Requirement question

[Pwnzilla]

9600GT for ~$100.
Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-96TES3P-FSP GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Save up another $40 or so and add another Gb of ram to go to 2Gb and you will be set.

Just ensure that your case and power supply can accomodate the video card requirements.

[Pedro]

Now the question would be since we established that a video card will be the part to upgrade, does your motherboard use PCI-E or AGP as a video slot?

[Pierce]

Originally Posted by Pedro

Now the question would be since we established that a video card will be the part to upgrade, does your motherboard use PCI-E or AGP as a video slot?

Was just gonna ask that

It would be great if he could post his whole computer spec, could get a broader look. Most of the time a vid card upgrade will boost game preformance more than a cpu upgrade, but sometimes a slower/older cpu can bottleneck it.

[Grum]

Originally Posted by Zinmasterb

You can get an 8600GT for about $80 I believe.

I second that...great budget card. I had one for about a year and had 0 problems with it!

[Ahramon]

Ive got a NVIDIA GeForce 6800 and it says it in a PCI slot. It worked ok for WoW but WAR looks like it has much better graphics.

[Pedro]

Then you're good, 6800's only came out AGP and PCI-E

Also regular PCI is a far older interface, it goes (as far as I remember), ISA, VESA, PCI, AGP, PCI-E.

So saying that a Geforce 6800 was PCI trew me off and had to research it lol

Can you give us the model of your motheroard and case type? or if it's a brand PC (Dell, Compaq, Acer, etc) the model, since the Geforce 8 and 9 series are pretty long and tightly fit on new medium ATX cases.

[Ahramon]

I have a Dell XPS 400.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by Ahramon

I have a Dell XPS 400.

Processor
Type
Intel Pentium D 2.80 GHz

Cache Memory
Type
L2 cache
Installed Size
2 MB

Mainboard
Chipset type
Intel 945G
Data bus speed
800 MHz

RAM
Installed Size
1 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology
DDR SDRAM

Graphics Controller
Graphics Processor / Vendor
NVidia GeForce 6800
Installed Size
256 MB

Audio Output
Type
Sound card - Integrated
Speaker(s)
1

Telecom
Modem
Fax / modem - PCI - Integrated
Max transfer rate
56 Kbps

Networking
Networking
Network adapter

Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Bays Total (Free)
2 ( 1 ) x External - 5.25 in, 2 ( 2 ) x External - 3.5 in, 2 ( 0 ) x Internal - 3.5 in
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
4 Memory, 3 PCI, 1 PCI Express x1, 1 PCI Express x16, 1
Interfaces
7 x USB 2.0 - USB 2.0, 1 x DVI-output - RJ-45, 1 x Headphones - RJ-11, 1 x Microphone - VGA, 5 x Audio, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Modem, 1 x Keyboard, 1 x Mouse, 1 x Monitor, 1

Power
Operational power consumption
375 Watt
Operational power consumption (standby)
375 Watt



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So the video card seems that it can fit if that blue plastic doesn't cover the rear area, or you might need to take it off.

One thing to consider is the power supply might not be able to handle the video card, not only in wattage but in amperage, and Brand computers are not too happy when you change their parts for aftermarket parts, so honestly can't say that replacing the power supply will work for your computer, but it might or might not.

A RAM upgrade would be your next logical step if you don't have enough money to change the whole thing, it's 3 almost 4 year old PC.

[Ahramon]

Wow thanks, that was very informative.

[Ahramon]

hmmmm....thank you for all that info. I didn't know that the computer was that old. I got it about a 2 years ago and i thought it just came out then. now that i think about it i might be better of saving up some money and getting a new one.