How can i tell......

Where do I go on my PC to tell me everything I need to get a new graphics card?

I’m pretty Sure I need AGP Card but I’m not sure what kind of port size I got....either a x4 or x8.

Now I want to play HL2 so I’m gonna give you my computer specs. Once someone tells where to do a full system showing of like what motherboard I got, video card, memory card type...Ect? Because I want to know so I can plan on what to buy.

I'm gonna give you what I know just from what I know how to get

Computer:
Dell Dimension DIM2400
Intel Celeron CPU 2.60GHz
256 MB of RAM (Yeah, I know I’m Upgrading that first...that’s why I want to know what kind of memory card I got so I can get another...because I’m not sure if you can have 2 diff. memory card working together.)
Intel Extreme Graphics card (Which has Direct X Version 9.0)

The computer isn’t old I just bought it like last year I think....when the Dell dimension 2400 where like $200. Can anyone tell me what I need to run games faster besides more RAM.... I already know I need more of that

 

download everest: http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

and attach a quick report for us to go over. im sure the specs are on the net but im lazy

 

Yah I was gonna suggest "Everest" too. That's the number one program that can tell you everything you need to know.

If your system takes agp and your on a low budget, say something under $100 I would suggest a "ATI SAPPHIRE RADEON 9550 WITH 256MB 128BIT". It should get the job done nice especially on that cpu you have.

 

@ Superstar
Thanks for the input, I am actually running a budget here.... (Only have $80 in the bank LOL) I was actually looking at a ATI RADEON 9600.....For $99....but I’m not sure if my mother board is compatible with it....maybe someone can tell me?

Here is what EVEREST told me......(This is from the Report i just did the old copy and paste )

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name ?????????
User Name ????????? (I blocked out my name )

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Celeron, 2600 MHz (26 x 100)
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 2400
Motherboard Chipset Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV
System Memory 256 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (12/02/03)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel Extreme Graphics
Monitor Dell E773s [17" CRT] (Y135253HFRXB)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801DB ICH4 - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-1]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Disk Drive WDC WD800BB-75JHC0 (74 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive SONY CD-RW CRX216E (48x/32x/48x CD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 72590 MB (53948 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Network:
Network Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller (192.168.1.102)
Modem Intel(R) 537EP V9x DF PCI Modem

 

did u see if it said what kind of graphics card slot u have? agp or pci-express

the first thing id do tho is add more ram; another 256mb would be good or 512mb if u can. Make sure its DDR400 pc3200

 

hmmmm well it says on the

Computer/DMI/BIOS Tag

BIOS Properties:
Vendor Dell Computer Corporation
Version A05
Release Date 12/02/2003
Size 512 KB
Boot Devices Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, LS-120
Capabilities Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, Selectable Boot, EDD, BBS
Supported Standards DMI, APM, ACPI, ESCD, PnP
Expansion Capabilities PCI, USB

Is that what you need?


EDIT:

After looking at the DELL Site 512MB Memory card for the DIM2400 is gonna cost $70 ....so i guess thats not a bad price is it?


they said it was made for my PC

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0735504

 

EDIT

SORRY!!! i meant to edit my other post not make a new one

 

too expensive, dell tends to overcharge on upgrade components. this should work for ya: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145026

 

Thanks!, so do i have to get a PCI Graphics card? from what that thing said?

 

i double checked on the net and i guess you dont have either, only PCI slots. The best card u can get for PCI is an FX5500

edit: never mind, apparently they have an x1300 for PCI now but its a bit expensive for a not very good card: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2467314&CatId=1603

here is the 5500: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1520540&CatId=1603

 

So is there no way to tell what kind of graphics card slot one's computer has?

 

if you wanna take a look inside your computer, and see if you have agp

http://www.cheapcomputersandparts.com/Images/Parts/Motherboard-AGP-Slot.jpg

or pci express

http://greyghost.dyndns.org/pci-express/pcie-board-medium.jpg

notice that the agp is almost always brown and lined up different than the pci slots below it.

i would bet that ur dell doesn't have either (you get what you pay for). your current graphics accelerator is on-board and shares 64mb of system memory. you will need a pci graphics card.

 

Thanks for showing pictures!

I checked with many sites and my version of Dim2400 doesn’t have an AGP Card ...I wish it did.


But I was think I was looking at Tiger direct and they have the kinds of mother boards that I was looking for that had AGP card slots along with PCI.

Oh, if you care... mine is a Socket 478 Mother board...I Think from what this says in the CPUID Properties.

Field Value
Platform ID 0Fh (Socket 478)


But I’m not sure what kind I can get that would work with my CPU ....i was looking at one but I think it said you needed Celeron D with 3.2 GHz?

Here are the mother board specs

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID <DMI>
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 2400

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 100 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 400 MHz
Bandwidth 3200 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 133 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 2133 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 267 MB/s

Motherboard Manufacturer:
Company Name Dell Computer Corporation
Product Information http://www.dell.com
BIOS Download http://support.dell.com




Here is my CPU SPECS.... just so you know what i got

CPU Properties:
CPU Type Intel Celeron, 2600 MHz (26 x 100)
CPU Alias Northwood-128
CPU Stepping D1
Instruction Set x86, MMX, SSE, SSE2
Original Clock 2600 MHz
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 26x / 26x
Engineering Sample No
L1 Trace Cache 12K Instructions
L1 Data Cache 8 KB
L2 Cache 128 KB (On-Die, ECC, ATC, Full-Speed)

CPU Physical Info:
Package Type 478 Pin uPGA
Package Size 3.50 cm x 3.50 cm
Transistors 55 million
Process Technology 6M, 0.13 um, CMOS, Cu, Low-K
Die Size 131 mm2
Core Voltage 1.525 V
I/O Voltage 1.525 V
Typical Power 52.8 - 68.4 W (depending on clock speed)
Maximum Power 67 - 87 W (depending on clock speed)

CPU Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/browse/processor.htm



SORRY FOR SO MANY QUESTIONS, I'M A TOTAL NEWBIE TO COMPUTER BUILDING.

 

i think it would be in your best interest to build a whole new system if u plan on replacing the mobo (motherboard). socket 478 is outdated and it wouldnt be worth it to upgrade your mobo AND CPU. A new mobo wont fit inside a Dell case anyways. That video card is WAY to expensive for the performance youd get out of it anyways. You could get a 939 mobo/cpu and a budget PCI-Express card for pretty cheap nowadays. If ya wanna go the route of building a new one, lemme know your budget. Im open for more questions as always

 

I would love to build my own PC.... the way I want it. But, we are still paying for this one ....so I can't give it up yet. I was thinking of just buying a new bigger case and from paycheck to paycheck putting a little away to buy stuff for the new one. I could always just give it to my parents because they where looking for a new one anyway. They have a Gateway from like 2002-2003...but my father upgraded that one with bigger memory.


But, yeah thanks I’ll have to see how much my budget would be for a new GAMER PC. I was gonna buy the new Dell XPS Gaming PC ....But $999 that’s a lot of money and it will probably have a crappy graphics card too. I want something that is cheap but would still run fast and good and could play games really well and fast on higher settings than LOW for EVERYTHING.

As you can tell I still live with my parents because I’m 16 years old.

So, I’m gonna TRY to get a job at my local Game Stop. It may take a while…but I want a Good GAMER PC…… Dammit.

Any Ideas of a good PC.... that it's OS is not MAC or LINUX.... I’ve heard nothing but problems with those. And games/ 3D Software are harder to find for both.

 

I was looking at this one.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsdt_410?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

It says it can go up to 4GB of dual-channel memory!