PCI video card help/suggestions

[concort]

Can someone please help assist me with choosing the proper video card for my Dell Dimension 2400. The box is about 3 years old and has an onboard video controller. However there are two PCI slots that I can install a new video card into. I want to play Medal of Honor Pacific Assault and BF2 on the thing. I already installed a Radeon 9250 PCI card and it did not meet the requirements of the game...It looks like I need to move to a GeForce FX model. I found some at newegg.com but will THEY work since it's still a PCI card?? Does anyone else out there run either of these games on a similar box with success? Can I make this happen on this PC? BF2 requirements call for either:
- NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 or greater
- ATI Radeon 8500 or greater
Does this mean I can put a PCI GeForce FX 5700 or greater card in? And does that card even exist in a PCI? I can not find one at newegg.com.

MOHPA says it requires an AGP card with at least 64 MB of RAM and:
- Nvidia GeForce 3 or Higher
So does this mean it will not run with a PCI card?

Sorry for the ignorance here...I am trying to learn the differences between the chip sets. It looks as though PCI is crap though...but that is all I can put in this box. Do I just need a new machine? What's my most economical solution to run these games?

Thanks so much!
Concort

[jlreich]

Welcome to the PC Guide forums. :)

You can get a better PCI video card, but it going to cost around $100. And you will most likely need to upgrade you power supply to run it. :(

And even then game play would not be very pleasant.

I would start saving for a new computer rather than putting that much money in your current system for not much improvement.

Make sure whatever system you get next time has a PCIe x16 graphics slot so you can install a decent video card. Even if it comes without a video card installed, you can buy one later and put in yourself.

[concort]

Thanks for your help! OK...So since I should really be investing in a new unit...what should I look for when i walk into (say) circuit city when buying a new system so that I'm sure it will run these types of games. I don't want to have to worry about upgrading the thing as soon as I get it but I also don't want to go broke getting a new computer. Can you tell me what specs I should be concerned with?

[OrbitzXT]

I cringe when someone suggests shopping for overpriced and underpowered computers at Circuit City, if you don't know anyone capable of building a computer for you at least shop on NewEgg.com, great prices and service.

[jlreich]

The problem lies in gaming and not wanting to go broke. Gaming is expensive, at least being able to play new or newer games at decent settings. So it's difficult to find a decent pre-built gaming system that won't brake the bank.

The good news is the games you listed are not that power hungry. BF2 was built around a 6800, which is fairly old now, and is able to run at max settings with that card or better. Which I can attest to since I have a 6800GS and it runs it great. Do keep in mind I have 2GB ram though. ;)

I would look for something with either a 7600GS or better for nVidia, or a X1600 or better for ATI. Those are both decent midrange cards. They won't blow your socks off, but they will run the games you listed without any problems, yet still give you decent performance with games newer than BF2.

1GB ram is minimum for any gaming system. 2GB is great if you can afford it, but it isn't absolutely necessary.

The CPU isn't all that important these days. Just about any new system will have a decent enough CPU to do what you want. The video card is the most important component when it comes to gaming.

[concort]

What about this unit as a new drive solution:

HP Pavilion a1600n 2.0 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Desktop

[jlreich]

That's just fine. It doesn't have a dedicated video card, but it does have a PCIe x16 graphics slot. So you can get a video card of you choice and install it your self.

Actually as long as you feel comfortable installing a video card, I would much prefer it this way because you can buy a much better video card yourself for less than what you would get from the manufacturer. You just need to keep in mind you will need some cash left over for a video card after you buy the system.

But since it has onboard graphics you don't have to get one right away. Of course onboard video isn't going to allow you to play many games, but if you are short on cash it will do until you can save up for a decent video card.

By the way, what is your budget? That will help us to better help point you in the right direction.