Advice on a new Graphics card Please

D

desperado462

New Member
Hi all- while I have a good knowledge on how toy USE a computer I am not good at the hardware aspect...here is my question - my son wants to play Empire Total War on our new PC...now when i bought this comp I was told it could play games like Flight Sim X, etc with no problems...so we got ETW and tried to play it...the options wouldn't allow us to go beyond medium graphic settings..and even on medium the game is very choppy and slow...my question is what do I need to get to make this game playable (or even be given the OPTION to play) on higher graphic settings..I'm hoping its just a new graphics card..here are my comp specs:

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
System Model: CM1730/CM1830
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/13/11 16:46:35 Ver: 04.01
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1065T Processor (6 CPUs), ~2.9GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 7936MB RAM
Page File: 6521MB used, 9346MB available
Card name: ATI Radeon 3000 Graphics
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9616)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9616&SUBSYS_83881043&REV_00
Display Memory: 3063 MB
Dedicated Memory: 252 MB
Shared Memory: 2811 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: DELL S2209W
Monitor Id: DELA043
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: DVI

Thanks in advance!!!
 
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That's the problem with stores and prebuilt computers. Very few have an actual video card. So you won't be upgrading your video card, you'd be adding your first one in it. You've been using the built-in graphics.

Before suggesting one, please answer these questions:

What is your budget?
Where are you located?
What is the make and model of the power supply?

Besides that, it has a powerful CPU and plenty of RAM, so a new video card should be able to handle those games.
 
Claptonman -

Thanks...Yeah, its the first time we went with a prebuilt. Here are the answers to the other questions:

What is your budget? I'd like to keep it under $200
Where are you located? Upstate NY
What is the make and model of the power supply? Peak 300 W (PFC
 
You definitely need to upgrade your power supply, also. That one will not be able to handle the power of a video card. Here's some options for power supplies:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

Which would leave you around $150 for a new card. I would suggest an AMD 6850 or 6870:

6850s:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3901 600083830&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon HD 6850

6870s:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3901 600083829&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon HD 6870

6870s are a little more money and a little more faster.

The brands do not differ much, just different fan and cooling designs. Just look at some of the reviews. Sapphire and Gigabyte are my favorite choices.

Also make sure your case can fit a video card in it. It should fit at the very first slot on the motherboard. The dimensions of each card is located in the details on that site.

Before you make a purchase, consult with us to what you have chosen.
 
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No, the Raedon 3000 is built into the motherboard. On the back of the computer, there's the plug ins for the monitor, USB, etc. That's the motherboard. On the bottom, there's those 3 slots with the + marks. That's where your video card would go, and you would plug the monitor into there. Most card nowadays use two slots, one for the connections and the other for heat output.

And there's no way to tell except to measure it. I like to make a paper model of the graphics card from the dimensions on newegg and see if it fits.
 
claptonman said:
You definitely need to upgrade your power supply, also. That one will not be able to handle the power of a video card. Here's some options for power supplies:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030

Which would leave you around $150 for a new card. I would suggest an AMD 6850 or 6870:

6850s:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3901 600083830&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon HD 6850

6870s:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3901 600083829&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon HD 6870

6870s are a little more money and a little more faster.

The brands do not differ much, just different fan and cooling designs. Just look at some of the reviews. Sapphire and Gigabyte are my favorite choices.

Also make sure your case can fit a video card in it. It should fit at the very first slot on the motherboard. The dimensions of each card is located in the details on that site.

Before you make a purchase, consult with us to what you have chosen.
Click to expand...

Claptonman - how is this one for Empire Total War type games?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...d=1&Description=ATI+Radeon+HD+6770+&x=22&y=11
 
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