What 3D Video Card?

[gordie3640]

I am simming on a very fixed income (Soc. Sec.).  My PC is a Dell Dimension 2350 with 512Mb Ram and a Pentium 4 processor at 1.8GHz.  My Graphics Controller is the stock Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV (whatever that means).

I would like to add an inexpensive 3D video card.  I would like to try to get one at EBay.  I got one before only to find that I needed a PCI not an AGP.

What do I need for compatibility with my system?.

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

6600GT? I'm sure Cameron is just around the corner to help out

[ctjoyce]

Ashar he said PCI

Sorry dude but your SOL. You could throw in a Radeon 9250 or GeForce 5500, but when it all comes down to it, that computer is not in any way ready for gameing.

Your best upgrade option now would be to get 1GB of RAM, that way there is more RAM to split between your system and the graphic chip. After that, look to getting a MiniATX motherboard and a new processer. The new Intel Core Duo "Yonah" processers are out, and that upgrade (2.5Ghz Yonah + Mobo =$400). Looks like a huge chunck of change? Yes it is, however with that you will get a better onboard chip, a dual core processer, 1GB of RAM (assuming you did that upgrade) and a PCI-E x16 slot to upgrade later.

Cheers
Cameron

[Weather_Man]

Your PC does not have an AGP slot, so that will limit you to a PCI graphics card. Not the best option, but should be a bit better than the onboard video.

You'll be looking at an ATI 9250, or nVidia 5200/5500/5700LE/6200 PCI cards. I'd prefer the 128-bit versions if you can find one, probably the 9250.

[ctjoyce]

Even still 1GB of RAM is a much better upgrade than a new Video card. A 1GB of OCZ will run you about $80. A GeForce 6200 $80. However your whole system will benifit from the 1GB. Only games will benifit from the card.

Overall dude, your system just isn't for gameing.

Cheers
Cameron

[congo]

An ebay search for a compatible agp mainboard and then add the AGP card and the rest of your components to that...... could be an option, but you would need the mainboard drivers and a fresh install of windows for best chance of success.

However, you could source something like a socket A Nforce2 Ultra mainboard with a XP2600+ cpu or above, there should be plenty cheap secondhand ones around.
That may be cheaper than a PCI graphics card. Make sure the AGP is 8x speed and not just 4x

[Sukhoi_37]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814143058

Saw that on Newegg. Seems pretty good for PCI. It might be on eBay as well.