i3-2120 graphics card

[stonewall02]

Ok, so I need some help and I'm a computer noob. My old PC crapped out and one of my friends had one laying around he let me have. The problem is it is pre-made bundle you buy at staples or something. Anyway it doesn't have a graphics card. So I'd like to buy something to tide me over for a while until I build a new computer. It has an i3-2120 Processor. I play pretty much WoW and some D3 on a 24" monitor, that's it. I'd like to spend around $100 but would spend up to $200ish if the performance was worth it and I could use it in my new PC. Any ideas are appreciated and if you need more info just let me know. Thanks

[Majesticii]

I'd say buy something like a GTX 650TI-Boost edition. Might have a few availability issues since the card just launched.
Think they should sell for about $149 (1GB) and $169 (2GB). They beat AMD's card in this section, the HD7850.

[Lapetos]

You will need to check inside the case and tell the forum what PSU (Power Supply) it is. Should have something like 350W written on a box inside the PC (A box that has a load of wires coming out of it that go into the disc drive, motherboard and hard drive) somewhere. Reason being if its some pre made PC, it may have a terrible power supply that might not be able to cope with a new graphics card.

[chazus]

Some pre-built's don't even have a PCI-E slot. So... check that too.

[stonewall02]

It has a 280w Power supply. And I think it has 2 PCI-e slots.

---------- Post added 2013-03-27 at 06:50 PM ----------

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link...ords=gtx+650ti

Will this work?

[Lapetos]

I'm thinking you will need a better power supply too, 280W is very low and I'm guessing people here will recommend something along the lines of 400W+ for a Graphics Card upgrade.

[shadowdeath9687]

It has a 280w Power supply. And I think it has 2 PCI-e slots.

---------- Post added 2013-03-27 at 06:50 PM ----------

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Dual-Link...ords=gtx+650ti

Will this work?

Wait for the Boost edition to come out, or if you can't wait, get a Radeon 7850. The Boost Edition is supposed to come out at the same exact price as that card and will be much faster.

[chazus]

And I think it has 2 PCI-e slots

There is a difference between "2 PCI-E 1x" slots and "1 PCI-E 16x and 1 PCI-E 1x" slots. MAKE SURE it has a graphics card slot, and not simply two pci-e 1x slots.

280w Power supply

Pretty much nope nope nope. Prebuilts almost always use crappy PSUs, so it's likely more like a 230w... And between the CPU and a 650ti... that's like 200w there at load, with no headroom.

[prankstar]

go for something along the lines of a 500watt thats what im using in my spare machine with a gtx 670

[stonewall02]

Ok so a 500w Power Supply and wait for the boost edition of the 650ti. Also make sure I have a PCI-e 16x slot. That cover it?

[prankstar]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500289 is a great card i have the 670 amp eddition and love it silent and cool as for psu go for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500289 also if your a new cutomer to new egg you get $10 off.

[yurano]

Ok so a 500w Power Supply and wait for the boost edition of the 650ti. Also make sure I have a PCI-e 16x slot. That cover it?

What you should do is wait for the CX 430 to drop back to $20 and grab a 650 Ti Boost or an on sale 660 ($180) if you're down to spend $200. The i3-2120 is actually a pretty decent CPU for standard gaming and it holds its own in WoW.

If you're not down to spend much more than $100, still get the CX 430 for $20 and grab a 7770 or 650 Ti when they're on sale (after MIR). $80-90 for the 7770 and up to $115 for the 650 Ti.

[stonewall02]

Thanks for all the replies and help