EmachinesT3065 Compatible?

Ok I have an EMachines T3065 (specs) with an added 512MB RAM. I want to upgrade my Graphics card to this:

SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON X850 PRO Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, DVI/TV, PCI-Express

Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: ATI Radeon X850 PRO/520MHz
Pixel Pipeline: 12
Memory/Effective Speed: 256MB GDDR3/1080MHz
BUS: PCI-Express x16
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub) + TV-Out (S-Video/Composite Out) + DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9, OpenGL 2.0
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
(more specs)

Is my computer compatible? Be honest, I really don't want to spend $389 on it for no reason. Thanks.

 

That's not a bad system and the extra ram and video card will make a great improvement and is the right way to go.

HOWEVER, it is an AGP and not PCI-Express motherboard, so unless you want to change the motherboard, which I would doubt, then look for an AGP card.

Don't let that put you off, there is nothing wrong with AGP. It's currently no slower than PCI-Express and you certainly need something rather than the onboard graphics you currently have.

Both ATI and nVidia make great AGP chips.

My current favourite at the moment would be an nVidia 6600 GT. They will give you 90% of the performance of the fastest chips at only 30% of the price.

 

But, my motherboard has 3 PCI slots and 1 AGP slot currently I have one open PCI slot and could even take out the old 56k Modem PCI Chip that came with my computer. It's the AGP slot that is already taken up by my current graphics card which I will probably just take out and sell anyway. Aren't I safe with that?

 

pci and pcie are different kinds of slots.........your motherboard will only handle agp graphics. Troy

 

Ok thanks, that's nice to know.

 

As I said, don't let that put you off.

AGP is just as quick currently as PCI-Express, and still has a pretty good life expectancy.

Extra memory and a good video card would make a great improvement to a basically good system.

Good luck.