im thinking about getting a new video card, radeon 9550, heres my computers specs, should i or shouldnt i?
SiSoftware Sandra
System
Host Name : T3H1W7
User : bojan
Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) Processor
Speed : 852MHz
Model Number : 852 (estimated)
Performance Rating : PR1133 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 64kB Synchronous, Write-Back, 2-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 256kB ECC Synchronous, Write-Back, 16-way set, 64 byte line size
Mainboard
Bus(es) : AGP PCI USB
MP Support : No
MP APIC : No
System BIOS : Compaq 786K3
System : Compaq Presario
Mainboard : Compaq 0708h
Total Memory : 312MB SDRAM
Chipset 1
Model : VIA Technologies Inc VT8363/5 KT133/KM133 System Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 100MHz (200MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 320MB SDRAM
Shared Memory : 8MB
Memory Bus Speed : 1x 100MHz (100MHz data rate)
Video System
Monitor/Panel : COMPAQ FS740 Color Monitor
Adapter : S3 Graphics Inc. ProSavage
Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : ST340823A (37GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : PHILIPS CDD4801 CD-R/RW (CD 32X Rd, 8X Wr)
Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse
MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : VIA AC'97 Audio Controller (WDM)
Communication Device(s)
Device : PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem
Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line
Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600
Network Services
Adapter : SMC EZ Card 10/100 PCI (SMC1211TX)
Performance Tips
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.
yea but if u have seen my other threats i'm wanting to build my own machine, and i dont want to spend 200$ for a video card, because i have a friend who suggested one he uses, but thats too much for one so he suggested this one, so while im getting those other parts i'll use this one, and than, when ihave all the nesessary parts i'll switch over the radeon 9550 to the new machine. thanx for the help tho. appriciate it
BojanO87, I have an ATI Radeon9550 and it's a pretty decent card. Of course there are better cards out but they'll run ya in the 200+ range. I scored a benchmark of 9600 on 3DMark01 with it, and I can play anygame out right now with decent graphic settings (doom3=max settings) Plus as I have learned recently there are good overclocking programs for graphics cards (thanks everyone!!!) So, in my opinion, I don't think you can go wrong with 9550. Good luck.
One more thing, just so you know, you won't be able to switch the 9550 over to your new machine because you'd have to get it in AGP (AGP 2x at that). And you'll most definetly be wanting a PCI-E board.
There are two graphics interfaces: AGP (AGP 1x, AGP 2x, AGP 4x, AGP 8x) and PCI-Express 16x. Your motherboard right now only supports AGP (probably AGP 2x, I have a similar system that supports only 2x). I'm not sure if the different AGP speeds are compatible with each other, I know some use different voltages than others but I'm not sure which ones.
Edit: download CPU-Z (google) and run it, it will tell you what AGP version you have)
Your new motherboard when you build your new PC will probably be PCI-E which isn't compatible with any AGP cards (or you might get an AGP 8x board, but I don't think that would be compatible with the slower 2x card you would get anyway, so there's no reason to get AGP board)