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HELP! 1ST TIME UPGRADING.
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Avenger35
Newbie
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27. June 2009 @ 14:35 |
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Hi, I want to upgrade my computer. Its a Dell Dimension 5150 i got a few years ago when i 1st moved out. Anywho, Its never been that great for games so i think its time for an upgrade but i have no ideo what to do. Could you guys help me out. Ill post the specs for you guys here.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/sy...1.htm#wp1052310
I dont have that big a budget so keep it reasonable, Thanks.
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jony218
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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27. June 2009 @ 17:34 |
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according to the specs it has a pci express 16x slot. That means you can upgrade the video card, that will elevate the play of your computer tremendously.
Onboard video chipset is just not setup for video games.
Your best bet is to get the ati 4670 pci express, it doesn't require an external power connector, It cost's about $80.00 but it can play crysis (the most demanding video game currently available) at low settings. Any video card that can play crysis will have no problems playing any other game available. There are cheaper video cards available $50.00 range but none of them will play crysis. Any card you get, make sure it has at least shader 3.0 capability. Many new games require at least that much shader.
With the 4670 it is recommended that you have a 400 watt power supply, but that is if your computer is fully loaded. The card comsumes about 75 watts.
That's all you need, cpu and memory won't do anything for games. Even a low power cpu celeron will play games if it has a excellent video card.
The higher priced ($100.00+) video cards are mainly for the gamers who build there PC's around the video card. A very good low/midrange video card is for those upgrading from onboard video.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/792/11/
Just make sure you take the side cover off your case and verify that it has a pci express slot available. Sometimes the specs on a particular computer can change from what is on the companys website.
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Avenger35
Newbie
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27. June 2009 @ 19:27 |
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Cool thanks for all the info. This will help alot.
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Avenger35
Newbie
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27. June 2009 @ 19:31 |
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I had no idea what i PCI Slot looks like so i googled it and looked inside my computer, and yep i have 1 free slot. is that all i need?
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Avenger35
Newbie
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27. June 2009 @ 19:43 |
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Avenger35
Newbie
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27. June 2009 @ 19:55 |
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Sorry about my spelling, it should say double, not dobble. I cant find a way to edit these forums.
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ddp
Moderator
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27. June 2009 @ 20:49 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 27. June 2009 @ 20:50
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Avenger35
Newbie
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28. June 2009 @ 09:02 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
Avenger, look for this icon 
to the right of your post to edit your post.
Technical Overview link
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/sy...1058472
Thanks. I used that link and looked inside my pc, There is one free PCI connector but the PCI express slot is being used. Would that be the Graphics card thats already in my PC? If i got a new card would i just take this one out and plug in the new one?
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redice
Senior Member
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28. June 2009 @ 13:14 |
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Avenger35
more than likely you only have one pci e slot in your computer that is being used by your old video card(GPU) so yes you will have to remove the old one and replace it with the new one.
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ddp
Moderator
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28. June 2009 @ 13:24 |
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Avenger, in the link i posted, is your monitor connected to the #3 area or #4 area of the backend of the computer?
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Avenger35
Newbie
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28. June 2009 @ 18:23 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
Avenger, in the link i posted, is your monitor connected to the #3 area or #4 area of the backend of the computer?
Im not sure what your talking about. The monitor is plugged into the VGA connector, i don't see a number.
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ddp
Moderator
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28. June 2009 @ 23:38 |
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in the link is a picture of the back view of the computer divided into 4 sectors, is the monitor connected to sector 3 or sector 4?
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Avenger35
Newbie
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29. June 2009 @ 06:08 |
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Oh i see, im stupid. its connected to sector 4.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. June 2009 @ 09:45
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ddp
Moderator
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29. June 2009 @ 13:12 |
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look in device manager & tell us what your videocard you have now is.
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Avenger35
Newbie
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29. June 2009 @ 14:30 |
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Ok i did that, it says i have a Radeon X300 SE 128MB HyperMemory.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. June 2009 @ 14:31
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ddp
Moderator
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29. June 2009 @ 22:08 |
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what is this computer being used for & what type of games are you looking at in playing? how much ram does the pc have as in 512meg, 1gig or what?
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Avenger35
Newbie
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29. June 2009 @ 23:22 |
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Originally posted by ddp:
what is this computer being used for & what type of games are you looking at in playing? how much ram does the pc have as in 512meg, 1gig or what?
My computer has 1 gig of ram and id like to be able to play Crysis. Dosent have to be at max settings, i just want it to look better then my Xbox 360 games. Also i want to play STALKER, Dawn of War 2,Battlefield 2 and 2142. I would also like to be able to play Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 when they come out. Starcraft FTW!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. June 2009 @ 23:24
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ddp
Moderator
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30. June 2009 @ 13:53 |
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what are the games' system requirements & where does your system not meet those requirements like videocard & ram as examples?
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