Help with Graphics Card! Please read!

T

Telephone

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Hi all, thanks in advance for any help you can provide me

<edit>
I need to know the following:
- Can anyone recommend a cheap (~75$) LOW-PROFILE graphics card? Check my computer details below!
- Would I need a fan if I added a 'better' graphics card? Any recommended? I need one that fits my comp. details please!
- Anything else I should know?

ORIGINAL:

I have a Dell Optiplex 745 Small Form, and I'm looking for a graphics card (~75$)
Currently, I have vista and 2gb of RAM.

Info on my comp: http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/optix_745?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb

I'm looking to play a game called Entropia (http://www.entropiauniverse.com/en/rich/5326.html), which has system req. of:
* Windows XP or later.*
* 512 MB RAM.
* 1.7 GHz Intel P4, AMD Athlon XP 1700+.
* NVIDIA GeForce 6000 series or higher, ATI Radeon R300 Series, (96xx or higher.).**
* Latest NVIDIA driver - Get it here. Latest ATI driver - Get it here.
* Direct X compatible sound device.
* 3 GB of free Hard Drive space.
* Direct X version 9.0C.
* Broadband internet connection (ADSL or better).

My computer comes with:

Intel(R) Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family
.. which doesn't work.

So I'm looking for a graphics card that meets the system req. (above) and my computer. If it matters, my comp. has 275V of power.

I'm sure it's not the Vista thing, and if it is, I can change my computer to XP (Yes, I'm that desperate.)
And I've tried it on the lowest settings, everything works, just the characters are black.



Thanks!
Need help ASAP!
Any help works! Just post a reply!
I'll stop typing stuff here now..
 
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Well, you'd have to get a low profile graphics card as you have a small form case. These can be pretty tricky to find as they don't really make that many of 'em. Especially gaming cards.

Do you have a picture of your case? To give us an idea of how "low profile" it is, 'cause you may be able to get away with using a full sized card.
 
I think your looking at getting something like a PCI GeForce 6200 or something from Wal-Mart for about that price.
 
Small form is another version (right word?) of it, it's included in the link I posted before. Here it is again: http://www.dell.com/content/products...=28&l=en&s=dfb
On the right side, there's a PDF saying 'tech specs'

It says for graphics card, low profile, so I'm guessing I can't substitute it. BTW Do you know where I can find low-profile graphics cards? From my google searches, they don't seem to be very popular. (I live in Canada, too)

I'm going to go visit the local computer store soon, but I think I'll get some info. from the community here first, so I don't sound like a complete idiot.

Also, is there like one size low-profile, because it looks like its just smaller, but is it small enough?

<edit> Is the ASUS HD 4550 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121281) better than the: ATI Radeon R300 series?
And I wanted ~75$ because with shipping it should be around $100.

Thanks for all the advice
Keep it coming!
 
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The card Ethan has suggested looks like a great option, not too expensive either.

Also, is there like one size low-profile, because it looks like its just smaller, but is it small enough?
Click to expand...

There's only one type of low profile cards, so you can't get mixed up, don't worry. I'd be tempted to buy a card from NewEgg (there's a Canadian one now, right?). It'd be cheaper than your local computer store. Probably has more to offer, too.
 
Kornowski said:
The card Ethan has suggested looks like a great option, not too expensive either.



There's only one type of low profile cards, so you can't get mixed up, don't worry. I'd be tempted to buy a card from NewEgg (there's a Canadian one now, right?). It'd be cheaper than your local computer store. Probably has more to offer, too.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll go ask a few friends first. And wait for a few more replies XD.

Also, are these graphics card things really hard to change? Like I know how to open the lid and stuff, but is it really hard to do the stuff myself? I'm bad with computers..
 
Nah, it's simple to change. Especially since it's a low profile card, it won't require and additional power, other than through the PCI-e slot, so no need to plug any cables in.

The only problem you may have is the lack of space when you're changing the card, because you have a small form case. Other than that, simple.
 
Thanks man!
You're a great help.
I just want to see if anyone else here has any other card to offer, or I'd go with the one Ethan suggested earlier.
 
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