2 Questions about my computer

[Leafdragon]

1. How much is a 512MB RAM card-thingamajig? (So I can get 1 GB)

2. Could I get Pixel Shader and Vertex Shader 2.0 without changing my Graphics Card?

I have a Windows-XP and most of the games I have (Except Rome:Total War and Risk 2, and I usually never play Risk...) Will not work, mainly because of these requirements.

If you can answer both well, I will go and I will never have to do

[PoleCat]

1. How much is a 512MB RAM card-thingamajig? (So I can get 1 GB)

Probably for less than US$20 these days for something like PC2700 RAM. You need to know exactly what type of memory you need for your system. And you should buy at least two sticks new at that price to make sure they work together - some brands don't play nice when mixed with others. But in reality if your going to upgrade a system that old then get 1GB sticks (two would be good) just to make sure your all set.

2. Could I get Pixel Shader and Vertex Shader 2.0 without changing my Graphics Card?

No. You'll need a new card. What is your old card?

And just a question - how old is the system that you're considering upgrading?

[Leafdragon]

Its a HP Pavilion a808x
So, 10 years into it?

and the Old Card? I think it is a SIS 720 or something like that...

So yeah, sorry for the wait, I was staying somewhere because my house is being repainted.

[irishron]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...product=471589 for reference.

You have a AGP slot that will get you Rome and Medieval2 but not much more. Even some of them have proven incompatible with Medieval2.
You can go to 2gb of ram but it is slow.

Your power supply may not have the power for a new card.

Think new.

[Leafdragon]

So, In other words, I should get a new computer?

[irishron]

My opinion, yes, but you know what they say about opinions.

[Leafdragon]

Well, I dont wanna spend a fortune on one, I can total up to 400-500$ but thats all

[PoleCat]

Well, I dont wanna spend a fortune on one, I can total up to 400-500$ but thats all

At that price range it really depends on what games you have that you want to play but can't play on your old system.

If you're looking to play graphically intensive games then you need to aim towards the high end. If you're looking at something in the middle then you might fit into that stated budget range. Give us an idea about what games you want to play and maybe we can come up with a budget solution for you.

Also, how much experience do you have with computers? Can you install Graphic Cards or Memory Modules yourself? Maybe we can steer you towards a basic gaming system without any bells and whistles and you can add the better hardware yourself? It all depends on how tech savvy you are. Good luck!

[karamazovmm]

A quick and cheap build:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 640 - 99.99
GPU: FX HD-685X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6850 - 154.99
RAM: G.SKILL Value Series 4GB - 39.99
HD: HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB - 38.99
Case: COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310 - 39.99
PSU: OCZ StealthXstream II OCZ600SXS2 600W - 39.99
Motherboard: MSI 880GMA-E53 AM3 - 89.99

Total: 503.93

If you want to go cheaper on the gpu, you could go for the:
XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 - 109.99

Which lowers the price to : 458.93

[irishron]

Overkill for his old CRT monitor. Check HP's specs Iposted.

[karamazovmm]

Overkill for his old CRT monitor. Check HP's specs Iposted.

I figured that he wanted to keep this one for a long time, so I built one cheap that can keep rocking for some time. It is indeed overkill.

maybe he could swap the GPU for something lesser like the 5670, thus lowering the price even further.

[irishron]

Find the right price and he can have an ew monitor.

[karamazovmm]

Find the right price and he can have an ew monitor.

oh the leg work!



A quick and cheap build, part 2:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 640 - 99.99
XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 - 109.99
RAM: G.SKILL Value Series 4GB - 39.99
HD: HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB - 38.99
Case: COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310 - 39.99
PSU: OCZ StealthXstream II OCZ600SXS2 600W - 39.99
Motherboard: MSI 880GMA-E53 AM3 - 89.99
Monitor: Hanns·G HW-191APB Black 19" - 99.99

Total: 503.93

Or cheaper card:

SAPPHIRE 100287L Radeon HD 5670 - 62.99

Total: 511.93

or another cheaper card:

XFX HD-575X-ZMF3 Radeon HD 5750 - 84.99

Total: 533.93

[Bolkonsky]

You could always really skimp on the GPU, get an LCD/LED monitor, and deal with lousy graphics for a bit until you can afford a better GPU. It'd be better than not playing the games at all. (You can pick up a 9500/9800 really cheaply nowadays.)

[Leafdragon]

Not much, Here is all the games I have

Rome: Total War (With BI)
Risk 2
Medieval 2: Total War (With Kings)
Empire: Total War
Europa Universalis 3 (HTTT, DW)
Spore (With GA)

Yea, most of these are strategy, The others go on the 360

Can I buy a computer that can handle THESE games for roughly 300-500$?

[irishron]

Do you have a buddy to help you build it? Promise him a sodapop or something.

[Leafdragon]

I really dont wanna BUILD one, Cant I just get a preset computer made for gaming?

[irishron]

Not for $500 US.

[Bolkonsky]

You could get a laptop for around that price. It won't be as good, but that's pretty much all you can do. Or you could buy a PC and just upgrade the GPU.

They don't really make cheap gaming computers. It's all or nothing really.

[karamazovmm]

You could get a laptop for around that price. It won't be as good, but that's pretty much all you can do. Or you could buy a PC and just upgrade the GPU.

They don't really make cheap gaming computers. It's all or nothing really.

and sometimes changing the gpu would lead to a change in the psu