Recommendations for PCI slot?

J

jdconwaycorp

New Member
Well I am trying to play Quake 4. Now my onboard video does alright for low low settings. (its 128mb). Now since dell gives me a crappy motherboard that has only 2 PCI slots and a PCI-Ex1 slot, its a little hard to get a graphics card.. I was looking at the GeForce FX5500 256MB but not sure how it will do. I'm really not looking to spend over $150 total.

I was thinking about upgrading the motherboard. Dell tells me I shouldn't but of course. Well also I was going to upgrade to 2 gb of ram but they decide to give me two 512mb sticks instead of 1 gb stick. So I'm kind of pissed off about that. Well your opinions would be great, thanks!
 
Are you sure it's a PCI-E x1 and not x16 slot?

It would be hard to find a decently prices PCI card that will play Quake 4 well, you most likely would be better off buying a new motherboard.
 
[-0MEGA-];537892 said:
Are you sure it's a PCI-E x1 and not x16 slot?

It would be hard to find a decently prices PCI card that will play Quake 4 well, you most likely would be better off buying a new motherboard.
Click to expand...


yes I'm sure its a pci-e x1... believe me, I wish I were wrong.. lol
 
i think you might have an AGP 4x/8x

i have a dell and i thought i only have PCI, but its 6 years old P4 crap 1.6 ghz
and i have an AGP slot

get PC wizard 2006 and see
 
the fastest grafic's card you cn get for either PCI or PCI-e 1x is the Ati x1300.

Its not really a good card, but it should be able to handle Quake 4 fine tough.

Like said.. he's not willing to spend more than 150 dollar,.. and i dont think you can get a motherboard and a grafics card better than the x1300 anyway.. ( ofcourse, i could be proven wrong)
 
joeswm8 said:
i think you might have an AGP 4x/8x

i have a dell and i thought i only have PCI, but its 6 years old P4 crap 1.6 ghz
and i have an AGP slot

get PC wizard 2006 and see
Click to expand...


I do have PC wizard 2006 and now that you say something I do see:

Number of AGP connectors : 1

Number of PCI Bus : 4
Number of PCI Connectors : 2


I dont think I saw one.... that other one is about 1 inch and black.. ithought it was pci express x1
but I know thats a pciex1, ill have to open it back up and look
 
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Well I'm looking for another motherboard.. I like to have options.. My spending limit has gone up since its my bday and got some bday money lol..

I looking at this video card: ATI Radeon X1600 Pro 512
found it for $120 + shipping on amazon.

Now I need to find a motherboard that supports
P4 HT socket 775
PC2-4300 memory (4gb hopefully)
sata II capability

Also I have a 13 in 1 card reader and I'm wondering if that needs anything special? I can't rememeber, ill have to look inside.. let me know if you know anything, thanks
 
Your computer, just fyi, does not have an AGP slot or a PCI-E 16x slot.

How much do you want to spend total? For motherboard and video card.
 
Bobo said:
Your computer, just fyi, does not have an AGP slot or a PCI-E 16x slot.

How much do you want to spend total? For motherboard and video card.
Click to expand...

Well I like this video card, so if there is anything better for $120 + shipping for a video card I will take it.. This one is 512mb btw..
So Prob just $100 for the motherboard.
 
you cant push the budget a little to incorporate a mobo and gfx card?cuz pci-e x16 cards are cheaper than their agp cousins.
 
jdconwaycorp said:
Well I like this video card, so if there is anything better for $120 + shipping for a video card I will take it.. This one is 512mb btw..
Click to expand...
That is a horrid price for that card. Also, memory size is not that important.
jdconwaycorp said:
$240
Click to expand...

The problem you're going to run into is that this won't fit into a Dell case (most likely).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141043
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144151

That's a couple dollars over budget, but there's a $30 mail-in rebate. Getting a case with it ensures that you won't have compatibility issues.
you cant push the budget a little to incorporate a mobo and gfx card?cuz pci-e x16 cards are cheaper than their agp cousins.
Click to expand...
What are you talking about? he doesn't have an AGP slot.
 
Bobo said:
That is a horrid price for that card. Also, memory size is not that important.


The problem you're going to run into is that this won't fit into a Dell case (most likely).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141043
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144151

That's a couple dollars over budget, but there's a $30 mail-in rebate. Getting a case with it ensures that you won't have compatibility issues.
What are you talking about? he doesn't have an AGP slot.
Click to expand...


I'd really hate to get a whole new case.. is it because the video card is so big? I could take a picture of the case and measure something jsut to make sure if you kknew how much I needed.. Also the video card, how about this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Biostar-GeFor...5/ref=sr_1_1/103-2590143-4683828?ie=UTF8&s=pc

The reason is, I want to get one thing from amazon, I have a gift certificate lol. Thanks
 
jdconwaycorp said:
I'd really hate to get a whole new case.. is it because the video card is so big? I could take a picture of the case and measure something jsut to make sure if you kknew how much I needed.. Also the video card, how about this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Biostar-GeFor...5/ref=sr_1_1/103-2590143-4683828?ie=UTF8&s=pc

The reason is, I want to get one thing from amazon, I have a gift certificate lol. Thanks
Click to expand...
how much is your gift certificate for?
You can get that same card for $20 cheaper.

The reason i gave you a case, is because Dell custom makes their motherboards and PSUs, or at least screws with them, so you're gonna have trouble putting a new motherboard into a dell case.
 
Bobo said:
how much is your gift certificate for?
You can get that same card for $20 cheaper.

The reason i gave you a case, is because Dell custom makes their motherboards and PSUs, or at least screws with them, so you're gonna have trouble putting a new motherboard into a dell case.
Click to expand...


My gift certificate is $40, I was kind of calculating that into the $240. Ohh I did not know that. Damn they screw everything up, they only want you to have DELL product dont they lol..

do you think my power supply is good enough
 
jdconwaycorp said:
My gift certificate is $40, I was kind of calculating that into the $240. Ohh I did not know that. Damn they screw everything up, they only want you to have DELL product dont they lol..
Click to expand...
They want money. That's how they get money. :rolleyes:

do you think my power supply is good enough
Click to expand...
Actually, now that I think about it, Dell changed the motherboard connectors on some of their power supplies too....I'm not sure about your particular model. And yes, it probably is not powerful enough.
 
Bobo said:
They want money. That's how they get money. :rolleyes:

Actually, now that I think about it, Dell changed the motherboard connectors on some of their power supplies too....I'm not sure about your particular model. And yes, it probably is not powerful enough.
Click to expand...

so from what I'm getting, is to upgrade a video card so I can play a damn game is build another computer? I can modify the case, i'm good at that stuff.

It also looks like I need a FlexBay USB cable for the 13 in 1 card reader... do all motherboards have a connections for those?



Power

DC power supply:

Wattage
230 W

Heat dissipation
785 BTU/hr


NOTE: Heat dissipation is calculated based upon the power supply wattage rating.

Voltage (see the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide for important voltage setting information)
90 to 135 V and 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz

Backup battery
3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell



Physical

Height
41.4 cm (16.3 inches)

Width
18.8 cm (7.4 inches)

Depth
45.7 cm (18.0 inches)

Weight
12.7 kg (28 lb)
 
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