Member Avatar for BboyRodimus

Hi guys,

I recently just built my first computer that I bought bundled on newegg and I must say, it was really fun building it. This computer is using a Phenom II Six-Core processor Black Edition(3.2 Ghz) mounted on the ASUS M4A88T-M LE motherboard that supports crossfire. Running on 8 gb of RAM and also running a 450w PSU that came with the Rosewill case/chassis.

My question is, what is the best graphic/video card that I can run on this 450w PSU, I prefer ATI cards since my motherboard seems to work well with ATI cards or at least what it says on the website and manual. I need some suggestions, I'm not going to be in hardcore gaming or anything, but something that can perform pretty well with current games or even online gaming (which is what I do most). If you guys can help me that would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

UPDATE: My Asus motherboard has integrated ATI Radeon 4250 HD, I know crossfire needs a bigger PSU, but how does crossfire work and do I need to use it?

Edited by BboyRodimus because: n/a
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Nice first build — nice choice of parts and good troubleshooting so far. With the Phenom II six‑core, ASUS M4A88T‑M LE and 8 GB RAM you already have a solid starting point; the onboard Radeon HD 4250 will handle basic online games and desktop work, but a discrete card will give a much bigger frame‑rate boost for modern titles.

Practical steps to pick a safe GPU for a 450W Rosewill unit:

  • Open the case and read the PSU label. Note the +12V rail amperage and whether you have any 6‑pin or 8‑pin PCIe power leads.
  • If the PSU has no PCIe power connectors, limit yourself to cards that draw only from the PCIe slot (typically <=75 W). Those give good results for casual/online play.
  • If a card needs a 6/8‑pin connector but your PSU lacks one, do not rely on cheap molex->PCIe adapters unless the PSU is a high‑quality unit with spare capacity.
  • Measure card length and check clearance for the Rosewill case and available PCI slot(s).

About CrossFire (what it does and whether you need it): CrossFire links two compatible AMD GPUs so they can share rendering work. It can increase frame rates in some titles, but scaling is inconsistent, drivers/patches matter, and it doubles heat and power draw. For a casual/online gamer on a modest 450W OEM PSU, a single stronger card is almost always the better, simpler choice. Only consider CrossFire if you already have two cards or plan to buy a high‑quality PSU with plenty of +12V headroom.

Recommended next steps: try your current games on the 4250 to set a baseline, then pick a single discrete card whose TDP and connector needs match your PSU and case. If you want higher settings later, upgrade to a reputable, higher‑capacity PSU (good +12V rating) and then consider a more powerful single GPU or CrossFire only if you accept the extra heat/power/driver complexity.

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Member Avatar for flagstar

Usually I would go for Nvidia because of it's performance but if you're not a hardcore gamer, ATI card might be doing just fine.

About crossfire, I'm not really sure how it work. Might as well wait for other volunteer to explain it to you and help you out...

Member Avatar for rubberman

I also like nVidia hardware, but the 4250 is not a bad GPU. See how it works for you. If you decide later to upgrade to a faster graphics card, then you will also probably want to upgrade your power supply to 750W.

Member Avatar for jingda

I like to cast my vote too:)
Nvidia has very good graphics performace so that would be my recommended choice to you.

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