Need a new Vid card

[Mr_Breeze]

I currently have a 128 DDR ATI Radeon 9700 TX w/TV-out. I don't have a clue if my motherboard is AGP or PCI. When I go into device manager and check the properties of the card I read "Location: PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0" , but cpu-z says of my motherboard.....

Graphic Interface
AGP version 2.0
Transfer Rate 4x Max. Supported 4x
Side Band enabled


I dont know what the heck that means... I guessing either that’s integrated graphics or the type of port.

My other specs are 1gig ram (as soon as my newegg delivery arrives), and a P4 2.66GHz PSU that runs at 2651.7MHz
My mobo is a Dell manufactured Intel southbridge i850E Rev. A3
I have integrated sound so I guess I need to plan to buy a sound card once I find out if I need AGP or PCI. Budget isn't really an issue though I'd like to spend around $200 or less.



/Edit Juding by this http://developer.intel.com/design/ch...850e/#Features .... It's AGP. Anyone think differant? I don't want to spend $300 on a vid card and sound card I can't use and have to choose between spending another $300 to get the right thing or not upgrading.

[AlfonsoVIII]

You have a Dell which is maxed out at AGP 4.0, half of the AGP 8x. To really enjoy the game, you might have to buy a new computer, but you might be happy with a AGP Nvidia card, like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143046

[Spart]

I don't think that buying a new card would be very wise with that cpu, since the cpu will bottleneck then. I would recommend saving some money, selling that old system (mobo, cpu, gpu) and getting a new, cheap mobo + decent A64 Athlon, such as 3500+ or 3800+, and nice PCI-e card like 7600 GS or GT..
And if you really need soundcard (using integrated myself, not so crappy afterall), they're for PCI. Note that PCI and PCI-e are not the same thing.
But yeah, this is just my suggestion.

[Mr_Breeze]

I know I need a totally new PC to play the game at it's best, but all I need to pass minimum specs is a 256 mb vid card. I don't see how my processor would cause a bottleneck. I see a lot of people posting who sport better video cards then me, but with a slower CPU. Even if it did bottle neck a bit I would still be better off. I plan to build a new computer, but first I have to rebuild the transmission in my truck which is going to use up of $$. I just need a $200 or so upgrade until Feb/March when I can do a new build.

Can you tell me what this means "Location: PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0" ?

Is that a good video card for it's time?

[Selahedîn]

If all you want is a new AGP card under 200$, I suggest you try getting a 7800GS, like Alfonso said, or a 7600GT .
You should also try to upgrade that CPU of yours asap...

You can always get a nice GPU now (don't go lower than the 7600GT), and buy a multi-support mobo from Asrock when you have some $ available, that way you will be able to keep the new GPU AND upgrade your CPU and RAM with new technologies, like dual-core and DDR2. It's what I did some time ago...

[Mr_Breeze]

Would it be worth upgrading to one of theese http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ntel+pentium+4


90 bucks for .34 more processing power doesn't seem worth it to me.

[Selahedîn]

Would it be worth upgrading to one of theese http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ntel+pentium+4


90 bucks for .34 more processing power doesn't seem worth it to me.

You're right, it isn't worth it. Upgrade your GPU now if you want and buy a mobo that supports dual-core CPUs later, no need to replace a Pentium IV with another, slightly faster, Pentium IV... just save your money and get a dual-core later!

Or you can always change that old AGP 4X (ouch...) mobo of yours now into something that supports Pci-Express (like this one) and buy yourself a Pci-Express GPU. It's probably your best choice since the Pci-E 7600GT is like 30 or 40€ cheaper than the AGP version and is also superior in terms of performance.

[AlfonsoVIII]

Mr_Breeze: Total war games are processor dependent as .2Ghz can give you some nice gains if you have the right video card and memory. The fact that you have a Dell tells me you most likely going to have to buy a new computer if you can afford $1000, but if you are willing to spend $200 and be happy on low to medium settings, then get just the video card as you already have invested in more RAM. I do not like Dells as their expandability is very limited. You have 30 days to return items, so if you not satisiied, return the items and save for a new computer. I wish I could be more hopeful, but this is where you stand.

[Incinerate_IV]

The Pentium 4 should handle it fine. The best bang for the buck right now for AGP is the X850XT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102526

[Shaun]

The Pentium 4 should handle it fine. The best bang for the buck right now for AGP is the X850XT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102526

Judging by his avatar and sig he is in Britain. In Britain the best bang for buck card is the 7600GS, and for a little more extra you might as well get the 7600GT AGP. In the UK the X850XT is priced at an astonishingly high £170-£210, for that money you could get the X1950XT. So I reccomend him the 7600 GS/GT.

[Mr_Breeze]

Not really into going to all the trouble to practically rebuild this PC for about $1000 when I plan to build a new one. After I fix my truck and save up about $2k I'm going all out on a custom job. I just want to know what the best processor I can put in this PoS is. All things posted here considered.. I should also ask if a new video card would be too much of a waste. I just need something so I can play MTW2 until Feb./ Mar. when I can afford the custom job. I’m a US resident not a Brit.