I'm wondering what to do for my next upgrade, I hear that this graphics i use is a weak one. Should i consider purchasing a new one, maybe a new processor as this is an old one. Or another GB of RAM. I don't know what i need to do! Links would be nice, and my budget isn't mega
I am using a XFX 7600GS 256MB (which is more or less the same as yours),so... First, you could try and use ATItool to OC your card and check the results (I managed to go as high as 533 for the core and 390 for the memory). Second, if you buy a card, buy a 8600GT - that's the 7600GTs successor and isn't super-expensive, goot performance. yeah, the cpu's not super hardcore, but I don't think that it would give you a noticable difference unless its like X2 or something.
I didn't need any additonal cooling, in fact, my temps are the same (maybe like +- 1 or 2 deg). How so? Well, the 7600GS and the 7600GT both have identical GPUs only that they're clocked differently (GS@400 and GT@560), so, theoretically, you should be able to run your GS almost (I'm saying almost cause the GS has DDR2 memory instead of the GTs DDR3) as a GT! ATItool can be used for nvidia cards as well (I'm using it myself, as I stated in my first post).
Oh and, how do you use this tool. Theres 3 sets of sliders (2d, 3D low power and 3D). Which do i use?
I use all of them, but I would suppose that the 3d slider will adjust the clocks for the 3d mode eg the gaming mode. the OC procedure: 1. increase the clocks for mem and core by, say 5 hz 2. test a few performance games (like oblivion or somethin else that needs a lot of power) for some time (say 10 mins). 3. did anything unusual happen (unusual things - artifacts, texture distortion, geometry crippling, crashes, freezes)? YES - lower the clocks by 5 hz and test again NO - goto step 1. NOTE: you can also set your clocks as high as I have them (core@533 and mem@390) and see if your machine runs okay at that level and try and go higher following steps 1.-3. easy
