So it looks like a friend is going to take my old Dell Optiplex GX270 off my hands.
His current system is:
P4 1.6 GHz
512Meg RAM (2x256Meg)
On-board graphics
Windows XP
My Dell is:
P4 2.8GHz
1Gig RAM (2x512)
Geforce FX5200 (AGP)
Windows XP
My question is, on the off chance he might want to upgrade the graphics card, what would be a better option? The Dell GX270 is a small form factor PC, so only low-profile cards will fit. The system has 1 AGP and 1 PCI slot (Note: PCI not PCI-E). Theoretically, would he be better off with an older Geforce 6200 AGP or a newer Geforce 9500GT PCI graphics card? Given that they're only playing older games, does bandwidth become an issue?
He and his wife are only playing older games (an older combat flight simulator for him and Sims or Sim2 for her). Obviously, budget is a real concern as even $300 for a new system is completely out of the question. It would probably take him a couple of months to save up enough for just the above graphics card upgrade.
-Wolf sends
His current system is:
P4 1.6 GHz
512Meg RAM (2x256Meg)
On-board graphics
Windows XP
My Dell is:
P4 2.8GHz
1Gig RAM (2x512)
Geforce FX5200 (AGP)
Windows XP
My question is, on the off chance he might want to upgrade the graphics card, what would be a better option? The Dell GX270 is a small form factor PC, so only low-profile cards will fit. The system has 1 AGP and 1 PCI slot (Note: PCI not PCI-E). Theoretically, would he be better off with an older Geforce 6200 AGP or a newer Geforce 9500GT PCI graphics card? Given that they're only playing older games, does bandwidth become an issue?
He and his wife are only playing older games (an older combat flight simulator for him and Sims or Sim2 for her). Obviously, budget is a real concern as even $300 for a new system is completely out of the question. It would probably take him a couple of months to save up enough for just the above graphics card upgrade.
-Wolf sends