Upgrade Assistance???

[tmbbanker]

I have a Dell Dimension 4400 with the following specs:
Pentium 4, 2GHz
1G DDR SDRAM
64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX AGP

I am interested in upgrading my power supply and video card to take advantage of some newer games. I am not looking for the highest end of games. Only ones such as AoE III. I need something that will keep me going for approximately 1 1/2 years until after my wedding when my fiancee will allow me to get a whole new setup :).

I have looked at some power supplies but they all have the on/off switch near the power cord plugin in the back and that will not work with my Dell case. I am not a novice when it comes to replacing items or messing around inside a computer but it has been many years and I am out of touch with the latest terminology.

Any assistance would be appreciated. Any questions, please ask!

[tmbbanker]

I realized I can probably just do some metal modification to accommodate the power supply so that should be ok.

However, I was wondering what video card I should get to just get me thorugh the next year or so when I will get a whole new setup? My current is AGP so I figure to just stick with that even though it is dying as I have learned.

[Erik]

As far as I know Dell still uses some propritary power supply so you won't be able to replace it unless it is with one bought from Dell for smoe inflated price.

As far as video cards go AGP is on its way out, so the most recent cards won't have an AGP variation in some cases. Are you certain that the PC has an AGP slot before you go out and buy the card? I just ask because I know Dell is notorious for cutting corners like that to make systems cheaper (for them to make).

[saphalline]

For the PSU issue, you need to read this (http://www.quepublishing.com/articles/article.asp?p=339053&rl=1) first. Compare your Dell PSU's wiring colors to the pictures and tell us which one it is.

For the vid card, there are still new AGP vid cards being made, and there are quite a few slightly older ones that can still play games well. AGP is on its way out, but it hasn't been killed yet. There is still time. But the determining factor here will be your budget. It doesn't do you any good for me to recommend a $300 GeForce 7800 GS if you only have $150 to spend on a vid card. Let us know your budget and we can work from there.

[tmbbanker]

Saphalline,

Thanks for the heads up on the power supply. Probably best that I just wait until I get a whole new system. It has probably been 10 years since I last did a build so I am looking forward to it. Anyway, on the vid card, I would say my budget would be no more than $150. As it is an AGP card and that tenchnology is on its way out I don't want to go overboard since I do plan for an all new system in approx. 1 year. Do you have any suggestions on one that would get me through? As I said earlier, right now all I am looking to play is AoEIII.

Thanks!