Hey, I need to purchase a new video card for my system b4 I can run it again. I don't know what to go with. The problem is, I got a rather old system. I spent 2k in parts way back when it was all new to build the system, now it's all outdated .

Specs:
MB = IC7-G
Processor = P4 3.0Ghz
Memory = 1Gb Ram
SB Live! Sound card
Vid card = ATI Radeon Rage 9250 256mb

I only have AGP slots, no PCI X slots, so uhh, yeah, obviously that puts me a bit behind.

I want to get it up and running again because my laptop has become a bit unstable running it 24/7 with improper cooling.

I wanna do a bit of gaming, obviously I don't have good stuff as it's all kinda old now. I have Need For Speed Underground 2 and got it when it first came out...and never was able to run it on full graphics...so it's just stuff like that, y'kno? I'd like to be able to play test drive unlimited. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'd like to get one that can match whatever my processor can handle so I can get the most out of it. I've been a hardcore ATI guy my whole life, but it seems that Nvidia's been kicking ass, and since that works better with Linux systems and seems to be better in terms of gaming, I'd probably go with Nvidia this time over a ATI.

It says the board can hold a maximum of 4Gb ram...would it at all possible to put another 1gb stick in there?

I'm just trying to get the most out of this computer because I can't afford to buy another one ATM (and anywhere in the near future).

I kinda just wanna push it as far as I can, but I'm not gonna spend 500 bucks on a AGP card if ya know what I mean.

So any help is thanks. Oh yeah, as for not having any ideas picked out - I know nothing of computers. My original card in this computer was a radeon rage 9600, 128mb, it crapped out on me, then I fell into the "more MB is better" trap and ended up buying a radeon rage 9250 256mb which did worse at running games 'n such. So yeah, I'm pretty dumb when it comes to computers, don't know anything about the Agp 8x or 4x or whatever, but I can retrieve any information one might need.

Anybody that has any suggestions or help in this situation, please, help, I need to get this up and running FAST (as in its got to be 100% operational by the 1st of Dec.) - or at least mostly operational. So please, whatever help anybody could give me would be greatly appreciated...

How much do you feel like spending?

I really don't know man.

It's all in the game of how much for how much, y'know?

How much spending for how much "Get?"

Say 200 does 80%, then another 200 does the last 20%, I'll stick with 80% of the possible upgrades if ya get what I mean. I'm trying to keep this cheap, not looking to spend half a stack on a video card, there's just some games that I'd like to play, I'm not looking to play gears of war on highest settings, but I'd like to be able to play some games like need for speed underground 2 which are pretty old on max gfx settings or at least get a straight form of play on test drive unlimited.

I really don't know what numbers are required b/c if you look 'em up it'll just tell you the minimum requirements for the minimum graphics level, so its all got me baffled.

The other thing is I don't need the vid card to exceed the processor. It doesn't matter if I have the latest and greatest video card b/c I have a 3.0ghz P4 processor on 1 gig of ram... I plan on building a new computer, possibly next summer, possibly LATER. So I guess you could say I'm trying to "hold myself over" until then. I'm really not willing to spend much, but I gotta do something here. Obviously cheap and good don't go in the same sentence when it comes to computers, so I'm not looking for a HUGE upgrade, but I'd like to get some games to run right...

I can play unreal tournament 2k4 no prob, can play GTA SA no problem, NFSU2 at half graphics, can't play test drive unlimited at all .

Not looking to play half life 2 or anything super, but I definitely need a boost :-.

I do, also realize this is about the vaguest question anybody's ever asked in the history of CompuForums...so do know that I am aware of that, I just don't know anything about computers to give you a more accurate description .

Need for speed carbon was a joke, need for speed underground = same deal as NFSU2, half graphics or so, maybe a bit higher, any higher and it cakes up. A new game came out in the NFS series ("Pro Street") - YouTube - Need for Speed Pro Street - E3 2007 trailer! - I haven't played it and don't know if I wanna buy it, but I'm just trying to give u an idea of what I'm trying to run "tops." Hopefully that can give you some idea - watch at 1:23 - it shows the smoke - that's a major factor in like, killing graphics, so iono what's better for processing that but I can tell u that cars making smoke = owned graphics.

Also, my head's not completely up my ass, I do have some of my priorities straight, the thing is pretty slow, my TL-60 64x2 1.61ghz DV9000 laptop is faster in loading things than this...so uhh, I'm thinking the ram might need a jump as well, with all the super ram and super speed crap out, I didn't think ram for an older setup like this would cost a lot, especially if you're aiming for the what's now "low."

Sorry for this being vague as hell - but I seriously have no clue what I'm talking about when it comes to computers (assembly is one thing, that's easy, but the #'s and everything is something else). So I'll try what I can to work with you guys here, I'm just trying to show u an example...I don't know, I'm not gonna lie, I'm confused on what to do . Don't have a lot of $, don't have a lot of time, I suppose I don't "need" an upgrade other than to keep me sane (I need my racing games :-P). Though I do need a stable computer for school.

PS: I might buy a new hard drive, b/c I have a 200gb SATA, but a 120GB IDE....yeah, I know...so I'm not sure, I might buy another SATA drive, should I? Or would it not matter? If so, should I run the SATA as the main w/ the OS, or the data drive? I plan on running a kubuntu/windows XP dual boot system, it would be great if I could get video drivers to work for my video card in kubuntu, but I like microsoft word and such for text and since the P4 isn't X86 or whatever it is, I don't think it'll support VMWare or some other way to run Word or PP, or stuff of that nature...so I think I'ma have to do a dual boot.

Blah - me = Confusaled.

Blah, Anybody?

__________________
In case the above doesn't make any sense, note that I don't know anything about computers.

"Horsepower sells motor cars, but torque wins motor races"
- Carroll Shelby

Uhhh...Bump #2?

__________________
In case the above doesn't make any sense, note that I don't know anything about computers.

"Horsepower sells motor cars, but torque wins motor races"
- Carroll Shelby

Bump 3?

Anybody?

__________________
In case the above doesn't make any sense, note that I don't know anything about computers.

"Horsepower sells motor cars, but torque wins motor races"
- Carroll Shelby

Ok, for a graphics card - the best you can buy for AGP is probably a 7300GT 512MB (although 6800 Ultra will support most new things, even Crysis on low). Your hard drive is fine, 200GB is enough and after all, your on a budget - an extra 1GB of RAM wouldn't hurt to give you a boost. + if you have a little extra you could invest on a cheap MOBO and processor.

If your budget can stretch -
M/B
Newegg.com - ASRock ALIVENF6G-VSTA AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 or 6150SE / nForce 430 (Depend on the version) Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
CPU:
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 89W Processor - Retail
Obviously, not AGP so here's a PCIe card:
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N541-T2 GeForce 7600GS 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

I don't really know NewEgg cause we dont have it in UK but that adds up to $210, but theres summat about a rebate.

If your looking to spend $200 then that is probs your best option, if you can get a bit more then get an extra stick of RAM, the dual-core processor will be the best upgrade to make IMO, followed by graphics

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Living life to the fullest it can possibly be!
AMD Phenom Quad-Core 9500, OCZ 4GB PC2 -6400 RAM, GeForce 8800 GTX Ultra 768MB, 150GB Raptor. 500GB WD HD

Never mind. I'm sorry I wasted everybody's time with this thread.

I thought I could turn it into a half way decent computer because i thought the processor wasn't complete shit. Though now I think I see why everything's going to dual, quad, and 8 core processors. I couldn't even hash files and watch a movie at the same time (the movie was choppy as shit). I have <1gb of space used on the drive outside of the OS.

That's a 3.0Ghz P4 with 1GB ram. After that experience I realized that there's really no hope for it besides new mainboard, processor, etc. Getting another AGP to temporarily hold me over would just be a waste at this point .

__________________
In case the above doesn't make any sense, note that I don't know anything about computers.

"Horsepower sells motor cars, but torque wins motor races"
- Carroll Shelby