PCI (not express) video cards

I am pretty terrible with technology, but I have had my HP pavillion since 2004, it runs great, I am about to kick my ram up to 1 gig next week which is the most it can handle. I play mostly RTS games, and am more into haveing fun with it than being blown away by really beautiful gaming. But I just want to put some new life into this system because the integrated graphics have always sucked. It has a PCI port but it isn't the newer PCI express. And I was hoping to get a suggestion as to what the very best PCI not express card is? I look online but don't find much in the way of the older cards like this. A buddy who is a tech says I need to try to find the last ones made before the companies focused on PCI Express. Any suggestions?

 

you could try something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103031
its the best pci slot from ATI
or something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130289

 

You asking about PCI because you don't have an AGP slot, right?

 

Yea there's no AGP slot. Just 2 available PCI slots.

 

Time for a new computer.

I think you said "very best" PCI graphics card, which will cost more than a new computer.

Really, no PCI Express and no AGP, is rather sad if you intend to add memory and better graphics.

Find a friend who has a PCI graphics card that they are not using. I always add a dual monitor graphics card to my computers and have old PCI graphics cards laying around. They are give-away material.

You may find that RAM is cheaper for a new computer than for an old computer. Same with graphics cards. Older doesn't mean cheaper.

Really, carefully consider getting a new computer before costly updates to an old computer.

 

For most folks an older computer will work just fine. Especially playing rts games. It will cost MORE for a new pc then for the upgrades he plans on doing, which will make his pc usable for some time longer. I would hold off on a new pc until one is needed (for a hardcore gamer or some such )