I bought some games

LaGrange · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:27 PM

Woooo I bought my first pc games. The half-life holiday pack. Came with cs and a lot of half-life games. Only problem is.... my graphics card is a piece of shit. When I try to play these games they lag like a mofo. SO I went to best buy and looked at some, and well im lost. The prices go from 900$ nice ones to $80 ones. I have no idea what the hell I need to get in order to play these games. I dont want a super computer just enough to play them so what should I get?

ech0 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:29 PM

well lets start here:

What are your computer specs so we can find out what your computer is compatible with and capable of.

LaGrange · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:37 PM

Alright

Dell Dimension 5100
OS- Windows XP Home Edition
ISP - AOl Highspeed
Processor - Intel)R) Pentium(R) 3 CPU 3.00GHz
Ram- 2.24 Gigs
Video Card - Intel(R) 82945G Express Family Chipset
Harddrive - 71 Gigs, 28.01 Free

Anything else? I know its not the internet either cause half life I played was single player

Unbroken · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 12:58 AM

i'd get a processor first if i were you, but that and a GPU are definitely needed, and if your ram is as old as your CPU maybe that too.

Craig · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:01 AM

well, you need a graphics card first. i dont think that PC has one in it...it may, in fact, not even have the AGP slot for one. Take a look inside and see if you have a slot. If so, look for a way to disable the onboard video in the bios.

Fish111 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:33 AM

Youre in luck lagrange, as some dell budget to mid range systems with integrated graphics cards have no room for expansion. Yours however sports a pci express x16 slot, which pretty much entails most if not all of the gaming capable cards at bestbuy.

Now they are at bit overpriced, youll get more bang for your buck ordering from somewhere like newegg. The real limiting factor comes from your "305 watt power supply". Dell does underrate their psu's a bit, but it would still be a smart bet to stay within that power req range for any card you do buy.

Give me your budget so that I can recommend some compatible cards within your price range

SonicSpeed · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

well, you need a graphics card first. i dont think that PC has one in it...it may, in fact, not even have the AGP slot for one. Take a look inside and see if you have a slot. If so, look for a way to disable the onboard video in the bios.

It actually does

Documentation

Craig · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:36 AM

even better...i'd be looking at an 8600 series Nvidia card in that case. DX10 and a worthy pixel pusher...and priced right.

SonicSpeed · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

even better...i'd be looking at an 8600 series Nvidia card in that case. DX10 and a worthy pixel pusher...and priced right.

Depending on price I would probably get a 7600GT (for low end), a 3850 for the mid-range and maybe a 8800GT tops if the PSU can handle it.

Oh and BTW its a BTX case

Fish111 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 01:42 AM

It is BTX, but I wouldnt go jumping on an aTI 3000 anything, unless you want to get a nice power supply for your rig. This is the best one for a 5100, good for 100 bucks, very good. 470 watt

The nvidia 8600GT is pretty well beyond that power supply's capabilities also, the thing isnt going to peak much higher than 340 and the 8600 recommends at least a 350 watt.

Also Lagrange has to consider that those source games he bought are pretty cpu dependant so theres so sense splurging on a high end graphics card that his cpu won't keep up with. That dell motherboard is not going to get along with anything but a Prescott pentium4 cpu.