Do high end graphics cards require specific CPUs in the computers they are used in?

I have a Dell XPS400. Its a gamer desktop but I want to upgrade from Nvidia 6800 to Nvidia 8800. Is there a minimum requirement for the CPU? or do I just change it and thats it?

Do high end graphics cards require specific CPUs in the computers they are used in?
Just do it this way:


Choose the graphics cards say Nvidia 8800 go to


www.nvidia.com, read its minimum hardware requirements.


See if it matches yours in terms of CPU requirements, I think Dell XPS400 has


(NEW Intel® Pentium® D Processor up to 840 (3.2GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB) with Dual Core Technology.)


So it should be good enough.


Dell XPS400 has


Output Wattage: 375 WattsAlso see the power requirements of the graphics card


might just have to upgrade this atleast by the difference of power requirement of 6800 and 8800, but on the higher side.





Interesting thing -%26gt;





Dell XPS600 uses 6800 + 7800 in parallel using above technology but its supply is about 650W.





Check this out -%26gt; its really nice two graphics card in parallel


http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic...





NVIDIA® SLI™ technology is a revolutionary platform innovation that allows you to intelligently scale graphics performance by combining multiple NVIDIA graphics solutions in a single system with an NVIDIA nForce® SLI media and communications processor (MCP).





Bottom Line for graphics cards specifically -%26gt; With my personal experience in the industry, I personally recommend buying the card from the PC manufacturer by letting them know your model because there had been problems of hardware compatibility before. In this case you could always blame on the upgrader rather than if you buy it from open market. Just keep yourself slightly upgraded before buying to stop anyone making a fool of our ignorance.


Good day, bye
Reply:They do have minimum requirements but they are too low in this case you have nothing to worry about it, just make sure you buy the one that uses the same port (PCIE or AGP)
Reply:Its a bigger PSU (powersupply) You'll be needing. Thats like, 425 watts and dell/hp mostly have 300 watts, which is way to low.
Reply:Actually...as opposed to what everyone else is saying, YES the CPU is important.





Take for example a P4...that thing is going to really bottleneck a card like the 8800 as it just can't get the GPU the data it needs fast enough.
Reply:Your CPU should be fine for the nVidea8800GT, what you should be more concerned with is if you have the right power supply. The 8800GT requires a minimum of 450 or so watt power supply with a certain amount available to the 12v rail. I'm not sure of all the specific specs, but I know you need a strong PSU to run that card.