How do I find out what graphics card my computer has? What is a good graphics card? Examples?

I currently have an ATI graphics card but I do not know which type I have. I'm looking to upgrade it but first I need to know which one I have and then I need some recommendations on good graphics cards for gaming that won't break the bank. I need to know what the best graphics cards are and how I can get a bargain on a good one. I'm a college student and I'm limited on funds but I want a good gaming graphics card.

How do I find out what graphics card my computer has? What is a good graphics card? Examples?
To find out run what model video card you have run


Belarc Advisor


http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html...





Builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser.





You will also need to find out if your video card slot is PCI, AGP, or PCI Express X16.


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My opinion for a new video card:


For playing the latest games a FRAPS (frames per second) of 50 or higher


For moderate games a FRAPS of 30 or more.


For simple games or no games a FRAPS of 18 or more


Refer to:


http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.h...


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X1650PRO ($39.99) FRAPS 30.8 DirectX 9


HIS Hightech H165PRF256N-R Radeon X1650PRO 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Ready Video Card -





http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...





7600GT ($74.99) FRAPS = 40.9 DirectX 9


EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...





7900GS ($119.99) FRAPS = 52.2


BFG Tech BFGR79256GSOCE GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card -


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...





8600GTS (From $132) FRAPS 53.6 DirectX 10


HDTV / S-Video / Composite Out


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...


http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.as...


Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 22 Amps








8800GTS ($249) FRAPS = 102.2 DirectX 10


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...


http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.as...


Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply. with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amps


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Many gaming video card's amperage and power requirements require a larger power supply be installed. This can be a budget buster.





How to Buy a Power Supply


http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Power-Suppl...





Nvidia SLI Certified Power Supplies


http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_bu...





ATI Radeon Crossfire Certified Power Supplies


http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/...





Diamond Video Cards Certified Power Supplies


http://www.diamondmm.com/certified.php


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Graphics card gaming performance charts:


http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.h...


http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=399...


http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option...


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CPU gaming performance charts:


http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.h...





CPU Benchmarks


http://www.cpubenchmark.net/index.php
Reply:you can see what devices are installed under the device manager from my computer. It depends if you have a pci slot pci express or agp slot. I upgraded to an ATI Radeon 1300 cost about a hundred bucks and graphics are great, that was on pci.