Is there a way to see if your current specs can have a xyz upgrade?

U

Undoubtedly

New Member
Hello, I'm wanting to know if there is a easy way to tell if your current computer can have/fit into a specific upgrade?
I.E Can my computer have a 2GB GT430 GRAPHICS CARD PCI-Ex16, DVI, HDMI, VGA?

I was thinking maybe there was a site like "can you run it"?
Any help would be swell

This is from dx
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/11/2011, 08:29:49
Machine name: STRINGER-934E5A
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100427-1636)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: EX38-DS4
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 650MB used, 4305MB available Card name: ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x950F)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_950F&SUBSYS_02441043&REV_00
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
 
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Well your motherboard doesnt have onboard, so you already have a standalone video card. Do you know what it is? But yes it can use any PCIe video card. That is if you have a power supply to push it.
 
Added Video Card. If I got a say $300 buck card, because my comp is a few years old, would it be worth upgrading my current, or go for a new complete system?
 
Is there a reason your upgrading. Just asking because those are pretty lowend cards. How much you want to spend on a card, plus what kind of power supply do you have?
 
StrangleHold said:
Is there a reason your upgrading. Just asking because those are pretty lowend cards. How much you want to spend on a card, plus what kind of power supply do you have?
Click to expand...

Just looking to increase the quality of WoW and Sc2. My power supply is 550w
I thought being a 2gig card, and mine was 512, it would be a lot better
 
Dont know about where to buy in Australia. But your looking at a AMD 6850 or Nvidia GTX 460 from the prices I have seen on Mwave.

The next step down would be a AMD 5770 or Nvidia GTS 450
 
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StrangleHold said:
Dont know about where to buy in Australia. But your looking at a AMD 6850 or Nvidia GTX 460 from the prices I have seen on Mwave.
Click to expand...

I thought I would need a great computer for the GTX 460, mainly cause i see them in most computer packages.
Do you have any advice on the 6850 or gtx?
 
Just noticed your video card added. You already have a 3870 X2, not a bad card in its day. To see a better performance difference you might want to save up some more for a 6870 or a GTX 460 1gb. 256 bit.
 
StrangleHold said:
Just noticed your video card added. You already have a 3870 X2, not a bad card in its day. To see a better performance difference you might want to save up some more for a 6870 or a GTX 460 1gb. 256 bit.
Click to expand...

I can afford the GTX 460 1gb. 256 bit. Seems I have the power supply for it.
Last things I have questions on are; Will it fit in computer(antec 182 case) with a EX38-DS4 motherboard. And would my computer do the card justice, or should I upgrade ram and such?
 
Yeah it would fit in a P182. Maybe upgrade your memory to 4gb. That is if you have a 64bit OS. That is as in XP 64, Vista 64 or 7 64
 
It can see up to 4gb. but uses some for hardware memory addresses so you end up with less usable to the OS. Somewhere between 3 and up depending on your hardware.

But yeah a 64 bit OS would make it all usable to the OS.

As far as bottlenecking the video card, I look at it like this. Even if it is bottlenecked, if you buy a better card and upgrade the board and procesor later you stil have a good card.
 
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Home Premium or Pro would be choices for you, however if you dont need the remote desktop options and such, you can probably grab home in a OEM version for cheap, around 99 bucks
 
FuryRosewood said:
Home Premium or Pro would be choices for you, however if you dont need the remote desktop options and such, you can probably grab home in a OEM version for cheap, around 99 bucks
Click to expand...

I have decided after taking to a friend to go with the GTx 460, just curious which brand should I get? And I'll be grabbing a win 7 soon as I find one.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Last question I have is;
Since Xp 32 bit doesn't show complete ram, Ie I have 4gig ram, but shows 3gig. Will Windows 7 show me my 4gig. or does it depend on if I get the 32 bit or 64 bit?
 
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