Upgrading Video Card

[newguy99]

I would like to get SWBF 1 running on a PC.
Here are some of the specs:
Inspiron 530 non-slim version (standard shipped settup as far as I know)
GMA 3100 integrated graphics
Intel Core 2 Duo processor

I don't know what the power supply unit's wattage is, but I should know in a few days.
The motherbaord has 1, PCI express x16 slot.


I was wondering what video card would work for this PC for SWBF 1 (VS/PC) capability?
I was thinking price under $50, (geforce 7, 8, or 9 family?)

p.s. I have use the forum "search" option to look for other people with similar problems and answers. I found some good results, but non applied to this case.

[RogueKnight]

I would like to get SWBF 1 running on a PC.
Here are some of the specs:
Inspiron 530 non-slim version (standard shipped settup as far as I know)
GMA 3100 integrated graphics
Intel Core 2 Duo processor

I don't know what the power supply unit's wattage is, but I should know in a few days.
The motherbaord has 1, PCI express x16 slot.


I was wondering what video card would work for this PC for SWBF 1 (VS/PC) capability?
I was thinking price under $50, (geforce 7, 8, or 9 family?)

p.s. I have use the forum "search" option to look for other people with similar problems and answers. I found some good results, but non applied to this case.

A good NVIDIA GeForce 8400 can run Battlefront II on its highest settings with no problem, so it should run Battlefront I just fine.

PS: After you upgrade your card, consider upgrading your game.

[newguy99]

Ok, cool.
I had been looking at the geforce 8 series on newegg, but wasn't sure if power consumption would be too high.
Also the psu is 250 watt I think.
Does this rule out the video card as it needs a power supply of 300 to 350 watts?
TY for the reply

[RogueKnight]

Ok, cool.
I had been looking at the geforce 8 series on newegg, but wasn't sure if power consumption would be too high.
Also the psu is 250 watt I think.
Does this rule out the video card as it needs a power supply of 300 to 350 watts?
TY for the reply

I'd say so, but I'd look into upgrading your power supply also.

[newguy99]

Yea, I looked into that and it would be another $40 bucks for a good quality psu.
Not sure what will be done as it is not totally my PC to upgrade.
TY
p.s. (off topic)
anyone here got a suggestion of getting a new, expensive, upgraded PC
vs
Getting cheaper PC with good bones and upgrading it.
vs
Building from scratch?
and I'm asking more from a price perspective.

[RogueKnight]

Yea, I looked into that and it would be another $40 bucks for a good quality psu.
Not sure what will be done as it is not totally my PC to upgrade.
TY
p.s. (off topic)
anyone here got a suggestion of getting a new, expensive, upgraded PC
vs
Getting cheaper PC with good bones and upgrading it.
vs
Building from scratch?
and I'm asking more from a price perspective.

You can get a good Alienware for about $800, which, to my unfortunate fate, is what i paid for my crappy computer, and an alien will run almost anything.

[AlexSecura]

Yea, I looked into that and it would be another $40 bucks for a good quality psu.
Not sure what will be done as it is not totally my PC to upgrade.
TY
p.s. (off topic)
anyone here got a suggestion of getting a new, expensive, upgraded PC
vs
Getting cheaper PC with good bones and upgrading it.
vs
Building from scratch?
and I'm asking more from a price perspective.

To run SWBF-1 you need a min of a GF5900 or a GF6800.
I remember ,that i have had both of this Cards in the Past and i could run SWBF-1 in Full Settings with a 6800GT.This Card you can get very very cheap in used conditions and then you dont need to buy a new PS-U.
If you want to play newer Games ,i recommend ,a better PSU (min 600W) and a GFX Card from the 7. Series or better.
You dont need a complete new PC since your Motherboard has 1x PCI-E Slot which is need if you want to add a GF 8 Series Card.
btw. You only wrote Intel Core 2 Duo processor.Whats the Ghz ?

[newguy99]

2.20 ghz
stock
Ok, thanks I'll start looking for a geforce 6800!

[RogueKnight]

2.20 ghz
stock
Ok, thanks I'll start looking for a geforce 6800!

I couldn't tell you without looking, but I think the GF6 series uses VGA ports, not PCIx.

[newguy99]

Oh, bad news about the vga port.
And also the price for those were really high (like $90 to $110)
Although some of them were for PCI.
So I'm still not sure what to do.
TY, anyone got a idea?

[RogueKnight]

Oh, bad news about the vga port.
And also the price for those were really high (like $90 to $110)
Although some of them were for PCI.
So I'm still not sure what to do.
TY, anyone got a idea?

My best idea, save up, buy a good computer that will take you through a couple years, that way you won't have to spend money trying to upgrade to new tech every 6 months.

[AlexSecura]

Actually the GF 6800GT is a 8xAGP Card not PCI.Besides of this,the Card is way old and you wouldnt have long Fun with it but for SWBF-1 its enough to run.

I think you dont need a whole new Pc.If you plan on playing newer Games like Assassins Creed or Crysis or what else ,you need a 7 Series if not 8800GTS or better.Then you should think about buying better Parts.
If you want a gaming Pc,then go with the advise of DarkRogueKnight and buy AlienWare Stuff which is way too expensive..

[newguy99]

Well the PC belongs to a friend of mine who has no other games that he wants to play that wouldn't run on his PC other than SWBF 1
and so I just want to get that one game running for him.
TY for all the help everyone
I'll report back on what happens

[AQT]

I couldn't tell you without looking, but I think the GF6 series uses VGA ports, not PCIx.

Don't you mean AGP? Because this is a VGA port

Hidden/Spoiler:

and this is a PCI/Express slot/port

Hidden/Spoiler:

I'm sure that the two aren't even in the same class. Just wondering.

[newguy99]

Yea, sorry about that, I forgot the spelling
But yea, AGP video port and PCI video port are the two main kinds.
EDIT: wait darth wrote that! LOL I though I did(checked the quote)


P.S. Would a Radeon x3###/4###/5###/6### series card work with a 250 watt power supply and PCI express x16?

[RogueKnight]

I couldn't tell you without looking, but I think the GF6 series uses VGA ports, not PCIx.

Don't you mean AGP? Because this is a VGA port

Hidden/Spoiler:

and this is a PCI/Express slot/port

Hidden/Spoiler:

I'm sure that the two aren't even in the same class. Just wondering.

Bah, I should stop confusing people with my random computer language...lol...

[AlexSecura]

Would a Radeon x3###/4###/5###/6### series card work with a 250 watt power supply and PCI express x16?

Each GFX Card that is attached to the PCI-e Slot needs a separate Power Connector.I dont think your 250 W PSU have a PCI-e Power Connector.

If you attach a GFX Card to PCI or AGP Slot you dont need a new PSU.Besides of that 250 Watts is very little.

[newguy99]

Well I have a radeon x300 and it doesn't have a power connections cable?
would my video card work for my friend's PC

[AlexSecura]

Well I have a radeon x300 and it doesn't have a power connections cable?
would my video card work for my friend's PC

If the X300 have No Power Connection then you can attach it to the PCI-e SLot and check it out.
As Example.
My GF8800GTS has a separate Power Connection.So i needed a new PSU with 700W which have had the fitting Power Cable.Alone this Cards needs more Power than your PSU can deliver.

http://www.hartware.de/review_761_12.html

[newguy99]

Ok, thanks for the info.
Does anyone have a good reliable site that carries the Nivida radeon x300 PCI card?
TY