Graphics Card outdated

Moatherboard spec: P4M800PRO-M
CPU LGA775 socket for latest Intel Core 2 Duo / Pentium D / Pentium 4 / Celeron D processor
FSB 1066/800/533 MHz
Support Hyper-Threading Technology
CHIPSET VIA® P4M800Pro & VT8237R+
North Bridge: VIA® P4M800Pro
South Bridge: VIA® VT8237R Plus
GRAPHICS Integrated S3 UniChrome Pro 2D/3D Graphics
Share memory : 64MB
MEMORY Single-channel DDR memory architecture
2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM socket support up to 2 GB
Support DDR400/333 DDR SDRAM or DDR2 533/400 DDR2 SDRAM
EXPANSION SLOT 1 x AGP 8X slot
3 x PCI slots
STORAGE Supported by VIA VT8237R
Supported by VIA VT8237R Plus
-- 4 x Ultra DMA133/100/66 devices
-- 2 x Serial ATA devices
RAID0 & RAID1 configuration
AUDIO Realtek ALC655 6-Channel audio CODEC
Compliant with AC'97 2.3 specification
LAN VIA® VT6103L 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet PHY
REAR PANEL I/O 1 x PS/2 keyboard & PS/2 mouse connectors
1 x Parallel port (LPT1)
1 x Serial port (COM1)
1 x VGA port
4 x USB ports
1 x RJ45 LAN connector
1 x Audio port (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in)
INTERNAL I/O CONNECTORS & HEADERS 1 x 24-pin ATX Power Supply connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V connector
1 x FDD connector
2 x IDE connectors
2 x Serial ATA connectors
2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB Ports
1 x Buzzer
1 x IrDA for SIR header
1 x Front panel switch/LED header
1 x Front panel audio header
AUX-in header
CD in header
CPUFAN/SYSFAN connectors
SYSTEM BIOS AMI BIOS with 4Mb Flash ROM
Supports Plug and Play 1.0A, APM 1.2, Multi Boot, DMI
Supports ACPI revision 1.0 specification
FORM FACTOR Micro-ATX Size, 244mm*244mm

I looked on the ebay page where i got the comp and these are specs listed for it, I'd like to get a better power supply.

"IT HAS AN NVIDEA GEFORCE FX 5200 128MB AGP VIDEO CARD WITH DX9 PIXEL AND VERTEX SHADER 2.0."

sorry for caps copied that from the page, thats what I'm working with, I need to know how "good" the graphics card is in it, I'd also like to know the process to overclock that processor. If the graphics card is sorely outdated then i'd like to know a decent recommendation that would work with whats shown here. Something up to playing games (like APB: All Points Bulliten) or morrowind without shuddering and collapsing haha, something pocket friendly

Since I have work until 4am today i wont be able to reply.

If anyone can tell me a good card for my buck (up to 240 preferable cheap but decent) something compatible with the machine I'd be grateful.

Thanks Geeks

 

Vanilla Morrowind, or heavily modded Morrowind? :innocent

I have a Geforce 7800 GS in a very similar system (3GHz P4, 2GB RAM), that was able to run Oblivion just fine, so with a dual-core processor and a decent amount of RAM, the video card looks like your bottleneck. The spec list you posted shows what the motherboard supports, but what do you have in it? What is your current power supply?

I would not go for a 5200 video card... in fact, if you're going to upgrade, get a card for one of your PCI slots (unless you're using all three, and not one for your AGP slot). I looked around on Newegg and found some PCI video cards that look failry inexpensive. Here you go. (I looked for nVidia cards, since you mentioned that in your post I assumed that was your preference.)

I would suggest at least an 8400, and go for an EVGA or PNY card. I've never heard of Sparkle, and that always makes me a bit wary...

Something you need to keep in mind is that you won't be able to run a lot of recent games on high settings, if at all, on that system, so if you're thinking of having a serious go at PC gaming, you may want to consider buying a cheap card for right now and save your money for a new rig. Just a thought.

 

^Definitely something you want to keep in mind^

Does that list state how much ram is actually in the computer? I see the memory specs but no clear statement of how much is installed. Maybe something to look at further, or maybe I'm just missing it.

From Mimsy's list, I would get this if your budget allows, or this if the other is too expensive. The first one is quite a bit better for only $20 more, but budgets are budgets!

Morrowind is a great game and that system should be fine if you're not going to be asking a great deal more of your computer than that, assuming you upgrade the video like you're anticipating, and have enough ram installed to handle it and your other processes.

 

Good point. I don't think you're just missing it, I can't find it either.

OP, if you don't know what/how much you have in the system, download and run Speccy and it will tell you. We are probably going to want to know about your CPU and power supply as well as your RAM.

 

my appologies i dont have the computer yet those are specs listed from the unit i bought via ebay (works fine no hassles we will see) and it isnt here yet, hopefully by weeks end, however I can get the info for the powersupply ect by copy and past power from the item xD

DUAL CORE PC WITH AN INTEL PENTIUM D PROCESSOR @ 2.66GHZ (CAN BE OVERCLOCKED TO 3.6GHZ).

IT HAS 2 FAST SATA 7200RPM DRIVES (A 160GB AND AN 82GB),

IT HAS AN NVIDEA GEFORCE FX 5200 128MB AGP VIDEO CARD WITH DX9 PIXEL AND VERTEX SHADER 2.0.

IT ALSO HAS 2GB OF DDR2 MEMORY.

AND IT HAS A 350 WATT POWER SUPPLY.

sorry for caps the guy had it that way.


I meant to add Oblivion my current computer has less ram, a 250 watt psp and 1.66 ghz processor and it plays oblivion fine with medium/high graphics, however the card is a GeForce 9600 nVidia and it only runs at half power.

It can play crysis as well on meduim graphics however with some settings turned either off or lowered for smoother gameplay.

once I do get the pc however I will have to do a full partition to as I'll be installing windows 7 to it (32 bit as I dont think it could handle 64) It currently has linux operating system installed.

I need to upgrade the powersupply too, i've got a budget up to 200 for the video card. I paid 179 for the nvidia in this current computer that i type this message with (as I said i dont have the other one yet, this one is being passed to my older brother)

I'm wondering if there is anything aside from video card/powersupply that I should get for it (in a reasonable price.) I'm a bit outdated on things haha.

if you need any more info please ask, and I'll answer as best I can.

thanks guys!

 

From the specs you listed, I'm thinking this is your motherboard. Your memory standard is DDR2 553mhz at a maximum 2gb of installed memory, which from your post I see you already have installed. Relative to the rest of the system, the cpu you have will outperform any other task you could put to the machine.

The most you can do to that system is going to be to upgrade your video and psu. Your psu upgrade is going to be dependent on your choice of video cards, and the $80 EVGA card I linked earlier is going to be about the best your motherboard will handle. It has a recommended minimum 300W psu. Unless the psu on your system is brand new and a good quality supply, you'll need to look at upgrading it to something a little more stocky, but nothing too major. This would be a good quality choice and leave you room to breath over your minimum requirements. Without upgrading your motherboard, which essentially means a new build, I really believe that's about all the upgrading you can do to that machine. It would play Morrowind, Oblivion, and other games of similar demand well, if not modded to the teeth and full out maxed.

Honestly, I would not install Win 7 on that system. Here are the Win 7 system requirements; they are the minimum that OS needs to do its job. You exceed the minimum, and your machine will run it. That being said, you will see better performance out of your system running a less resource hungry OS; see Win XP. With Win 7 installed, your machine will already be pushing hard just to handle the OS, and after you stack antivirus and other basic programs you will not have much left for running other things. Conversely, XP is still an excellent OS and nowhere near as resource hungry as 7, and you will have much more system resources left over for your machine to devote to games etc.

When all is said and done it will be just fine for playing what you've mentioned!

 

however I no longer own windows xp >.< but If this current rig i have can handle having 7 with it's lower capabilities and run as smoothly as it has been, then honestly the other computer should as well.

I'll buy the card and psp this friday, thanks alot guys you all rock.

 

As I understand it, HDCP is a form of DRM for HD signals. All the hardware between the HD source and the display has to meet this HDCP criteria or the HD transmission will not reach your display in HD resolution if at all.

For a computer, that means it's not just enough to have a blu-ray player and a HD capable display, your video card has to have HDCP support or you will not get full HD. Almost all modern cards are HDCP ready so it's not much of an issue.

It is also the reason you need a specific receiver if you get HD channels through cable or satellite- the reciever has to support HDCP.

As far as it being a good thing or a bad thing, as a gamer I personally despise DRM. I respect and support the idea of the intellectual property rights of the creative minds behind the material and won't pirate games, but I have had otherwise good games rendered virtually unplayable that I've spent good money on. GTA:IV is a shining example. As applies to HDCP, it caused some minor protest when it was introduced, but anymore you'd have to go out of your way to not have modern hardware with HDCP support.

Just a thought also, but if you use a new thread to ask questions like this, it'll make it easier for others searching for info on the topic to find relevant posts!

 

Well my current rig is out of action waiting on a new motherboard typing on a dreaded iPod touch how low ive fallen