Help Upgrading my comp (partially for M2TW)

[Matty_P]

my comp as is:

dell 4700, 3 ghz p4, ati radeon x300, 512 mb ram.

i am going to get the ram up to 2.5gigs (256 x 2 + 1Gig x 2 = 2.5ish. @100ish for each gig upgrade mem stick) before M2TW comes out, probably sometime in october. some time after that i'll upgrade to the maximum 4 gigs.

but anyway, my concern is the graphics card because i really don't know how to install it and which would be compatible with the standard dell 4700. i know dell isn't ideal for upgrading, but i had been looking at ATI RADEON X1600 PRO 512MB PCI Express Graphics Card (200ish) or SAPPHIRE 100146L Radeon X1600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (100ish) as possible replacements.

can i do that given that i dont want to change my mobo or my PSU set up.

mind you, this will be the last game i'm going to make an effort to upgrade for. i'm relatively happy with my PC. i mean, i'm in college now and i think i'll have more on my mind that M2TW, but i want to be able to play it on high settings, maybe not all the highest, but granted, pretty up there.

for what i've heard, M2TW will run on my system, but i will need upgrades.

please help me out guys!

[communisto]

do you know if you have pci-e slots?

[Incinerate_IV]

More ram doesn't mean more speed. Just get another 512 stick and save the money for a better video card. The PC Hardware Guide will give you some choices for good PCI-E cards.

[Matty_P]

do you know if you have pci-e slots?

...how can i tell? and, incinerate, i want more ram. it makes me feel good.

[Lee1026]

Then just do what makes you feel good instead of asking us about it.

[Incinerate_IV]

It will make no difference, 1 gig is good enough for gaming. A good video card is the key if you want to play M2TW, or any other games in all its glory.

[Shaun]

my comp as is:

dell 4700, 3 ghz p4, ati radeon x300, 512 mb ram.

i am going to get the ram up to 2.5gigs (256 x 2 + 1Gig x 2 = 2.5ish. @100ish for each gig upgrade mem stick) before M2TW comes out, probably sometime in october. some time after that i'll upgrade to the maximum 4 gigs.

but anyway, my concern is the graphics card because i really don't know how to install it and which would be compatible with the standard dell 4700. i know dell isn't ideal for upgrading, but i had been looking at ATI RADEON X1600 PRO 512MB PCI Express Graphics Card (200ish) or SAPPHIRE 100146L Radeon X1600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (100ish) as possible replacements.

can i do that given that i dont want to change my mobo or my PSU set up.

mind you, this will be the last game i'm going to make an effort to upgrade for. i'm relatively happy with my PC. i mean, i'm in college now and i think i'll have more on my mind that M2TW, but i want to be able to play it on high settings, maybe not all the highest, but granted, pretty up there.

for what i've heard, M2TW will run on my system, but i will need upgrades.

please help me out guys!

Well, what graphics interface is your motherboard? PCIe or AGP? If its AGP there is no need to worry, as there are still some pretty good APG GPU's out there. Like this one. If its PCIe, then your laughing, there is a huge range of cards to suit any budget and needs out there. But the X300 isnt very good, and neither is the X1600 series when you can get a good X1800 series for not very much extra.
Now, on to the processor, it isnt terribily good either, although it can do. But depending on your budget, that is if your budget allows it, upgrade it, although this will also need a new mobo.

And dont bother getting that much extra RAM, it wont make a difference with such slow other components, get another 512mb stick, that is sufficient for all but the really good PC's.

So, before I can give you any more advice, I need to know your budget, preferabily in GBP, and a few other things.

1)what socket is your mobo and CPU? It is usually a 3 digit number, this matters a lot as only identical socket CPU's and mobos fir together.

2)what graphics interface is your mobo? I am assuming its either AGP or PCIe, but it might still be PCI

3)what is your budget?

4)What is your mobo?

CPU-Z will tell you all of this.

[Matty_P]

PCU-Z says:

1) the socket is 'Socket 775 LGA'
2) PCI-Express Link Width x16, Max Supported x16
3)budget in dollars is 400 to 500(thats like 355 to 455 GBP?)
4) the motherboard is Dell manufactured, Cipset Intel i915P/i915G...Southbridge 82801FB (ICH6)...whatever tha means.


is that what you wanted?

okay, if 1 Gig'll do it, then one Gig'll do it. i need a Vid Card, though. upgrading the processor and stuff...i dunno how, and it sounds expensive.

[Shaun]

PCU-Z says:

1) the socket is 'Socket 775 LGA'
2) PCI-Express Link Width x16, Max Supported x16
3)budget in dollars is 400 to 500(thats like 355 to 455 GBP?)
4) the motherboard is Dell manufactured, Cipset Intel i915P/i915G...Southbridge 82801FB (ICH6)...whatever tha means.


is that what you wanted?

Yes, thank you.

1)Im not an expert in intel sockets, but I dont think that is very up to date, but with a low budget oney would be better spent on other things.

2)Good, this will support a good GPU. How much do you want to spend on a GPU? Remember, dont get too fast a GPU, your other parts will be a bottle neck.

3)Not much.

4)Not too good.

Actually, with a budget of £400, you could get a pretty decent PC.

This is good barebones bundle, all you need is a GPU! Get this one.

[Incinerate_IV]

All you need is another video card. A Geforce 7900GT should be good, goes around $260 on Newegg.

[Lee1026]

That is the newest intel socket.

[Shaun]

That is the newest intel socket.

Oh, that shows how much I know about intels

Anyway, if he goes for what I suggested then he wont need to worry about skt's and stuff.

[Lee1026]

Why in the world would he want a new motherboard when he already have a good one? Also, I am willing to bet that motherboard in that barebone is a utter piece of crap. You would have to be a fool to get that barebone.

[Lee1026]

Also, I think that he is American, as he gave out a whole figure in dollars.

[Matty_P]

also, i wish you would direct your statements towards me instead of talking to me like i'm not even part of the discussion.

i am not american, but i have been living in america for several years, off and on. My mother serves as a representative of PKO in new york. it's a polish based bank. My family has houses in both countries. i would hardly assume anyone to be american just because they dish out figures in USD, it's a pretty widely used currency.

and i don't really want a new motherboard, just a new video card.

your reccommendation is this vid card? what about one with 512mb? does that essentially make any difference or is it more dependent on clock speed? i ahve no idea.

[Lee1026]

Right. So where are you buying the stuff? That is the important part of this this discussion.

[Matty_P]

i don't know yet, i'm certainly not going to invest the money until i find out whether or not a vid card with 512 will essentially last me longer.

i want to buy what will do me the most good in the long run, as far as my money is worth, i don't want to throw it away for something that will only serve me for M2TW. Rather, it'd be nice, but what is the best for the mpney i wanna spend. Up to 250 for the vid card.

[Lee1026]

Well, I was refering to the nation in which you are buying it in. Prices can change a fair amount bewteen nations, and so what is best in nation may not be the best in another.

[Matty_P]

well, i'm in America until January...so, i'll buy it here.

could you give me a 'second opinion' for a really nice vid card within my budget range?

[Lee1026]

I say the geforce 7900gt is probably the best bet.