What graphics card do I want???

[slugman]

This is the spec of my system..............I'm looking to get a sensibly priced graphics card as an upgrade. Any advice you could give as to what I need eg AGP/PCI (what is best??) would be gratefully recieved.

Your computer currently has 512 MB of memory installed; and will support up to 2048 MB.

Slot 1
256 MB
Non-parity DDR PC2100
Slot 2
256 MB
Non-parity DDR PC2100
You have 0 empty memory slot(s) out of 2 total memory slots.

Your Graphics Card
Card Type (Bus Type)
AGP
Nothing installed

CPU Manufacturer
AuthenticAMD
CPU Family
AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+
CPU Speed
1998 MHz
Front-Side Bus Speed
133 MHz
Currently Installed Memory
512 MB
Maximum Memory Capacity
2048 MB
Total Number Of Memory Slots
2
Available Memory Slots
0

[hockey man]

Okay, we need to know a little more about your system. If is is an OEM system, give us the make and model number. If it is a custom system, we need to know the MOBO chipset.

[Variable]

Probably any 8x AGP card will work fine. I will go out on a limb and say with 133 FSB you probably don't have any PCI Express slots. The biggest factor is what you want to spend and what you want to do. Your specs are close to mine. I would say bump the RAM up to 1 gig, it would help a lot with whatever card you get. I'll tell you though, I bought a 8 x AGP 9800 pro with 256 or RAM 6 months ago and now I wish I had upgraded the entire system. I just did not see the kind of jump I thought I would in the games I have and it still does not enable me to play some of the new games except at the lowest performance settings. The 133 FSB, 512 of RAM and older CPU really show their age. The latest 50 dollar FP shooter I bought is unplayable at anything above the minimum settings.. Which is always what you like to see after you install a game that you can't take back...

[saphalline]

Originally Posted by Variable

Probably any 8x AGP card will work fine.

NO NO NO!! Not just any AGP 8x vid card will work, only the Universal 8x/4x vid cards. The 8x-only vid cards that will only work in an AGP 3.0 spec slot will not work! How many times do I have go through this??

[paul_]

Well, good thing you're always here to fix our screw-ups, saph

[hockey man]

That is why we need to know what AGP variety your pc has. Please post either the Make and Model, or the MOBO type for us.

[slugman]

Thanks so far.............

If i'm looking at the right number the system is a time 24003fa90g4. My AGP spec is as follows.. As I've got PCI and AGP slots am I able to use either to run my GFX cards?
System Slots
Slot Designation AGP
Slot Type AGP
Data Bus Width 32 bit
Current Usage Available
Slot Length Full Length
Slot ID $08
Provides 5.0 Volts Yes
Provides 3.3 Volts No
Shared slot opening No
PC Card slot supports PC Card-16 No
PC Card slot supports CardBus No
PC Card slot supports Zoom Video No
PC Card slot supports Modem Ring Resume No
PCI slot supports PME# signal (Power Management Enable) No
Slot supports hot-plug devices No
PCI slot supports SMBUs signal No

Cheers!!

[slugman]

Also if this helps too...........

AGP Capabilities
AGP Capabilities Version 3.5
Maximum Command Queue Length 32 Byte(s)
Current Queue Length 1 Byte(s)
AGP Speed Selected None Selected
Supports 1x Speed Yes
Supports 2x Speed Yes
Supports 4x Speed Yes
Supports FW Transfers No
Supports > 4 GB Address Space No
Supports Sideband Addressing Yes
FW Transfers Enabled No
> 4 GB Address Enabled No
AGP Enabled Yes
Sideband Addressing Enabled Yes

[saphalline]

Ok, so you've got an AGP 2.0 slot. That is as I suspected, since most Socket A mobo's had AGP 2.0.

Yes, you can use either AGP or PCI for your vid card, but AGP is a much better slot for vid cards so I suggest using that.

So what vid card do you want? You can use any AGP 4x or Universal 8x/4x vid card. How much do you have to spend on this upgrade?