Question about graphics cards

madmum33

With my pc close to death I've ordered a new one from Dell. Finances were tight, so I chose the budget option with the hope that I can upgrade later.

One thing that seemed extortionate in the Dell configeration was the cost of a graphics card, so I went with the onboard Intel graphics Media Accelerator 3100 (this is the Dell Inspiron 530).

I use the PC mainly for photo manipulation, surfing and email, I'm not a big gamer (apart from occasionally spending far too much time on Sims2). Will the onboard graphics be sufficient for me in the short term?

Thanks!

ormus

yes itll be just fine for what you want to do.
serious hardcore games is just about the only application that requires a high spec video card.

BillScarab

It hsould be fine for everything with the possible exception of the Sims 2. This review seems to suggest it will be OK though

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3111&p=18

madmum33

Thanks! I was worried my lovely widescreen monitor might look average without a graphics card (I got the HP L2045W last year)

totalsolutions

Budget machines are done to a price and there is little if anything for upgrades so check this out first. You main problem might be photo editing (of course) Budget means lower ram = no upgrade....Also the video card can take main ram for it's own use, again not good. Does Dell say it is fine for the applications you will want to run?
BTW whats not right with your existing PC/upgrade path?

madmum33

I've been getting lots of BSOD's and have been told it's the motherboard - the PC is over 4 years old so time for a new one.

Totalsolutions, I checked that I can increase RAM, add graphics card etc - there are spare slots for both. The PC I ordered has 1024mb RAM and a 320gb hard drive, and a Pentium Dual Core Processor 1.60GHz 800Mhz. As long as it'll work with the onboard graphics for a couple of months I can add a graphics card later.

Incidentally, I selected XP not Vista so the RAM should be plenty.

totalsolutions

If you have not reinstalled XP every year in the last four its about time you did. It would cure your fault, yep. :-)
Lappy spec looks good should be no problem with graphics then.

madmum33

That's good news!

I'd better not get this pc working though, I just spent £264 on the new one and OH would kill me! lol

Seriously, the BSOD happens every time I switch the PC on, it doesn't even get into windows (I had a thread running here for most of last week trying to fix things with no luck).