I'm a noob with hardware... please bear with me...
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rober2 wrote...
and everyone, no, I really have not thought of buying a new PC altogether... but I AM going so far as to buy a video card and processor if it helps.No, skip the graphics card because AGP is a long-ago abandoned gphx card form factor.
http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw.exe
Right-click and select "save as", then run this program (it just runs, it doesn't install anything), it'll tell you everything there is to know about your computer. On the left tab, click "Motherboard" under the "Hardware" section, and post the Cpu Socket that the program lists.
If you don't want to buy a whole new computer, you're going to have to get a new motherboard of that socket type with PCI Express in it, move your processor to it, buy 2 GB of RAM that fits that new mobo, and then save up for a graphics card in the $80-$100 price range.
You may actually have the LGA 775 socket we've been jabbering about, in which case you'll be able to buy a Core 2 processor on clearance as they go out of production and vendors try to move the ones they have left over.
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and everyone, no, I really have not thought of buying a new PC altogether... but I AM going so far as to buy a video card and processor if it helps.
That gives you more options. Upgrading the processor is difficult, because there isn't much higher you can go. You could get a single core 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 for cheap somewhat...
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=opera&rls=en&q=478+pentium+4&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=15416524197090488200&ei=CJoCTPWiKoP6NaLBrTs&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCcQ8wIwAQ#
This is for socket 478, download the program CPU-Z and confirm that your socket is 478 before you consider buying this processor.
Graphics card is a little hard because your computer is older and doesn't use the modern PCI-e bus.
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-HD3650-Video-100258L/dp/B001L62INY this is a good option, but I wouldn't go much higher than that.
Both these total to 110.98. The PC will be significantly faster, but it won't be that much faster for having spent a lot of money.
Now, if you build a new computer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&ItemList=Combo.404502 $99.97
This comes with everything but RAM and a Video Card
9800GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121352 $70
2GB RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030 $45
This is a brand new computer for $215 (yeah, a $100 is a lot more, I know), only lacking a hard drive which you can transplant from your old computer.
It's about as powerful as my computer, which can still hold it's own in new games. I remember when I did this (from a similar situation), I was just simply amazed to have a super fast like-new computer.
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Nachbar wrote...
I updated a bit under Optimize Your System on my PC Gaming Tips thread that you should look at.Did that...
Rothen wrote...
and everyone, no, I really have not thought of buying a new PC altogether... but I AM going so far as to buy a video card and processor if it helps.
That gives you more options. Upgrading the processor is difficult, because there isn't much higher you can go. You could get a single core 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 for cheap somewhat...
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=opera&rls=en&q=478+pentium+4&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=15416524197090488200&ei=CJoCTPWiKoP6NaLBrTs&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCcQ8wIwAQ#
This is for socket 478, download the program CPU-Z and confirm that your socket is 478 before you consider buying this processor.
Graphics card is a little hard because your computer is older and doesn't use the modern PCI-e bus.
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-HD3650-Video-100258L/dp/B001L62INY this is a good option, but I wouldn't go much higher than that.
Both these total to 110.98. The PC will be significantly faster, but it won't be that much faster for having spent a lot of money.
Now, if you build a new computer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&ItemList=Combo.404502 $99.97
This comes with everything but RAM and a Video Card
9800GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121352 $70
2GB RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030 $45
This is a brand new computer for $215 (yeah, a $100 is a lot more, I know), only lacking a hard drive which you can transplant from your old computer.
It's about as powerful as my computer, which can still hold it's own in new games. I remember when I did this (from a similar situation), I was just simply amazed to have a super fast like-new computer.
Wait, so you're saying buying a computer altogether is a better option? Damn...
Anomalouse wrote...
rober2 wrote...
and everyone, no, I really have not thought of buying a new PC altogether... but I AM going so far as to buy a video card and processor if it helps.No, skip the graphics card because AGP is a long-ago abandoned gphx card form factor.
http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw.exe
Right-click and select "save as", then run this program (it just runs, it doesn't install anything), it'll tell you everything there is to know about your computer. On the left tab, click "Motherboard" under the "Hardware" section, and post the Cpu Socket that the program lists.
If you don't want to buy a whole new computer, you're going to have to get a new motherboard of that socket type with PCI Express in it, move your processor to it, buy 2 GB of RAM that fits that new mobo, and then save up for a graphics card in the $80-$100 price range.
You may actually have the LGA 775 socket we've been jabbering about, in which case you'll be able to buy a Core 2 processor on clearance as they go out of production and vendors try to move the ones they have left over.
Awesome! I got the 775 alright. heck, outside this thread, a friend of mine recommended me the same thing (on the Core 2 at least)... but never heard about the "go out of production and vendors try to move the ones they have left over" part. Damn :( never thought I was racing with the clock.
Plus the the download you gave me will help me out a lot in the future.
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rober2 wrote...
Awesome! I got the 775 alright. heck, outside this thread, a friend of mine recommended me the same thing (on the Core 2 at least)... but never heard about the "go out of production and vendors try to move the ones they have left over" part. Damn :( never thought I was racing with the clock.Plus the the download you gave me will help me out a lot in the future.
I dunno, we have no idea when it goes out of production; solidus1337 was the one saying Intel was "dropping support", and I can't find anything immediately on google to back that up.
The worst case scenario is you go to buy a new processor a year or two down the line and you have to get a used one off ebay or something; it won't be hard.
But I want to reiterate: YOU NEED A NEW MOTHERBOARD FIRST. At least now you know you can move your current processor to that, and do you understand what I've been talking about all this time when I said PCI Express and integrated graphics?
One other thing we should've tackled sooner- do you have a manufactured PC, like a Dell? If so, be careful, because some of those makes use their own species of parts that can't be moved to regular computers and may require you to get "normal" parts (at worst, a new case and a new power supply).
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Hmm, by the looks of it rober, you really need a proper tech dude to sit beside you and teach you what to do. You may get confused and lost from what we said already.. and we don't want to see you cry for spending money on the wrong part or you grounding your computer to death.
On a side note for helpful info (based from what Ano said):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express
^I'm too lazy to think/put my own info on.
Back during the day (the P4 days), a PCI Express card would cost you a lot of money, but nowadays, it's the standard thing, so yeah.
On a side note for helpful info (based from what Ano said):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express
Spoiler:
^I'm too lazy to think/put my own info on.
Back during the day (the P4 days), a PCI Express card would cost you a lot of money, but nowadays, it's the standard thing, so yeah.
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ExESGO wrote...
Integrated graphics solutions, etc etc etcI'm only suggesting integrated graphics because he needs a new motherboard with a PCI Express slot, and may not have enough money to buy the graphics card along with it; he can't keep his AGP card and he needs some sort of graphics solution in the meantime, hence the integrated suggestion.
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Well It's no surprise why it is slow on your computer since you are using a low end card even by 2003 standards.
The FX5000 series were not that good except the later versions like the 5900.
The Geforce 4 series perform better in a lot of areas.
Heck my 4 year old Comapq Presario C300 is better than your computer and that was a laptop that was not even meant for gaming.
Of course I used modded drivers to boost performance of my intel gma 950 to play games like Need for Speed Most Wanted and Splinter Cell Chaos Theory.
My suggestion is to build a new computer.
You could salvage parts like a keyboard and mouse but almost everything will need to be replaced.
Here is the cheapest good performance build that I could make.
It can handle just about every game at max settings and 1680x1050 resolution.
Metro can play on very high settings (directx 10) but you will need to lower the resolution to 1440x900.
If you remove the stuff you don't need it can be a lot cheaper.
The FX5000 series were not that good except the later versions like the 5900.
The Geforce 4 series perform better in a lot of areas.
Heck my 4 year old Comapq Presario C300 is better than your computer and that was a laptop that was not even meant for gaming.
Of course I used modded drivers to boost performance of my intel gma 950 to play games like Need for Speed Most Wanted and Splinter Cell Chaos Theory.
My suggestion is to build a new computer.
You could salvage parts like a keyboard and mouse but almost everything will need to be replaced.
Here is the cheapest good performance build that I could make.
It can handle just about every game at max settings and 1680x1050 resolution.
Metro can play on very high settings (directx 10) but you will need to lower the resolution to 1440x900.
If you remove the stuff you don't need it can be a lot cheaper.
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Anomalouse wrote...
ExESGO wrote...
Integrated graphics solutions, etc etc etcI'm only suggesting integrated graphics because he needs a new motherboard with a PCI Express slot, and may not have enough money to buy the graphics card along with it; he can't keep his AGP card and he needs some sort of graphics solution in the meantime, hence the integrated suggestion.
Thanks for the explanation. I thought you were kidding when you said that.
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rober2 wrote...
Woops. Guess I forgot to tell you that my PC is also quite the fossil...Edit:... waitaminute... there was this one time that my PC was better than this, sped-wise, despite the age-old dipshit-of-a-processor... I'm guessing it's the Video card... But, does the video card have anything to do with anything else other than the Video quality?
Well, I know for one that WCIII moved up DirectX versions with each new update to slightly improve graphics quality. At one point my 1.7ghz with 128mb ram could run DOTA fine, but as the years went on it slowed down quite a bit. DOTA has also been adding a lot of functionality to the game, which means you'll have a drop in FPS.
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Anomalouse wrote...
But I want to reiterate: YOU NEED A NEW MOTHERBOARD FIRST
Yeah. I Figured that.
Æthel wrote...
rober2 wrote...
Woops. Guess I forgot to tell you that my PC is also quite the fossil...Edit:... waitaminute... there was this one time that my PC was better than this, sped-wise, despite the age-old dipshit-of-a-processor... I'm guessing it's the Video card... But, does the video card have anything to do with anything else other than the Video quality?
Well, I know for one that WCIII moved up DirectX versions with each new update to slightly improve graphics quality. At one point my 1.7ghz with 128mb ram could run DOTA fine, but as the years went on it slowed down quite a bit. DOTA has also been adding a lot of functionality to the game, which means you'll have a drop in FPS.
Ah, the FPS. Yeah, that was the case with my DotA gameplay.