Computer Idiot Needs Video Card Suggestions

Hi guys,
My computer recently crapped out on me. I bought a fairly nice system from BestBuy (never again) with the intent to upgrade the video card in it for better gaming quality.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+E...&skuId=1243364

So that's it there.

Now I would like to buy a:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130562

Which also means I will need a better power supply which is where I fit a snag. Is there any easier way to know if it will fit in your tower outside of opening the case and measuring the current supply with a ruler?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-088-_-Product

Is what I'm looking at, though I have no idea how big it is.

What do you guys suggest?

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Virtue:
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The video card you're looking at should work fine. On the power supply issue they're a standard size so physically nearly anything will fit. Personally I'd pay a few extra bucks and snag this PSU instead of the coolmax you listed, Corsair makes really good stuff.

It's a once burned thing with me, I've bought a few economy PSU's in the past and nearly always had issues down the road. I've never had a Corsair go bad on me.

In looking over the "specs" on Best Buy's site for your machine I don't see any info on the PSU it came with but it's probably worthwhile upgrading anyway.

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COH has just been murdered by NCSoft. http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes

Can't find any PSU specs either on that box. But I don't expect them to be all that high give the HD 5450 they have in it.

The GTX 460 needs 140 watts more than an HD 5450 (160 Vs 20 watts). It also needs two, 6-pin PCIe power connectors. Pointing this out because the Cooler Master only has one, which is odd for a 600 watt PSU and I consider that fact to be an indicator of a much older or lower quality PSU design.

Sorry, you are going to have to crack open the case to check out if there is any physical reason, an obstruction or a special retention mechanism beyond the four screws holding it in, that would prevent you from using a "longer" non standard PSU. The opening in the rear is standard, about 5.9" x 3.4". The standard depth is about 5.5". However if a larger top (bottom) mounted fan is used or it has modular cabling, they tend to be deeper.

If you want a "low cost" modular PSU, the 600W OCZ ModXStream is modular, has a reasonable amount of power where it counts at 12 volts, and seem to be always on sale with rebates on top of it. On top of it Hardware Secrets, a site which tears down PSUs, analyze their components as well as test them under a range of loads, gave it a top rating. EDIT: Of course this power supply is longer than the ATX12V PSU standard because of the large fan and modular plugs, by about an inch.

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Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
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Tempus unum hominem manet

It's most likely a 400-450w PSU. If bare minimum, 350w PSU. Even so, it will likely not include the required connectors, as Father Xmas has mentioned.

As for PSU recommendations (Because the GPU choice is more than excellent), I'd recommend the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817233010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171036

Any of them should be more than enough.

Bewarned that the GTX 460 768MB is a good amount inferior to the GTX 460 1GB. For CoH, however, I would not worry too much about it.

You may also acquire this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500173 as it has a rebate, as well as being $5 cheaper than the EVGA before rebate. Zotac is a fine company to choose for video graphics, but may differ in warranty and does not include EVGA's step-up program.

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