Graphics Card Upgrade

[G-EORGE]

As I have probably mentioned before, my comp's graphics card is not particularly impressive (SiS 651C)  and I am now looking to upgrade.  Is there any particular specification/type  that I can look out for when comparing them;  or is it simply  a case of the more expensive the Card, the better its likely to be -  at the moment  I don't really want to spend more than

[Alphajet_Enthusiast]

Hey there,

For 45 pounds dont expect much. Best you're looking at is a Geforce FX5200, with a bit of searching.
Generally, the more expensive the card the better but not always. For example, the Geforce 6800 512MB is very marginally better than its sister the Geforce 6800 256MB.

I have the Geforce 7800, you're looking at 600 euros.
For a good card, I would go for a Geforce 6200 or higher.
If you really dont want to spend you'll get away with a Geforce FX series card, 5200+ retailing at less than 100 euros. It'll definately up your visuals very much from what you have now, as it will give you water + canopy reflections, anti-aliasing etc.

Plus this will probably be moved to the Hardware section, and that's where you'll find the best advice on these issues.

Good luck.

[Chris_F]

First you need to know what your computer's motherboard will support: PCI, AGP, or PCI-E.  Once you're armed with that knowledge then you can go searching the world for what fits your budget.  To find out what you've got check out the documentation/owner's manual which came with your computer.  Or find out what motherboard you have and do a web search.  

[G-EORGE]

Thanks for the quick responses guys; I see on amazon.co.uk that there is a Geforce 6200 128mb for

[Chris_F]

A 6200 is more card than a 5200.  Not sure how much more, but the 6200 is one generation newer than the 5200.  Granted perhaps a top end 5xxx series may outperform a bottom end 6xxx series, but when both cards being considered are x200 range cards I don't think this will be the case.

As for whether or not you can use AGP, it depends on your motherboard.  But I suspect that if your motherboard was AGP compliant (had an AGP connector) the original builder would have used an AGP card and not a PCI.  So the probability is low.  If you can find a picture of an AGP slot (google?) you can open your case and see if you have one on the mo-bo.

As for your frame rate: I recommend turning down some sliders.  I'll take frame rate over graphics any day.  Pay particular attention to the settings for dynamic scenery and clouds.  3D clouds are a definate no-no if your card isn't up to snuff.

[kipman725]

if you don't have an AGP or PCI-E slot I would question the point of upgrading as pci based cards are very slow.

The pci version of the 5200 gets about hlaf the fps of the agp version and thats one of the fastest PCI cards.

[MWISimmer]

Hi George.
Post your full specs, ie motherboard, RAM, processor etc, and we'll be able to help a bit more.

I'd be more inclined to think you have integrated graphics, not a PCI card, so all may not be lost! You'll more than likely have an AGP slot.

Rob.

EDIT. Do NOT get a Radeon 9550  :-/, as they're about

[G-EORGE]

My specs are as follows: Celeron D 335,

[4_Series_Scania]

[quote]My specs are as follows: Celeron D 335,

[Chris_F]

I don't know how many dollars 45 brit pounds are and I don't know how much things cost in the UK but I doubt 45 pounds ($75USD?) would get you a 6600 AND a motherboard.  Why don't you recommend he just get a 7800 and a motherboard and a new CPU and new RAM and a new monitor?

Check and see what they mean by 4x graphics card slot.  That could very well be a 4X AGP.  The best way to tell for sure would be to turn up a photo or two of AGP slots from google, open your case and see if you have one on your motherboard.  If you do then a 5200 AGP card would work for you.  

If you don't have an AGP then you may be max'd out as is and your only option is to save more and upgrade the whole PC.  Since you're probably not a hardware head like folks around here building a PC from the ground up may not be for you.  Sure you could probably save some by scabbing parts from your current PC, but if you don't already know what you're doing your best bet is probably just to enjoy your computer as it is and put some money away for a whole new machine.

[G-EORGE]

[quote]I don't know how many dollars 45 brit pounds are and I don't know how much things cost in the UK but I doubt 45 pounds ($75USD?) would get you a 6600 AND a motherboard.

[ctjoyce]

DO NOT BUY A PCI CARD!!!!

By far its the worst thing on the market. Save your cash, and get a bare minimum of a 6600GT.

Cheers
Cameron

[G-EORGE]

Looking in the "Help and Support Centre" of my comp in the section 'installing additional monitors'

[Chris_F]

I wouldn't trust that message to mean much of anything.  Even if it is from your PC maker it may not be reflective of the configuration of your PC.  Usually these things are writen for all PCs which that maker is producing at the time.  If they were making AGP and non-AGP PCs at the same time then you could end up with a note like that and no AGP slot.

I still recommend you check your motherboard for an AGP slot.  It's the only sure-fire way to know and will probably only take 15 minutes.  5 minutes to find a picture of what an AGP slot looks like so you know what to look for, 5 minutes to disconnect all the wires at the back of your PC, and 5 minutes to open the case and check.  Bang, in 15 minutes you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, whether or not you have an AGP card slot.

If you find out through any other source you'll always be at risk of getting wrong information.

[G-EORGE]

OK, i opened the case, at the back (i.e. where the plugs go in )