Make sure computer is upgradeable.

[Mr_Cloud]

My Computer Specs

I don't want to sound worried, but I want to make sure I don't mess up anything. If you click the link and go to video memory it says in italics.. Not Upgradeable. Does this mean I can't put in a new video card. (I know it may seem like a stupid question, but I don't want to do anything wrong.: sweat: ) Also any suggestions for the upgrade is appreciated.:sweat: I was thinking either a Radeon 9000 PCI or GeForce FX 5200 PCI.. hm.. which is better...?

[boblibob]

no thats just the onboard memory , if the motherbard has AGP slots then u can install a new graphics card , then u would need to go into bios , and switch it from onboard graphics to agp , and also turn off any memory allocated for the onboard graphics , i had to do this with my pc

i had 256mb ram and a 64mb intergrated graphics
the 64 intergrated took my 256mb down to 192mb
so of course i went out and got a graphics card , plugged it in , but my pc still loaded with intergrated
went into bios , changed to agp
loaded up fine , but i still only had 192mb of ram
so i went back in to the bios , searched for ages ( be carefull dont wanna fuck anything up) and swithed it from 64 down to 0 , then everything worked fine , just check you motherboard has agp slots

and im told the ati radeon 9000 is better , i think the FX5600 is = to a radeon 8500 , but im not sure so dont anyone be flaming me :sweat:

thats al i know today , so bye hope i helped

[Mr_Cloud]

um...

1. How do you get to BIOs.

2. If my bus archeticture says PCI, does that mean I only have PCI slots? Is there a way to check without opening my computer?

Please check the link in the first post to see... it should tell you.

EDIT:
It says I have two free PCI slots, if you check. um... is there anythign different I should do?

[TalonX]

For your first question this is how you get into the bios. WHen you boot the computer up usually theres a message saying to hit a certain key or button on your keyboard to enter setup, usually its the del key. But when you hit that you take you to the BIOS a.k.a. CMOS

I think it would be safe to assume that you dont have any AGP slots unless you check for them, there usually brown sockets that sit back further then the other white looking PCI slots. Hope that helps

[Mithrankittycat]

You can't afford a new computer for about $1000, right?
Also get 125 or 256 mb of pc100 sd-ram, 'cause 128 won't work too well.
The PCI video cards are hard to compare, because they are just too unpopular for geeks. We're talking 1990's....

[Mr_Cloud]

uh..

I thought I could only use PC133? I can use PC100?

Thanks for you help. I guess I'll keep it safe and get a PCI video card, cause I don't feel like opening my machine. Answering the question above could help. You can look at the first posts link for my computer specs.

Thanks.

[Doppelganger]

Originally posted by Mithrankittycat
You can't afford a new computer for about $1000, right?
Also get 125 or 256 mb of pc100 sd-ram, 'cause 128 won't work too well.
The PCI video cards are hard to compare, because they are just too unpopular for geeks. We're talking 1990's....

stick with the kitty's idea, get a stripped down dell 8300 /4600 for $600 and upgrade that. just get it for cpu, case, power supply, hdd. get it without a monitor, xp pro, and base level everything else(except office if you use word and excel, etc). they come with the 64mb mx 440(better than 64mb int. graphics by a lot). all this is about $599-899 depending on cpu and programs(office or not, but if you already have it, install that and save $). if you salvage a lot from your other comp(sorry, sdram isn't availiable for any new comp), it can be pretty cheap, and it will be upgradable for 2 or more years(8x agp on both models, up to 2gigs of 400 duel line ddr ram, raid 0 compatible). that or you could get the ultimate comp for $4800 (3.2gh p4, 240 gig raid 0 config for hdds, 2 gigs 400mh ddr ram, 9800 pro, gigabit ethernet, more stuff, sure to get you over 8000 on benchmark).

anyway, you need to open your comp for a pci card, and you also have to go to bios config anyway you try. go for the better, cheaper agp card and keep pci slots free (you'll need them, my comp has 6 and i used all of them, even had to remove the 56k modem, just to insert a firewire port, since i have cable, it doesn't matter). to get to the bios, press f10 (one of those), or what ever button your pre-windows loading screen says.

[Mr_Cloud]

well...

Well I'm not buying a new computer. I've had mine for about a year and a half. Since I don't want to take any stupid risks, I'm buying a PCI video card (GeForce FX 5200) and 256 MB of Ram. Oh and I don't care if I get 8000 on the benchmark. I'd rather get 1600, as long as I can play it. All I want to do is just play FFXI, no fancy, prancy stuff, just the game, even if it looks bad. PCI is really not that bad, and unless there is a way to add AGP slots to my computer, I'm stickin' with PCI.

My Soon to be Upgrades:
GeForce FX 5200
256Mb of RAM

If anyone has questions or comments, please post. If this upgrade is not to your liking, post your comments!

[LifeofEternity]

I believe there will be a great bottleneck having a Geforce FX card on PCI. but I may be mistaken.

[Renan]

for the first time ever i dont have to worry about my comp runnin the game! at last i have a decent 1!!!

[Mr_Cloud]

I believe there will be a great bottleneck having a Geforce FX card on PCI. but I may be mistaken.

What does that even mean? I don't understand...