Advice on Graphics Card, Please

kayla99

This is the system my son is currently using and it has on board graphics.

HP Compaq Business Desktop dc5100 - P4 520 3 GHz with XP Pro and Office 2003

• Processor: 1 x Intel Pentium 4 520 / 3 GHz
• Processor Main Features: Hyper-Threading Technology
• Cache Memory: 1 MB L2 Cache
• Cache Per Processor: 1 MB
• RAM: 1024 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - non-ECC - 400 MHz - PC2-3200 [RAM NOW UPGRADED TO - 2 x 1gig & 2 x 256, DID HAVE 4 x 256]
• Storage Controller: Serial ATA x 2 ( Serial ATA-150 ) ; IDE ( ATA-100 )
• Hard Drive: 1 x 80 GB - standard - Serial ATA-150
• Optical Storage: CD-ROM / DVDRAM RW +DL
• Monitor: 17" TFT FlatScreen HP1702
• Graphics Controller: Intel GMA 910GL
• Audio Output: Sound card - stereo

He is not a totally mad gamer but wants to be able to play newish games on his computer, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a graphics card

Is there anybody with a little knowledge who can advise me on the best card to get.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post

Kay

devstar

Something like this will be more than good enough for most games.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139617

It may even be too much as your current system may not be able to use it to its full potential. (I'm no expert though!).

I currently use a 7900GS which is an 'older' card and it works fine for games like Oblivion, Command and Conquer 3 and Assassins Creed.

Maybe something more along the lines of http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140262 for a cheaper option. It all depends on the games that will be run. Also, make sure you know whether you need a PCI-e card or an AGP card.

Hope that helps.

Devstar

Edit: Tried looking for your current system too see which graphics slot you have. The ones i've found appear to not have one. (PCI-e or AGP).

aliEnRIK

As dev says, first thing you need to find out is wether its an AGP or a PCIE connection you need

DatabaseError

as the others have said, agp or pci-e slot makes a big difference to choice, then budget, and, of course, the type of games he wants to play.
the standard 'joke' currently is "will it play crysis" and the rule of thumb is that any PC over a year or so old won't (at high resolution/framerates) without spending a lot of money on it

SJames_3

It looks like you'll be looking for a low profile PCIE x1 graphics card or an old PCI one. Neither provide good value for money and a low profile PCIE x1 card would be pretty difficult to find, as most available for designed for professional 3D design and not for gaming.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12145_na/12145_na.HTML#Standard%20Features

The fact is, you have a PC designed with business use in mind, and not day-to-day family use.

kayla99

Thanks for your time.

Looking at his games which are along the lines of Lord of the Rings, Command and Conquer, Warhammer, War Front, he says he likes strategy games. From what I can gather looking at the recommended spec on the games box, I don't think they are serious games at all.

Looking around, I might be well off the mark, but is this the sort of thing that I am after.....

PNY GeForce 6200 256Mb PCI graphics card
http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=246192&sourceid=2459&CAWELAID=84123474

Thanks again

Kay

P.S
DEVSTAR Would the first one you mentioned work?

Thank you

[Deleted User]

What wattage PSU does the computer contain?

kayla99

anewhope wrote: »

What wattage PSU does the computer contain?

If this is PSU............it states Power: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

If thats not it, where will I find that information?

Thanks again everyone

kayla99

kayla99 wrote: »

If this is PSU............it states Power: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

If thats not it, where will I find that information?

Thanks again everyone

I admit it I'm thick:rotfl: It's 300 Watts ! ! But I have a 400 Watt

kayla99

Does this help ? Sorry it's big ! Bit smaller now

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DatabaseError

ideally you want to upload images a decent size, maybe 640x480, or 800x600
320px × 240px is a little small, I have no doubt there is a slot capable of taking a graphics card, but all i can se are 2 pci (not pci-e) slots and a brown smudge