Need Help With My PC Gaming Dilemma!

[Killing_Time]

I'm looking to start playing games on my desktop PC, but I don't know if it can be upgraded the way I want it to. I'm looking at buying a new graphics card to replace my desktops current integrated video card. This is the one I'm looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

My problem is that I don't know if this specific graphics card is good enough to play the current PC titles on max settings. Also I don't know if it will fit into my PC since it's a slim tower PC. Any help would be great. Kinda getting sick of dated console graphics and I really want to play Starcraft II and Crysis. Oh, and here's the model of my PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-SX2800-07-Desktop-PC-Black/dp/B0031U1J1K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1303184903&sr=8-1

Like I said, any help would be great.

 

[oplinger]

Well, if you can upgrade the power supply (i'd suggest 500 watts minimum, that should be enough power for anything reasonable.) then yeah that card would be fine. It's a midgrade card, but it'll do what you want probably, with a few exceptions.

Could also look into a complete upgrade and just strip the gateway down for parts if it's non-upgradeable. >.> though I'm sure that's not a A rated option for you..

anyway, PSUs are cheap.

 

[Killing_Time]

How much would a 500-Watt Power Supply cost me and would someone with relatively little PC upgrade knowledge be able to install it?

 

[Killing_Time]

(Double Post Removed)

 

[MisterShine]

How much would a 500-Watt Power Supply cost me and would someone with relatively little PC upgrade knowledge be able to install it?

I bought a good 600 watt for 60$ USD,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028
this should do it for you though

And while it is more complicated to install than say RAM or a video card, it isn't that hard. The PSU has half a dozen power cables sticking out of it, each going to a different section of your computer. Tape a piece of paper to each one labeling that chord to where it plugged in at (or take a picture), and then with your new PSU, match the chords to the right one. They all look different so it isn't too complicated, and the wrong plugs don't fit into the right holes, so you can't screw it up really.

Hope this helps.

 

[Killing_Time]

But will the graphics card and the new Power Supply fit into a slim tower form PC?

 

[efeat]

How much would a 500-Watt Power Supply cost me and would someone with relatively little PC upgrade knowledge be able to install it?

Let me tackle your 2nd question first. Installing a new Power Supply Unit (PSU) is a fairly involved process, but it's not complicated. MasterShine's suggestion would work well, and you'll notice fairly quickly that it's hard to connect a PSU incorrectly. The plugs are all keyed and shaped differently, so (unless you really try) you physically cannot plug something into the wrong slot.
Ever notice that power cords have one prong bigger than the other? That's so you can't plug them in the wrong way. The same mentality comes into play here.

As for a PSU recommendation, one that I've used before and had a good experience with was the Antec Earthwatts.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035
It's a little pricier, yes, but a high quality PSU with a conservative wattage is better than a low quality unit with a high wattage. Without getting into the surprisingly long list of PSU technical specs, I'll leave you with this 12 second video.

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That is a cheap PSU. That is what happens when you place a cheap PSU under load. You do NOT want that in your system.

 

[MisterShine]

But will the graphics card and the new Power Supply fit into a slim tower form PC?

The measurements for each seem to put them in a different order but.. probably not. Your tower is tiny. If it doesn't bother you, you can just remove the back of the tower and have them hang outside (mine does that as well), you just have to be careful not to mess with it and to vacuum it every week or so to keep out the dust.

edit: On further thought, you might want to take your tower up to Best Buy or something and ask them if you can see which cards might fit into your computer. They might have the sales rep handle everything but at least you can watch them do it.

 

[Hashime]

I have the same card. At 1600x900 it runs everything maxed out on detail and almost maxed out with AA and AF.
That is if you can get a 5770 to fit.

I also plan on adding a second, but you don't have that option.

 

[Killing_Time]

Wow, sounds like a whole lot of money and a whole lot of modifying my computer... not sure if it's worth it anymore. If only I had though about gaming when I bought the PC.