This is my computer. ( current FPS at 14 max)

 

 

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... en&lang=en

 

-the only change is that my computer has 760 MB of RAM- will get 1g soon

 

 

 

I want to know if it is a good idea to get a better graphics card in order to improve my overall performance and FPS.

 

 

 

I would appreciate suggestions of some cards compatible with my pc.

 

 

 

yes I do have a better computer but im tryin to fix this one up for my brother.

 

 

 

Thanks ahead of time I will be editing as needed on this post or posting other replies.

 

 

 

Edit

 

 

 

OK guys here are the cards I am considering in buying. Please give me the following information and anything else you believe is necessary

 

 

 

Compatibility with my pc:

 

Bang for my buck:

 

over all performance:

 

FPS on WOW (optional):

 

 

 

Thanks once again guys/gals for your help

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102086

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 814102085R

Having a look over those specs, they are not too bad. You could get away with some gaming provided you get a new graphics card and up the ram a little. You have an AGP card slot, so your limited to AGP cards.

 

 

 

What is your price range for a Graphics card?

Around the 50 dollar price range.

 

 

 

oh and are video cards and graphic cards the same thing

Around the 50 dollar price range.

 

 

 

oh and are video cards and graphic cards the same thing

 

 

 

Yeah, they are the exact same thing, some people name them differently.

 

 

 

I assume you mean US$50, I'll have a look and see what I can find.

Thanks and yeah 50 USD I will go lower or higher. ( But not to high)

 

 

 

Oh and does my computer have a limit to how powerfull the card should be becuase it has a 1gb limit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really appreciate the time you are taking to help me out.

Having a look at Newegg.com, I found these cards, around US$50.

 

 

 

$75 card, little higher, but cheapest 512mb card, I recommend this if you don't mind spending a little more

 

 

 

Not a bad card, it will run most new games fine, and you can drop the price to $60 by getting the rebate

 

 

 

A cheaper card, but should still allow you to play most games, just in lower settings

 

 

 

Hope that helps.

the x1650 card should work. You will be somewhat limited to playing older games though because of your processor, however because it is at or below the minimum requirements of some games. Older games should run faster, however, but no crysis or bioshock.

It may play some of the newer games with X1650, the settings would just need to be dulled down. I can say now, BF2, Counter Strike: Source (and Quake 4) would both work well as I can play them on a GF5200 (ugh) on a 2.7ghz cpu with 1gb ram.

Thnks mamong, oh and one more question will all of these cards fit my computers slot or is it a one size fits all kind of thing

Video cards aren't one size fits all, but those will fit in your computer, you have an AGP slot and they are all AGP cards. They are all single slot too, only the new power video cards are double slot suckers, so those will all fit into your computer.

Is the installation process of a video card as easy as installing ram or just a tad bit harder

I'm pretty sure it is quite easy. Check this link, it gives you step by step instructions on taking out the old, and putting in the new and having it running. Make sure the power is turned off, and the cords unplugged before you start unscrewing your case

 

 

 

How to install a Graphics Card

 

 

 

Don't be too intimidated, it is actually quite easy to do.

It only says PCI slots, not AGP, so that may limit it to PCI (thats JUST PCI, NOT PCI-E) graphics cards, which tend to be more expensive and poorer perfoming than either AGP or PCI-E.

 

 

 

Once upon a time, bog-standard PCI was the fastest card slot available, now it's the slowest.

 

 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... _-14130289

 

 

 

Possible option, the 6200 is not absolutely storming but good compared to most other PCI's at this price - not surprised it's out of stock

 

 

 

Searching for PCI is difficult, as it finds PCI-E as well - even sites wich index them by type will often have some mis-categorized, sometimes a lot!

Well on my computers spec sheet it says - Video Graphics (AGP) 845GL -

 

 

 

Ill be posting my final selections in a few mins for review by you guys

 

 

 

og and what does GL stand for.

X1650Pro

 

Its $10 bucks over your budget ($60) after rebates, but for the money its one of the best cards in the sub $100 mark up.

 

 

 

The two you have in your original post the two cards you linked are the same card (ok one has more memory, but the one I choice has a higher core speed then that one.), only the one I selected has a $25 rebate offer.

 

 

 

Note you shouldn't really buy open box products as you generally will be missing manuals and leads (which isn't good if you have little experience or if you have a lack of spare leads)

http://support.intel.com/support/graphi ... 009073.htm

 

 

 

The 845GL is an "onboard AGP" with no AGP expension slot.

 

 

 

Make VERY VERY sure that you do have an AGP slot if you are going to get an AGP card.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGP

 

 

 

I rather suspect this will not have one, and looking is a lot more reliable than hardware detection.

how can i tell if my slot is AGP or if is not by just loking

how can i tell if my slot is AGP or if is not by just loking

 

 

 

Read the wiki the above poster posted.

 

 

 

You can tell by the color, pci slots are white and you should have a slot just above them a different color (usually a brownish).

Not so much by the colour, but by the position, though it is traditional for the AGP slot to be brown when the PCI's are white.

 

 

 

If there are old-style ISA slots, they are usually black.