Video Card Help

[jerkto]

I'm thinking of buying a new video card to be able to play some of the newer games (such as c&c generals or even halo 1... both of which aren't even really knew but are already too much for my pc) :) . Can someone tell me if my pc/motherboard supports PCI-Express video cards? I don't see a dark slot by the regular PCI slots so I don't think I have an AGP slot (though somehow it says "AGP status enabled" from the dxdiag printout I've attached). I do see 3 white slots (I assume they are PCI).
Thanks for any responses!

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System Information
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Time of this report: 8/31/2007, 14:58:15
Machine name:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 04
System Model: P5274A-ABA XT963
BIOS: Version 3.07
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(TM) CPU 1200MHz
Memory: 254MB RAM
Page File: 362MB used, 263MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode
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Display Devices
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Card name: Intel(R) 82810E Graphics Controller (Microsoft Corporation)
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 82810
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7125&SUBSYS_71258086&REV_03
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (24 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: i81xdnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.13.0001.3198 (English)
DDI Version: 8
AGP Status: Enabled

[odannyboy000]

Looking at your other hardware such as the amount of RAM you currently have and your processor, it is unlikely that you will be able to play games (yes, even halo 1) even with a video card. If you want to be able to play some light gaming in which you suggested, I would recommend building a new computer from scratch yourself. You will probably spend around $600-700 US for a decent build. We at the forums would be happy to help you select your hardware if you are interested.

[saphalline]

:eek: OMG!! :eek:

Have you seriously been playing games on that thing!? Holy $hit!! That thing is less powerful than my first-ever custom build back in January of 2001! :eek: How the heck have you gotten anything to run on PIII-class onboard video??

odannyboy000 is totally correct. There's nothing you can salvage from that old thing, not even the hard drive or optical drive. You need a completely new system, from CPU to mouse!

[jerkto]

Thanks for the responses. I really appreciate them though they weren't what I hoped for ;) lol. And thanks odanny for offering to help me build a pc from scratch. But I'm too financially lacking to do that. I'm required to buy a laptop from a laptop program at the university next year for my classes (will cost 2000 dollars to lease and 1$ more to buy)
>> http://www.ixl.uidaho.edu/laptops.htm
Is that a ripeoff or not?
Anyway, just wanted to see if I could upgrade my pc to last me one year until then... guess not :)

[saphalline]

Well... the top one, the "T61" is very powerful. I can easily see how it would be $2000 out of the gate. Do you really need that much power, though?

Honestly, you'd be better off playing games on that laptop! Seriously! Even with upgrades, there's not really anything you can do with that hardware for those games, much less any current game. Normally, we can at least say the games will run but not well. In your case, however, we unfortunately can't say anything of the sort! It's just too old to hope to run those games, even at low resolutions with cr@ppy performance. And the cost would certainly not be worth it! So you may have to just settle for nothing. Not much you can do without any resources!