Help, I'm computer handicapped!

element062

New Member
Hello everyone,
I have a Dell Dimension 3000 Desktop that is currently all stock. I just bought "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" with the intention of first upgrading my video card and adding more sticks of RAM so that it will run decent enough. I read the Videocard 101 sticky but I still have some questions. I think I will get the ATI Radeon X800 Videocard but, will that be compatible with my computer? Also, will that card be good enough to run this game? I would consider myself someone who likes to play games frequently but I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts of money. Preferably 150 USD tops. If I get the ATI X800, will it last for 2 or 3 years or will it become outdated by next year and will I have to purchase something else to keep up with the graphics quality of future PC games?

Another thing, what would be the cheapest RAM to buy and will buying more RAM make the computer run more efficiently? When we bought the dell, the memory was upgraded to 512 mb. How many more sticks of memory do I need?

Thank-You for your help. Sorry if my questions may seem redundant but, I'm totally clueless when it comes to computers.:P


-Zac

Edit: Would the X800 be the best card I could get for less than $150?
 
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This is what you have:
  • Intel Celeron D 330 (2.66GHz) Processor
  • 512MB PC3200 DDR Memory
  • 80GB 7,200rpm Hard Drive
  • 48x CD-RW Combo Optical Drive
  • AC'97 Audio with Dell A215 Stereo Speakers
  • Intel Extreme 2 Integrated Graphics with 64MB Shared Memory
  • v.92 56Kbps Modem and 10/100 Ethernet
  • Six USB 2.0 Ports and Three PCI Slots
Essentially, you can't run any games at all on that. You cannot put a new video card in, because the computer doesn't support it. Being a budget machine, it uses integrated video and doesn't have a slot to put a card in. So no, you can't put the x800 in your machine.

You could upgrade the RAM to 2GB DDR-400, but it wouldn't do much to improve gaming.
 
So basically there is no way that I'd be able to run oblivion on my computer? My friend who is running the same dimension 3000 desktop as me upgraded his card to a radeon 8500 videocard.
 
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element062 said:
So basically there is no way that I'd be able to run oblivion on my computer?
Well you could try, and fail miserably. ;) Sorry to say it, but no there isn't.
 
But, if my computer has all the necessary minimum system requirements met,(except of course the video card) then isn't there anything that could get me up and running? How can dell build a computer with no upgradeability? Essentially I'm being forced to buy a more expensive computer so that I can play a game because my current one isn't at all upgradeable?:(

EDIT: Since my computer only runs PCI videocards, would this one be suitable until I can save up to get a gaming computer? Or is there something better out there that I would be able to use?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145087

Thanks.
 
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element062 said:
But, if my computer has all the necessary minimum system requirements met,(except of course the video card) then isn't there anything that could get me up and running? How can dell build a computer with no upgradeability? Essentially I'm being forced to buy a more expensive computer so that I can play a game because my current one isn't at all upgradeable?:(
You have a budget computer. Dell can do whatever the heck they want with it. And they want more money, so why would they make it upgradeable?

EDIT: Since my computer only runs PCI videocards, would this one be suitable until I can save up to get a gaming computer? Or is there something better out there that I would be able to use?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145087

Thanks.
You would have a really really really hard time running oblivion with that card. You might be able to run it, but only on the lowest settings possible and the lowest resolution. I had a better FX5200 than that, and it really choked on anything intensive.

That card would be suitable for some games if you were to upgrade the RAM to 2gb, but it would still be bad.

All I would recommend doing is saving up for a new computer, not wasting money on something that won't help you much.
 
just scrap your computer for money and get a new one... you should probably look at custom built, so you can choose everything that goes in it... for a barebone custom, you are looking at about 500 dollars. thats what i have, and they are very simple to upgrade
 
i find that oblivion depends a lot on the hard drive, and memory size. if you'd like we can help you build a system that will play oblivion on medium settings for a reasonable price. im thinking $150 on each major part maybe? what do ya say?

the system i'd suggest is a 1.83ghz core 2 duo, a 7600gt, and 2gb of cheaper ddr2 memory... any motherboard that supports raid 0, and two 80gb sata2 hdd's running in raid 0.. which will probably land you somewhere in the range of $600-$700 total, after other expenses are taken care of.
 
That is a possibility. But, how much could I get if I scrapped it or traded it in? I can keep the monitor I have can't I? Its a 15" LCD. I guess I can take Oblivion back to the store and then wait until I can upgrade to a better computer. Is ibuypower.com a good site with reasonable prices?
 
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