I want to upgrade graphics card

[bigdog4215]

I'm fairly new to pc's and don't know much.I want to upgrade my graphics card.Is there anything else I need to do when I buy the graphics card.Do I have to get more ram or is there anything else I should look for.Is any graphics card compatible with my pc or only certain ones.

[Sarge55]

Hey Bigdog,

 

You'll need to provide your system spec's for the experts to be able to give you guidance.

 

Generally, though it's your CPU, motherboard and RAM which will help you the most FPS wise. Your OS is also important as Vista and W7 handles memory much better than XP.

So it maybe more advantagous to look at upgrading other parts of your PC before the GPU.

[bigdog4215]

ms windows xp sp3

intel pentium 4 cpu

3.00ghz

2.0gb ram

ati radeon x300/x550/x1050 series

 

Thats what it showed in ccleaner,I know its farily old and not for gaming but is there anything I can upgrade to improve gameplay.

[aairon]

Need to know what mother board it's using. you can download free version of Everest (Google it) and it will give that info. If your mother board will allow it you may be able to install a duo core processor, Hopefully you will have a socket 775 mother board, as many of those also ran the older P-4 which you have. I guess the most important info needed at this point is the mother board manufacture and model number, this will tell if it is even worth while upgrading. If it's an even older socket then the 775 then it's not much point in spending any more money on it. You will be much better off taking any money you planned to spend on a new video card and invest in a new mother board.;)

[Sel94]

This may not directly apply to you but this thread has some good information on it. But the guys above me know what they're talking about too.

[bigdog4215]

Something that doesn't make sense is before I installed version1.0.2 everything was fine on 1.0.1 and now its stuttering like crazy.

[bigdog4215]

I downloaded everest,the motherboard properties are

 

motherboard id is dmi

motherboard name dell optiplex gx280

 

Is that what your talking about?

[Kuky]

Googling for dell optiplex gx280 and I find this:

 

http://www.cnet.com.au/dell-optiplex-gx280-240000886.htm

 

If this is actually the whole desktop system by Dell and info on that page is correct I'm afraid you can't upgrade the video card to nothing better then ATI Radeon X300, which in my opinion is not worth it.

 

You really should upgrade the motherboard, CPU, RAM and video card altogether.

[bigdog4215]

Googling for dell optiplex gx280 and I find this:

 

http://www.cnet.com.au/dell-optiplex-gx280-240000886.htm

 

If this is actually the whole desktop system by Dell and info on that page is correct I'm afraid you can't upgrade the video card to nothing better then ATI Radeon X300, which in my opinion is not worth it.

 

You really should upgrade the motherboard, CPU, RAM and video card altogether.

so what would be my 1st step,I read down below in the comment section of that artical and somebody said they have an bfg 9400gt 512meg pcie.Would I be able to get something like that

Edited August 5, 2010 by bigdog4215

[Sarge55]

Might want to look into a new system bigdog, yours is showing it's age particularly for gaming, sorry to say. You don't want to throw good money at a system for very minor gains, if any.

 

Don't know where you reside or your budget but there are a number of sites that will help you build a system within a budget. For example if you were in Canada you could try NCIX. http://www.ncix.com/index.php

 

Here's a link to a thread were some systems were discussed to give you an idea what to look for. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=43858&highlight=PC+DCS

 

Also, check the sticky here in the forums which lists hardware links as well.

 

My 2 cents

[bigdog4215]

It played perfect for me before I installed 1.0.2 and now it runs like crap.I tried tweaking it with that guide but had a hard time understanding it.Anybody got any ideas on what I could tweak to try and help.I turned water down to zero but sometimes when I go back to the script,the water is turned back.I click on save as after I change it,so some help would be appreciated

Lock on modern air combat plays perfect on it,even better than black shark.Do you think flaming cliffs would play good

Edited August 5, 2010 by bigdog4215

[KungFuCharlie]

Something that doesn't make sense is before I installed version1.0.2 everything was fine on 1.0.1 and now its stuttering like crazy.

 

Have you checked for updated drivers for your graphics card? Any time you install a new version of something and the graphics performance changes drastically then the first thing you look at are your drivers.