Graphics Card for Dell 3000???

[Guest]

Hello, I am looking to upgrade from an integrated to a PIC Graphics card, it would be nice to play some more current games but not necessary, just want my computer to run more smoothly really. Here are the specs and the cards I am looking at in my price-range:

Dimension 3000
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor (2.80GHz, 533 FSB), Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Dell Dimension 3000 Series Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor (2.80GHz, 533 FSB)
WL285H
[221-6505]
Memory 512MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
512M4
[311-4259]
Monitors 17 inch E773 (16 inch viewable) Conventional CRT
E773
[320-4600]
Video Card Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
IV
[320-2870]
Hard Drive 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
80
[341-2716]
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
WHXP
CD or DVD Drive Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 48x CD-RW Drive
DVDCDR
[420-5079]
[313-3655]
Sound Card Integrated Audio
IS
[313-2758]
Speakers Dell A425 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer
A425
[313-3213]

I am also going to upgrade my memory beforehand from 500 to at least 1GB but probably 2GB

(1) Asus - NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 1GB DDR3 PCI Express Graphics Card

(2) XFX - ATI RADEON HD 4650 1GB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card

(3) EVGA - GeForce 9500 GT 1GB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card
...
(4) XFX - ATI RADEON HD 4650 1GB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card

(5) Sapphire - ATI Radeon HD 4650 1GB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card

thanks for any help,
doubledb

 

[rolli59]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/dim3000/en/SM/specs.htm
According to the link above the only expansion slots you have are PCI that is no dedicated GPU slot. The best advice I can give is to save your money until a full upgrade to a modern system is possible.

 

[mavroxur]

Your system has no PCI-E slots, as mentioned by rolli59. All you have are 3 PCI slots, which aren't adequate for any performance graphics. They do make PCI video cards, but they stop several generations behind PCI-E parts, and are a waste of money in my opinion. I think the highest PCI card you can get is like a 9500GT if you go the nVidia route, and something like a 4350 if you go the ATI route. In either case, both of the cards i mention are crippled by their 33MHz 32-bit PCI interface, and cost around $80-$100 on average. I'd save the money and put it towards a new system.

 

[Guest]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/dim3000/en/SM/specs.htm
According to the link above the only expansion slots you have are PCI that is no dedicated GPU slot. The best advice I can give is to save your money until a full upgrade to a modern system is possible.

Thanks, I was thinking my computer just might be too old. I got some gift cards from best buy but think I will save them since they dont expire, still gonna by some memory but am just gonna buy 1GB I think, that should help my computer run better for now until I can get another one.

Thanks Again!
Doubledb

 

[Guest]

Your system has no PCI-E slots, as mentioned by rolli59. All you have are 3 PCI slots, which aren't adequate for any performance graphics. They do make PCI video cards, but they stop several generations behind PCI-E parts, and are a waste of money in my opinion. I think the highest PCI card you can get is like a 9500GT if you go the nVidia route, and something like a 4350 if you go the ATI route. In either case, both of the cards i mention are crippled by their 33MHz 32-bit PCI interface, and cost around $80-$100 on average. I'd save the money and put it towards a new system.

Thanks, I was thinking my computer just might be too old. I got some gift cards from best buy but think I will save them since they dont expire, still gonna by some memory but am just gonna buy 1GB I think, that should help my computer run better for now until I can get another one.

Thanks Again!
Doubledb