maxing a system too. That's why I keep old systems around. If I see something extremely cheap that can upgrade an older computer, I'll buy it. But I don't pay full retail value for something like that. I usually get stuff like that 75% off or better. If I can't get it cheap, I don't get it. And hell, GTA IV plays nicely (even on three monitors) on the system I built for $400.

[Slamman]

I'm inclined to get that AGP card just to have one MAXED OUT / TRICKED OUT AGP 8 card, and keep it around, but of course, if I could get a Core2Quad again or even a kick arse C2D and new board, on a budget, there's no reason why not. It depends on where you can get your hands on it, how much old and new software you have, and if the short term upgrade seems a good option, I can concur

[Wolf68k]

Ok I'm confused has to how much RAM you have. The starting post says 512MB then later say 1280MB which that in itself doesn't add up, even if you add in the 64MB the says in the starting post as well.

If there was 1 stick of 512MB in there to start with and you added 1GB (1024MB) stick that would be 1536MB then take away the 64Mb the onboard graphics use and you have 1472MB.

 

I'm confused by something else. You said "i could upgrade to 2gb ram but for 200Watts, not that easy in my country." The part "..my country" is the part I'm focusing on because that implies that you're not in the USA, but then you link to Amazon.com which that is for the USA and there are other Amazon.whatever for other countries. Which means that while those parts and prices look nice that doesn't mean you'll get it at the price in your country, what ever country that is.

 

@Slamman

I agree, I'm all for see what you can do with what you got. However, he gets that card and the bottle neck you loved to mention will now be the CPU.

Also there comes a point where working with what you got just isn't going to cut it.

There is such a thing as 'throwing good money at bad' even in the world of 'let's see how far I can do with what I've got'.

Let's play this scenario out. Let's take the parts he has listed from Amazon as they are, then just so there is no bottle neck and as you said "..SEE what you CAN do with what you have.." let's add in this CPU

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G4U0B8/ which as you can see is used so that most likely means no heatsink. Ok got that covered with this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FEW8JW (why? because it was on the list of a simple search for "Intel 478 CPU" and it was cheaper than one from Intel) and because of it's time it most likey comes with that standard white grease crap that no sensible system builder would use any more so I'll throw in a small tube of AS5 as well. Now looking at the total before shipping we have a total of $235.95 and remember that's USD. But wait, he's in another country so whose to say he can even get those parts at all. I mean just because you see something listed at Amazon.com doesn't mean you'll see it at Amazon.CA or .UK or .whatever and you most certainly won't see them at the same price even with currency conversion. Now then just for the heck of it let's say he is in the USA so he can get those parts at that price. That's $236 thrown at a system that's about 7yrs old. And even if he does you know he'll still have? I system that still can't play modern games, because it's still a 7yr old system. Yes, even upgrading the parts to max out the system will just be like upgrading a 7yr old low end crap system of it's time to a 7yr old as high it can be crappy system of it's time.

 

I still suggest nabnabnabn just waits. Save about $500USD, although knowing what country you're in and a link to some stores in that country would help to give you a better budget, and you can build a system that will be worth upgrading as you get the money.

 

 

It's a computer, not a car. You can justify spending $3000-5000 to fix up a 20, 30 even 40 year old car in most cases because it's classic. Unless it's a rare car that's 7 yrs old then maybe you can justify the spending the same amount there as well. But this is a computer. Once it reaches a set age (which depends on what the mobo can still take) it's done for. The only reason to hang on to something that old is to do things with it you might not to try to normally do.

If the CPU was a Socket775 but doesn't support C2Q only C2D and P4, and had a PCIE8x slot, and DDR2 then sure I could almost see it worth upgrading to it's max. But I'd still be looking at trying build fresh with much newer parts.

[Slamman]

He's got 478, which is HTT capable, and the mobo appears mATX, so retrofitting a board will mean something with one PCIe slot and allowing any space within a smaller tower. The bus speed and SiS chipset will mean getting a CPU as shown reported that's supported... before we covered that means Northwood and Prescott. As far as how old it is, That's likely known by the guy who bought the thing in the first place, but the software one uses plays key as to how antiquated it might appear. Surfing the modern web is no issue for a machine of that vintage, I know because I've used a few and I test my apps out on the same. I never said avoiding use of thermal paste, you keep saying I said that, I said don't need to reapply it if it's already been applied, the system will actually work without catching fire and melting down! (new systems, like 2011 socket, you better use some paste every time!)

As for RAM, I think he's mentioning a gig and a half. 1.5 GigaBytes.

 

I recommend avoiding the new cost from some of those sellers, but again, as is my choice, I opt for old re-conditioning if it's my computer and that's what I want. What others can manage and want is their affair entirely. We're offering the various options you can elect.

 

Looking at T310 backplates, you could almost use it with this newer gen Acer board, it uses a nice modern DDR3 setup, with 4 memory slots and 1333Mhz FSB

mATX would retrofit and allow PCIe

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACER-Q45T-AM-INTEL...c#ht_3513wt_952

 

I just uploaded the "Fuzzy Cube" vid I'd neglected previously. I thought both 8400GS vids had been uploaded. I wanted to showcase what the older OEMs can do, and of course, not expecting it to run Crysis, that was a neat video to stumble across.

 

 

Edited December 8, 2011 by Slamman

[leik oh em jeez!]

That board comes to over $100 USD. I paid $60 for an XFX 780i 3-way SLI board, and it had free shipping. Remember to shop around before buying.

 

Most I would pay for that board is around $40, and that's only if I NEEDED it. I expect the average auction for such a board to be $40-50.

[Slamman]

I know it's costly, but it looks like a nice ACER made board to retrofit with. I'd say don't get discouraged over particular pricing and vendors in the link, but make note of who makes what so you can source it the best possible way.

 

SLi boards I've seen are over $100, so that's a great deal! mATX is surely half the cost, in most cases.

[leik oh em jeez!]

In this case, rather than looking for a specific brand, I'd say search all motherboards that meet the criteria you need, make a list of cheapest ones, and then select the best one from that list. Getting good prices takes time and research, but is well worth it in the end.

 

Hell, I got my TYAN n4250qe for under $50 shipped. It's like the quad-socket god of motherboards. General retail for new boards is $700, and I'm sure they were even more when released.

 

And the XFX board came with everything except the north bridge fan and original box. Still had the original installation guide, driver disk, etc. Most others I see on ebay are $80-90. I got a good deal, yes. But that doesn't mean more won't be sold cheaper.

Edited December 8, 2011 by leik oh em jeez!