Froger The Third

Hello.

I am currently without a computer of my own, having been dealt a lousy hand when trying to build my own. I am considering buying my uncle's Dimension B110, but it has no video card. Seems it only has two PCI slots, no AGP or anything more advanced. I would like some recommendations for this machine. I want it to be able to hold me over till I get around to building or acquiring a respectable gaming system, so being able to play Far Cry (my newest game) on high settings would be a plus. Current system specs are as follows:

OS: Windows XP Home
Processor: Celeron D @ 2.4 GHz
Memory: 760MB @ 333 MHz

Thanks.


Oh- I don't want to spend more than $50 if I can help it on this upgrade. Also some recomendations for a good, yet cheap ram kit would be apreceated (1GB should do)

TnB= Gir

I had that exact same system a few years back. Problem is that the motherboard only has pci slots, so you're extremely limited to your choices. I would contact $till Legendary to see what the latest and greatest pci cards are for your price bracket.

Froger The Third

And how would I do that?

$till LegendaryU2K

Now read carefully alright!

Hello, got your pm and yes its me u2k. I have been using this computer in which you see in my sig since 2000. I have 4 PCI slots, and nothing else. My first Video Card ever, was the Diamond Stealth 7000 back in 2004 pretty good card, best use with 4.3 drivers. So i went on to the 9250 Diamond Stealth, again best use using the perfect 4.3. Trust me these drivers are perfect. I have also use the FX5200, FX5500, and evga 6200 and BFG 6200 and the Visiontek2400 HD PCI:

The Good Cards:

Radeon 7000, 9250 ( But i wouldn't suggest buying them, too old. The 9250 will run Far cry at 800x600 everything on the highest settings. )
FX5500 ( Best use in windows98se, becomes kinda unstable in XP, but still one of the best PCI cards i have ever use. Would i suggest you buy it? If you are using XP i wouldnt )
BFG Geforce 6200 - Would play Far Cry at 1280x1024 everything to medium to the highest settings, best card i ever use IMO. Would i suggest buying now? If you do, by the BFG Version, its the OC edition, but to be honest, i wouldn't buy it at this moment of time.

The Bad Cards:

FX5200, just a waste
Evga 6200 - No fan, gets too hot
Visiontek 2400 HD PCI - This card i am using now and i will tell you its very unstable. It plays some games good, and the rest like crap. I don't believe its the card, more like the driver. The card will function better if the drivers from design better. Or the card will function better if the PCI were able to use the older Cataylst driver, but being the PCI version, the card is limit to drives and drivers 8.3 and up are only to be use on the card.

I would stay far from the Visiontek 2400 HD PCI and the Powercolor 2400. But i would say if you do buy the 2400 Series. You may be wondering which is more powerful , The BFG Geforce OC vs the Visiontek/powercolor 2400 ?
Well put it this way, i can play COD4 at 25 fps with the BFG OC and i get 2-8 with the 2400.

Diamond Version is design better in features and specs
http://www.diamondmm.com/2400PCI256.php

Note: I think the Diamond Version will perform better.

HIS 2400 512MB PCI , This Card was Release 8/6/2008, so its brand New


My Guess, its the best Version and the Diamond comes next. Would i suggest you buy the diamond or His Version? Well i would say buy and test it out to see does it perform well, if not, just return it.
.................................................. ........................

Now, on to the Good Stuff, or should i say exciting stuff

I was going to buy this PCI card tonight, but i am tired as hell lol. So i will pick it up tomorrow. This is pretty much the best PCI card in the United States Right now & its the only " Geforce 8 Card in the US "


These are the Specs, but may be not accurate because of the driver the person is using


As i said i am buying this card tomorrow , maybe sat, but i should have it soon. And i plan to post a review of the card, so if you are not in a rush, then you could wait until i post a review of it. If you are in a rush , well go to staples and pick it up:
http://www.staples.com/office/suppli...P1985:CL140474

The Other stuff & Whats coming to the PCI bus

If you lived in the U.K. The Sparkle 8500GT has been out since late last year, its the fastest PCI Card "available" , however its only sold in the UK for some stupid reason.

4 NEW PCI cards as been release, but not in the United States:
http://www.sparkle.com.tw/product.asp?id=86

3 NEW PCI cards that is slowly coming to the United States and everywhere else, by Albatron

http://www.albatron.com.tw/English/p.../pro_index.asp

The 8500GT and 8600GT, and the not shown 8400. Clearly the Albatron Video CARDS are the best PCI cards, but again they are not yet available.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Buy the 8400GS 512MB.
Or the Diamond or HIS 2400 HD.

Or if you just wan't something to play but not want the best:

Buy the Diamond X1550 PCI Version I actually suggest this over the 6200. Because the BFG OC 6200 has a 64bit bus, but the Diamond X1550 has 128bit bus, i am positive you could play Far Cry Max out. Only problem about the Diamond X1550 is high in price and very hard to find.

Now you mention something about 50 dollars, well again the 8400GS is your best buy because its 70, but the BFG Geforce OC is around 50 - 60. But don't be fool, the BFG OC is powerful as hell, believe me. Its only about what 10 games which have trouble with the card, but Far Cry i can max out the game and still get 21-30fps.

Peace and let us know what you could get I will have my 8400GS very soon and start testing out games.

Froger The Third

Thank you very much $till Legendary, I appreciate the informative post. Like I said this computer is meant to hold me over till I get around to acquiring a respectable gaming computer. As such I would like to be able to save some money and put the Video Card into my gaming rig for awhile... or not.

Brythe

Your sig rig looks nice...what happened? Why "failed attempt"?

And you can find the X1550 PCI on tigerdirect.

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Froger The Third

UPS smashed one box after another, after a month of this I finally gave up. I think one of the drivers has it in for me some how, and am considering launching a complaint. Their where also serious delay’s with the replacements which compounded my grief. I only got to put it together once, and that time it read the CPU as overheating to 101 Centigrade and shut down… could not resolve this issue even with a Tech. Believe either I got a bad mobo, or the CPU (which was in the original bashed up box but did not show signs of damage) was damaged by the obvious concussion that occurred.

Will look into both Tiger Direct and New Egg cards, I expect to get the first one all smashed up by UPS if this driver delivers them…

$till LegendaryU2K

Or if there is a staples in your area, just go buy the 60 dollars 8400GS 512MB PCI card.

Froger The Third

Thanks. Oh I would replace that PSU if I where you, the one on my Compaq fried my computer (and almost me) after being in service for 7 years.

Brythe

Damn. Thats just sad. Hope you got your money back.

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