Need Help upgrading graphics card

Wonderkid · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 10:28 PM

Ok, first let me start by saying this forum probably gets this kind of thing an awful lot. But here I go anyway. I would really like to upgrade my graphics card and anything else that would make my comp run better. I have a Dell Dimension E310 and I think my current graphics card is Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL. I ran the D-A-L scan and got a link, but this forum wont let me post it until my post count is 5. So let me know if anyone wants to see it.

The main reason I'd like to upgrade is because I'd like to start a little pc gaming. And with swtor coming out soon, I figured upgrading now while I have money would be a good idea. So, thanks and any help would be greatly appreciated.

bootneck02 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 11:50 PM

Is your Dell in standard form 512mb RAM, a230watt PSU and 80gig HD?

Wonderkid · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 10:55 PM

Nah, I upgraded to a gig of ram and a 150 gig hd. Aside from that though, its standard.

townsbg · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 06:36 AM

System Specs

Quote:

While the E310 has two PCI slots and a single PCI Express x1 slot, it lacks a dedicated x16 PCI Express slot for graphics cards. The integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics of the 915G chipset are your only option.

This is Dell being cheap & is a reason why I really dislike dell.

Most computers even if they have integrated video chip they also have either a PCI-e x16 or an AGP slot both of which are dedicated for graphics. Technically you can use a PCI-e graphics card in an x1 slot BUT you don't get nearly the bandwidth as the x16 and the x1 slot is connected to the slower end of the chip set. Considering those factors, I would say that you wouldn't be any better off with a new card than you are now because your computer can't use a new card to anywhere near it's full potential. In addition you have an underpowered PSU which would have to be replaced. Between the 2 you would be spending well over $200 at least (more like over $300) & again you wouldn't be any better off. Instead of spending that money if I where you I would save up for a better computer because you did not get a gaming computer.

I know thats not want you want to hear but that is dell for you. With them you really get what you pay for but in your case it doesn't even look like you got that.

I feel for you.

I looked up that game & there is no way that your computer will ever be able to play that. In addition to your graphics situation your CPU isn't powerful enough. You wouldn't even meet the minimum requirements.

Quote:

minimum:

Windows Vista/7 OS:
+CPU: dual-tri core: Intel pentium D, Core dual of 2.4ghz or higher. AMD Atholon 64 x2, Phenom x3, Turion of 2.4ghz or higher.
+Ram: 1GB
+Vidoe card: 512 MB 128-bit or more with directX 10 like the ATI Radeon 2600 series or Nvidia Geforce 8600 series.
+9.5 or if they go blue ray 25-50GB available space on the hard drive.
+4x DVD or Blue ray drive
+A high-speed internet of 1.5mbs or more.

Recommended:

Windows Vista/7
+CPU: Quad-core Intel core 2 Dual or AMD Phenom x4 at 2.8 Ghz
+Ram: 2GB
+Video Card: 1GB, 256-bit or more like the AMD/ATI radeon 4870 or Nvidia Geforce 260 GTX.
+DirectX 10.1 or 11.
+5 mbs high speed internet or more.

bootneck02 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 08:45 AM

I agree with Townsbg I feel you would be wasting your time and money trying to upgrade your present PC, I think I would build my own PC then you would be able to make a PC that suited your needs. It realy is not difficult and there is plenty of help on this site and on the web. I am not technical but I have managed to build two PC's for my self and my wife both with quite a decent spec and I am over 65years old.

Wonderkid · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 10:51 PM

I see. Well, to be honest I had already been fearing the worst so I cant say I'm surprised by the responses. Thanks for the insight and the honesty. I've been considering building my own pc and after reading a few of the threads on this forum I'm confident I'd be able to. The only thing is that I really don't have more than say 550 dollars to spend. Any more advice would be great and is newegg.com the best site to go shopping for deals or what? Thanks.

townsbg · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 03:54 AM

If you only have 550 for it & you want a good gaming computer you'll want to save up some more; lets say 800 minimum for a gaming computer. Personally I like AMD for a processor & you'll want to get at least a dual core processor of whatever you get. You need to start with the processor because you base you motherboard on the CPU that you chose and you base your RAM on the requirments for the MB. You should be able to reuse your hard drive & cd drive however everything else will have to go, at least everything internally. You will also need to get either Vista or 7 because of the directx requirments of the new games and also because you can't put the copy of XP that came with your computer on another one.

I like newegg and thats where I got most of the parts for my computer. A big advantage to newegg, at least I think, is their power search. I use that to narrow my searches down. For example once you have chosen your processor you then have the system filter out all of the motherboards but those that are designed specifically for that socket which you will have to do since the sockets must match. However if you live in Tennessee or California you'll have to pay sales tax.

Something to keep in mind. ZipZoomFly is another. I must warn you that assembling a computer can be tricky.

I wish I could have given you good news about your computer but it wasn't designed it to be upgraded at all which leaves you with the crappy intel graphics chip; someone here once described it as "ghetto" which is think is freaking hilarious.

Well blame it on dell.

bootneck02 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 09:29 AM

It is a shame you do not live in the UK as I have a new Mother board, 4 gig of ram & graphics card going spare but I think it would be expencive to ship to the US.
The main thing to remember when you are building is not to hurry if you are not sure of something stop and ask, someone will on this site site will be able to give advice.

bootneck02 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 09:37 AM

Oh another thing if you want Windows 7 here in the UK we can pre order Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit at a greatly discounted price of £45 so I would think the same would apply in the US.

townsbg · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2009, 03:47 PM

That would probably be for the upgrade price & to qualify to use an upgrade serial number you have to already have a windows serial number. I don't know if the serial number from an dell OEM disk would qualify. The HP upgrade will be 120 usd here & 150 for a 3-pack license.

BTW I would say that the 800 is a pretty good estimate on my part for a good gaming computer for just the hardware. It would be a little cheaper if you re-use your hard drive & cd-drive. I haven't really kept up on the technologies & prices though because it has been over 3 1/2 years since I built mine (with some upgrades & replacements since then) and since it can still do what I need it to I have no current plans of replacing it. That said there are others here that would be better sources of advice than me. I'm no heavy gamer so I don't go for the super powerful parts anyway which is why I haven't had to totally replace mine yet. If I where you if you can stand your current computer you should wait about a year to make sure you have the money to do it right & perhaps take advantage of some of the upcoming stuff I've been hearing about. At that point either you'll find that you need to get the newest stuff [and will therefore need the money] or you'll find the current stuff to be dirt cheap.

Don't rush into it but research what is out & what is coming out. You don't want to buy a computer that will barely play the current/upcoming games and subsequently will be completely outdated a year after you build it. Do you catch my drift?