Would it be worth it?

[TestudoAubreii]

Greetings,

I have yet another question for all you computer gurus. I am a little new at all of this stuff, so I really appreciate all the adivce I've received thus far. All right, on with my question. Do you think it would be worth adding memory and a new graphics card to my Dell Dimension 4600 desktop?
I posted a question about a computer that I was thinking about getting, but I was advised, here on the boards, that I should try to build it myself, becuase I can do it for a good price. Then I started thinking, what if I just add some memory and a new graphics card to my PC now, would that work. So, now I am here.
Right now, I can run RTW on a pretty good setting and although I can run MIITW, it is set to the lowest settings possible. I thought that adding the above stated my be in my best interests and quite possibly save me a few bucks.
Would it be worth it?
Thank you in advance for your responses.

morrisonicus

[Doono]

I really hate prebuilt computers but i can't really comment unless you tell me what is in the computer already.
How much RAM does it have and what speed/type? Do you have any spare slots?
Does it have PCI-E or agp graphics card slot? If it has neither it's a throwaway im afraid.
Powersupply, need to now the overall wattage and the ampage on the 12v rails, the 12v rail ampage is the most important.
Mobo model would help as well.

[Aristocrat]

Not to mention Dell loves to make motherboards in such a way that regular components simply won't fit. You need to get a Dell upgrade.

Prebuilt desktop gaming computers seems like an oxymoron to me.

[TestudoAubreii]

Thank you for the responses.

I can't think of the specs right now, but I am about to go to lunch and I'll post them when I return. I got this computer before I really got into gaming, so I thought I would try doing what I can with this one. If not, I'll just have to go the new route.
Doono, What is a Mobo model?
Thanks again.

morrisonicus

[mrmouth]

Not to mention Dell loves to make motherboards in such a way that regular components simply won't fit. You need to get a Dell upgrade.

While the other large custom PC manufacturers have cut back on their proprietary designs after 2001-2002, Dell still seems to be going strong.

For most its not a bad thing to go with Dell, and then upgrade with their parts.

Lets face it, most just don't want to learn about the inner workings of their PC let alone build their own. Is Dell overpriced, yes, but you also eliminate the compatibility issues that only seem to be getting worse for people who build their own machines.

[Doono]

Mobo model would be for example

Gigabyte GA N680SLI-DQ6

It just makes it easier if i can read the details online but i have a feelign dell make their own mobos so it wouldn't be much help unless someone else knows if you cna see them on dells website.

[boboftl]

I hope that you don't have one of those proprietary Dell cases. If you upgrade your video card sometimes you need a better PSU, if you do have one of the bad Dell cases its going to be pretty hard trying to fit it in there.

[TestudoAubreii]

Thank you all, for the responses. I am looking into putting in a 7950 GT and 2 more gigs of memory. I just got of a thread at Dell and the person whom responded to me stated that I shouldn't have a problem doing this; that it may possibly need a new power source becuase the 7950 GT PCI Express suggests that a 350 watt power supply becuase the one I have is a 305 watt. This is good news if I can do this. Thanks again.

[Doono]

Right if your sure of that then it is worth it, remember it's not the wattage fo the power supply thats important it's the amps on the 12v rail.

The card probably need between 18 and 20 amps this is why wattage is extreamly misleading. Wattage on a certain rail is calculated by multiplyign the amps it delivers by the voltage it supplies. An 18 amp 12 v uses 216 watt. Cheapy power supplies mislead you by sayign they provide say 400 watts overall but it won't supply a high ampage 12v it will simply provide mroe ampage on a lower voltage rail since it's easier to do. 5v rails often have between 30-40 amps goign though them =150-200watt lookign at your current supply you probaly have 155 watt to supply both the 12v and 3v rails.

Look for a 400watt power supply with a 18+ amp 12v but get an x1950 pro instead of a 7950GT, they are only just slighly less powerfull, cost less and can do both AA and HDR at the same time somethign the nvidia cards prior to the 8000 series couldn't do. Anythign mroe is overkill anyway because pentium 4's are nothing special and would probably bottleneck the full power of the 7950gt.

[TestudoAubreii]

Doono, thank you. That was insightful. I am going to take your advice.

I was looking on newegg and I saw a few x1950 pro cards. They all state that tehy are Radeon, but they have variuos names in front, like Sapphire, Powercolor and ASUS AEX. If I may ask, what is the difference?

[Incinerate_IV]

I was looking on newegg and I saw a few x1950 pro cards. They all state that tehy are Radeon, but they have variuos names in front, like Sapphire, Powercolor and ASUS AEX. If I may ask, what is the difference?

The only thing different is the warranty, the card itself is the same. I think Sapphire has a lifetime warranty.

Sometimes the more expensive cards are overclocked to give you a little boost in performance. Personally that's just a waste of money, since you can always overclock it your self.

[TestudoAubreii]

Incinerate_IV, thank you.
Would I have to get a new power supply with any of these cards?

[Doono]

As i said earlier your dell psu will probably be of the lowest tier dell coudl get away with. You will need a psu with at least 18 amp 12v rails so your goign to be looking at psu's in the 400watt range, 305 will not cut it with a high end card.

[Publius Clodius Pulcher]

What processor do you have?I ask because a P4 2.8Ghz doesn't warrant a 795O GT.

[TestudoAubreii]

I believe that I have the one you metioned.

Let me ask this; do you think it is possible to get a game like MIITW to work on my PC with an upgrade of only the memory and video card?

There is this site (sorry, I cannot figure out how to link the site to a word using <a target"_blank" href.....) http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest
It takes a look at your system system. You provide the game and it will provide the information about your computer and how it will support the game. Anyhow, it shows that I should really get memory and a video card to make MIITW run a bit better.
Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone for your responses.

[Doono]

The cpu will limit how many troops you cna have, if your happy runign hte game on medium size armies you will be fine.

[TestudoAubreii]

Thanks. I am half tempted to give it a try. I would then have to be happy with whatever settings it would bring me. I just do not want it to be a waste of money.

[Aristocrat]

You could always overclock the processor...IncinerateIV did get his Pentium4 over 4Ghz on stock cooling after all.

[TestudoAubreii]

How do I overclock my processor?