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Help with graphics card...

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by Panda1121, Oct 6, 2009.

  1. Panda1121

    Panda1121 Member

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    Hi all, this is my first post here.

    I own a PC with the following config:

    > Pentium celeron 2.4 GHZ

    > 1.5 Gigs of RAM

    > 80 GB Internal HDD with 1 TB external Freeagent drive

    > NVIDIA 128 mb graphics card (PCI-E)

    My graphic cards' fan recently stopped working, but the NVIDIA card still does its work. I dont want to depend on it any longer and I want to buy a new graphics card for my PC . I am looking at something along the lines of 512 MB NVIDIA cards. My question is that if I buy one of those 512 cards (PCI - E), will it work with my config?? My motherboard says it supports processors until only pentium 4... Please help me..
     
  2. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Need to know what model the actual PC is, or if custom-built, what case and power supply it has, in order to suggest whether a card is compatible or not. Memory size is irrelevant for whether a card is compatible or not.
     
  3. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    I take it that you just want more graphics memory, and that you don't care about gaming? If this is the case, a HD4350 should be plenty for you. This should work just fine with your current case, mainboard, and power supply.

    Here's a good one for $35: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125251
     
  4. Panda1121

    Panda1121 Member

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    Actually my power supply is a standard one.. an ordinary one you might say, i didnt purchase it with the forethought of building a killer gaming rig.

    I do want to do some gaming on it, maybe play red alert3 or command and conquer 3.. that is what is my dilemma right now... to build a new PC with a tri SLI enabled motherboard, or to just have a new graphic card on it.
     
  5. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    While a good graphics card is important to gaming, so is the processor...and a Celeron 2.4GHZ will not be able to do much. You could upgrade to a pentium 4, and that would just barely meet miniumum requirements, but it would probably be a waist of money. The HD4350 should be more than capable of playing Red Alert 3, but I don't think your CPU is up to the task. Also, 1.5GB of memory is more than the minimum, but less than what is recomended for that game (2GB).
     
  6. Panda1121

    Panda1121 Member

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    I was under the impression that my CPU was more than capable of running games, provided I had a killer graphic card, because it was 2.4 GHZ... so, itseems I will have to rebuild my PC because the RAM on it is SD and the motherboard supports RAM only until 2 GB. SO, Ill just keep this one for downloading, movie format conversions and the like and seems like I will have to get a new PC / a PS3. Thanks for your help...
     
  7. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    I have to say Killerbug, people do often come here wanting more memory and not giving a damn about extra memory, but I've seen very few occasions when that's actually turned out to be the case. They just assume more memory is all you need for better performance. In this case, it's gaming that's required, so that holds true.
    Realistically, to play new games well, you should build a new PC from Scratch Panda. do not go with triple SLI, because there are often severe reliability issues associated with it. However, do please post back at aD when you want to build your new system and we can guide you through it.

    Oh and by the way, you do not want to play RTS games on a console. Ugh.
     
  8. Shokz

    Shokz Regular member

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    Sam speaks very wise words - RTS games always have and always will belong on the PC, and there's a reason for that; mouse and keyboard is a must (the high resolution of PC monitors also helps). RTS gaming on a console is a pain in the a**...
     
  9. Panda1121

    Panda1121 Member

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    Shessh, the only RTS I was talking about was Red alert 3... look at all the comments here about that.. :D .. Anyways, now im just stuck between building a new PC, or getting a PS3.. I know, I know, they are completely different, but for once, I just want something that "works"... you know, I just want to come home, fling myself onto the sofa (carelessly), pick up a game controller, and start playing. With the PC its always upgrade RAM to 4 GB, upgrade processor to the newest bleeding edge CPU, OR ELSE THE DAMN GAME SIMPLY WONT RUN, and even if it does, "A required file is missing, re installing the game MAY fix this problem", GREAT !!! JUST GREAT!!!

    need your opinions!!
     
  10. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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    Id say the PC. The only thing it will lack is the ability to play PS3 games, well exclusive games that is.

    As for upgrades, depending on your budget, we might not be able to build you a futuristic gaming machine good for 4 years of use while playing every titles at the highest visual detail available, but we may be able to build something that can last you another 4 years while playing games on mid to high settings. Plus we should be able to build it capable of playing and maybe burning blu-ray should you want that option. It just depends on your budget. Obviously a $200 PC isnt goin to do all of that so let us know what you decide and we can help you from there.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2009
  11. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Well that's 2 RTSs there, and more to the point, 2/2 of the games you mentioned are RTS :p

    The PC is a better gaming platform than the PS3. Simply hands down. Apart from having miles better graphics output there are so many games that work better with keyboard/mouse. Not just RTS but FPS, simulation strategy, even platformer in many cases. The only games that don't work on PCs with keyboards are racers - and you can just buy gamepads for the PC to solve that problem - Xbox 360 pads work well with windows and cost very little.
     

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