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Adding graphic card
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Posted by: Debkin
I have a Gateway 300SE, Windows XP, (NO sp1 or sp2), 384RM, 82815 Intel Celeron INTERNAL graphic contoller and four (4) slots for, what my informative manual calls, add-on cards. Since my warranty has lapsed, it will cost me $2.95 each minute to find out just exactly what and how I can utilize these slots now that I would like to venture into the gaming world. I'm finding now that directx-c is a neccessary part of it and I must have the hardware. Herein lies my dilema. Can you help me please? Thank you. DC
Posted by: goranpaa
Hi!
First, have you upgraded the 128mb of SDRAM PC 133 you have as orginal amount of RAM in that PC?
If not, it would be a good idea for the overall performance, to get at least another 512mb of RAM.
Like this:
Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 168-Pin SDRAM Unbuffered PC 133 System Memory - Retail $64.77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820153101
Also download Everest Home from the link below, and check out, if your motherboard is equipped with an "AGP port"?
This you find under "Motherboard" and "Expansion slots".
Here you also can find out how many RAM slots and max amount of RAM your motherboard supports?
Everest Home here:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System...e-Edition.shtml
If you find that you have an AGP port. The most suitable video card would be this:
SAPPHIRE 100573L-BK Radeon 9600XT 128MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail $77.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814102510
This card will play most modern games on moderate quality settings.
If you find that your motherboard, does'nt have any "AGP port"?
Then you will have to get a "PCI Videocard" that will fit into any normal PCI slot on the mobo.
But PCI Videocards should'nt be confused with "PCI Express" videocards. Sutch a PCI E videocard is a completely different interface and wont fit your motherboard.
Here is a good PCI Videocard:
PNY VCGFX55PPB Geforce FX5500 128MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card - Retail $62.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814133134
You should'nt get any more expensive ( faster) video card than these above, as your Celeron 1.3 GHz will bottleneck such videocards.
And a good idea, would maybe be to consider getting a PCI Express rig. Pre buildt, or why not build it yourself? You save some money, get exactly what you want inside the machine. And learn a lot about PC hardware as a bonus. The budget for a good gaming PCI E rig, if you build it yourself? Will be about 800 to 1000 USD. Depending on what Processor and videocard you choose? But anyway it should be an AMD socket 939. CPU and motherboard. As AMD is the best "gaming CPU".
We will gladly help you choose the right stuff. And answer any building questions you might have.
Also, be aware of, when you get a new videocard. You will have to disable the onboard videochip in BIOS.
To open BIOS. Tap the "delete key" at the very first screen you see when booting up.
Then inside BIOS, scroll your way using the "arrow keys" to a menue, called " Integrated Perpherials" or something like that. And disable the integrated video chip. Save the setting in BIOS, before you leave and reboot. When arriving at Windows desk. Install the driver, that came on the cd with your new card and reboot again.
For additional settings in the driver. Consult the videocard manual.
Posted by: Debkin
Everest Home will not download...It expired on Dec. 1, 2005. I tried disabling fiewall...couldn'tget it done. My computer has 2 slots for RAM...a total of 512..I have the original 128 in one and a 256 in the other. I plan on purchasing another 256 soon. Any other downloads other than Everest? Thanks so much for the input! I am so very ignorant of these specifics, only because they are new. I appreciate it. DC
Posted by: kestrel1
For Everest home try this site:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
It works for me.
Posted by: goranpaa
You're welcome.
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