Please take pity and help me

[Manic_43]

I'm extremely computer illiterate and to be honest I find all the letters and numbers that pass for names of graphics cards to be painfully confusing.

So I ordered a new PC mainly because the graphics card I currently have is very outdated (ATI Radeon X1200 Series). After a fairly quick search I ordered a PC with a Intel GMA X4500 (yeah I really need help) I have cancelled that order. Now I have no idea which graphics cards are better than others and I don't want to make the same mistake again.

So here are my choices for PC's in my price range:

Integrated graphics (I don't think that sounds good)
NVIDIA Geforce 6150 integrated graphics- 256 MB shared memory
NVIDIA® GeForce™ G210 with PureVideo® HD technology, 512 MB dedicated video memory (sounds better)
NVIDIA GeForce G210 graphics processor (what's the difference^^)
NVIDIA GeForce 310 graphics- 512MB dedicated video memory
NVIDIA GeForce GT320 graphics processor- 1GB dedicated video memory (This one is probably out of my price range but how much better is it?)

My other option would be to buy a graphics card and pay someone to install it on my current PC so here's my specs

AMD Sempron(tm) Processor LE-1250 2.2 GHz
2GB RAM (room to upgrade)
32 bit operating system
ATAPI DVD D DH16D4S ATA Device

probably not worth it though.

 

[jaghpanther]

Yeah Intel integrated...no. Your screen resolution and the games you play determine which GPU is for you. In general the nvidia 210-220 are not good gaming gpu's.

Look here for a general idea what gpu is for you:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gts-450-radeon-hd-4850-gpu,2732.html

 

[wiinippongamer]

get a radeon 4670 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855&cm_re=4670-_-14-102-855-_-Product

it'll be plenty for 1080p video and most modern games at low-mid settings ( though the cpu will limit you badly on that one)

AND install it yourself, there's nothing easier than that!!!

pop it into the PCIE slot and install the drivers that came with the cd, even a monkey could do it!.

[flash=640,385]http://www.youtube.com/v/1DPQW0e9ufM?fs=1&hl=es_ES[/flash]


and avoid being ripped off by a supposedly " tech engineer " who is actually just a noob.

 

[jerreece]

Stay away from anything that has "Intel Graphics" as it's all crap. And anything that says "integrated".

Ultimately, the quality level of video card you need is much dependent on what games you intend to play, and the resolution of your compute monitor. The G210 and G310/320 video cards are honestly "budget" video cards. They're sort of a "lesser" video card to meet small size requirements, low power use, or budget points.

Generally speaking though, with a pre-built computer, you'll pay more for less.

 

[Manic_43]

My current resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels (try not to laugh ) but I'll be "acquiring" a new monitor soon idk what that will be. I'm trying to play Civ 5 which requires
minimum:
256 MB ATI HD2600 XT, 256MB NVIDA 7900GS, Core i3 integrated graphics
recommended:
512 MB ATI 4800, 512 MB NVIDA 9800 or better

I only really play strategy games on my PC but I don't want something that will be out of date in the next 12 months. I saw that page before but as I'm buying a whole new PC as cheaply as possible my options are fairly limited.

 

[Manic_43]

ok thanks guys I might have a go at upgrading what I've got I roughly know how to do it. Then spend the rest of my cash on a new monitor

Anything else that I could upgrade easily obviously a couple more GBs of RAM will be useful

 

[jaghpanther]

Well is what MOBO do you have? Athlon x3 and x4's are pretty cheap and would be worth it over your Sempron.

 

[Manic_43]

MOBO = Mother Board?

How can I tell?

 

[jaghpanther]

Normally the motherboard will have the name either in between the PCI/PCI-E slots or on the bottom of the board.
If you can't find it...this might help http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/236

 

[Manic_43]

I haven't got time to open it up tonight but thanks a lot for your help

 

[wiinippongamer]

it's a am2 board , check his cpu specs, you could upgrade up to a phenom x4 if you can find one in stock

 

[jaghpanther]

it's a am2 board , check his cpu specs, you could upgrade up to a phenom x4 if you can find one in stock

You're right, the Sempron I was looking at was listed as AM3. He could also be on an AM2+ board. Which would mean he can get phenom x4 920 or 940BE.

 

[Manic_43]

It's definitely AMD I think this is the serial

UY30844 008429 PC A6VMX

 

[wiinippongamer]

is your current pc a branded one? (dell, hp...), or a custom built one?

if it is a branded one you could just tell us the model number, that would help a lot finding out the rest of your specs.


either way, this: http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-Athlon-64-X2-6000-3-GHz-Processor-ADA6000IAA6CZ-/290480765601?pt=CPUs&hash=item43a200baa1

i know it's used but it's impossible to find a new one.


and a 5670: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871&cm_re=5670-_-14-102-871-_-Product.



will get you playing civ 5 and most current games on high settings at your monitor's resolution

 

[Manic_43]

It's an E-System I'm not sure of the model number :s

the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3 GHz Processor ADA6000IAA6CZ is that just a processor? would I need a new MOBO as well? also what about a cooling system should I get a new one of those as well?

 

[Manic_43]

oh yeah one more question I've been told taking a RAM chip out of a MOBO and installing it in another is baaaad, is that right?

 

[borisof007]

It's not bad as long as they're the same speed, voltage, timing, and type.

In short: Because of your experience level, I wouldn't recommend you do it on your own. No offense! Promise! : )

 

[Manic_43]

none taken I know very little so I'm just so glad that people are willing to help a noob

 

[iam2thecrowe]

I think before you go any further you need to start from scratch and learn some things about computer components and how they work together. Im not sure exactly where to point you, but maybe someone can reccommend a site? If your going to go to the length of paying someone to install something you may aswell buy a whole new pre-built acer, dell, hp machine with everything you want in it.

 

[Manic_43]

I think before you go any further you need to start from scratch and learn some things about computer components and how they work together. Im not sure exactly where to point you, but maybe someone can reccommend a site? If your going to go to the length of paying someone to install something you may aswell buy a whole new pre-built acer, dell, hp machine with everything you want in it.

In that case.............. which one?

Integrated graphics (I don't think that sounds good)
NVIDIA Geforce 6150 integrated graphics- 256 MB shared memory
NVIDIA® GeForce™ G210 with PureVideo® HD technology, 512 MB dedicated video memory (sounds better)
NVIDIA GeForce G210 graphics processor (what's the difference^^)
NVIDIA GeForce 310 graphics- 512MB dedicated video memory
NVIDIA GeForce GT320 graphics processor- 1GB dedicated video memory (This one is probably out of my price range but how much better is it?)

 

[wiinippongamer]

none of those are any good for gaming.


buy the cheapest one ( make sure it has a decent processor) and slap in a 5670.


also i doubt any pc that comes with 6150 chipset would be an upgrade from what you have already