On Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:18:23 -0600, a1pcfixer
wrote:

I'm needing to upgrade an old GeForce 8500GT w/256ram, which came stock
on a Gateway Desktop GM5632E, and running Vista Ultimate, on a 24" LCD
monitor.

I'm thinking the solder joints are starting to fail on this old one.
After being on a couple days, the display starts to disintergrate, then
BSOD's to needing a cool down & reboot. It's old, outdated & time to
go!

I'm an old gamer (Unreal Tournament & Quake) and sometimes run my R/C
flight sim (RealFlight 4.5 which likes 512MB vid RAM or more).

So, top of the line vid card really isn't needed, but I'd like one with
1GB RAM, no extra PS connector required, and similar sized to what it
came with would be good (about 6 3/4" Long x 4" deep). I have a little
room in length before running into things....say NO MORE than 9 1/2"
long.

Stock PS is rated as follows;
400W max
+5/+3.3 max 140W
+12v(1) and +12v(2) max 30A

NVidia has so many choices, I'm needing some suggestions.

So; 1GB-RAM, short card preferred, NO extra PS connector on card
needed, PCIe 16, NVidia ONLY (sorry, no ATI for me).

Suggestions please?

You kind of limit yourself with the "no extra PS connector". Your ideal
card would probably be the GTX 460, which is virtually silent, sips power,
runs cool and eliminates the extra connection to a sound card for the HDMI
audio.