Is this a HOT deal?

Got an email from NewEgg today.... "Black Friday Deals All Month"

here is a link to the entire page of deals ---> NewEgg Deals <---

More specifically, Im looking at the video cards listed in the $50 deals. There is the MSI R4350-MD512H Radeon HD 4350 512MB, $33, and the XFX HD-545X-YNH2 Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 512MB, $45.

I would LOVE to get rid of this 9400GS I have, and if all it takes to get a respectable bump in performance is $50, im in!

Your 9400 GS is really a rebadged 8500GT. That said, you would think all of the cards you listed would be a great improvement to what you have, but I'm going to have to recommend NO WAY as to any of those. They may "play" more modern games in the sense that the game will actually start up and run, but really I think you'll be quite disappointed with the performance in a "why the F did I waste my money" sort of way. These are bottom of the barrel cards meant to be thrown in to systems like very lowend & low power HTPCs or users that want just a little bit better than integrated video.

The other thing you don't mention is if your motherboard will fully utilize a PCI-E v2.0 or higher card. The 8500GT is PCI-E v1.0. If it will make use of a modern graphics card, do something like this: www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150472 or www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102870 both of which are not too terribly high over $50 after rebates & discounts and are going to get you basically your best performance under $100.

Reaper wrote: The other thing you don't mention is if your motherboard will fully utilize a PCI-E v2.0 or higher card.

Your right... I will look into that tonight when I get home.

EDIT: My board is an ECS nForce4M-A v3.0.
Here it is on Newegg, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135028

Here it is on ECS, www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite_2007/Products/...re&MenuID=52&LanID=0

Not looking like PCIe 2.0

Reaper wrote: www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150472

That card also has a 10% off promo code: EMCZZYR24

Well, you COULD still put a brand new 2.1 card in a 1.0 slot unless the GPU manual says otherwise... you're just not going to see anywhere near the benefit you'd have otherwise. Only you know your financial outlook for the future... but if it were me, I'd set aside money over time for a fresh build. No doubt, your ECS system has likely been and continues to be a great machine, but unfortunately, modern games & programs need modern dual core or better processors to run efficiently. I don't know if you get the Tiger Direct mailers, but they've had some really decent DIY PC kit deals over the past few weeks.

Yeah, I get them and the ones from Newegg. Ive been looking at parts, and I agree that its time to put the machine to rest as the main rig. It would though make a good replacement for my WHS when Vail is released.

But any new machine will have to wait until after tax refund time.

No doubt Reaper has the best advice. Save some more penny's and then upgrade. That is the best advice. I saved for over a year to build my system and I couldn't be happier.

Since my refunds are generally pretty good, (6 dependants) after paying some bills and such, we will see what is left over, and perhaps then I can make the negotiations needed to get a new system built.