What is this video card?

[da5176]

Hey guys, I have a Compaq Presario SR2039X computer with a NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE integrated video card. On the box it said it had "up to" 256mb ram for video. When I check how much ram is really running under system I see 960mb. I have 1gb of ram on the MB. What does the "up to" really mean? Do I have 256mb for video ram or is it 64mb? I'm thinking about getting a real video card to get ready for Vista and want to be able to use all the graphics it has to offer. I also would like a card that has DVI output to view my screen on a 60" wide screen. My computer does have a PCI express slot open. I read this is the best type of slot to have for a video card, yes/no? I guess I'm not really sure what I have and what I may need to upgrade my video card. Anybody have a recommendation for a card that would work on this computer?
Thanks.

 

[J_D]

Hi

Well the "Up to" is used to cover up the fact that some integrated GPU's nick some of the RAM this is why Your System Memory is reporting as 960Mb, so all in all that’s one big reason why integrated GPU's are bad.

As you said you have an Available PCI Express slot, so you are pretty much able to buy any new card that Uses PCI-E, the only other socket type is AGP, so it’s not too complicated when you come to buy one. PCI-E (x16) is the fastest slot out there for graphics cards.

No here comes the bad news Vista (guys correct me if I’m wrong) is going to be Utilizing DirectX 10, so you will want a DirectX 10 Compatible Graphics Card. So you need to find that one out, I know the Nvidia Geforce 8800 is but that’s an expensive piece of kit.

And secondly what version of Vista were you going to upgrade too?

Because if I am right the basic edition is going to have so much cut out of it its not the vista experience everyone would expect. i.e. its "Glow" effects aren't there or somthing

 

[Geoff]

DX9 cards work fine for utilizing Vista's 3D features such as Aero, however new games will be coming out and may only support DX10, therefor you would need a DX10 compatible video card. The only ones out now are the 8800 series, which cost around $400-$575, but nVidia will be releasing lower end cards such as the 8600, 8400, etc, and will cost alot less.

 

[da5176]

And secondly what version of Vista were you going to upgrade too?

I'm upgrading to whatever version they send me. I bought my new computer about a month ago and it is Vista Premium Ready with a free vista upgrade when available. I have XP Media edition so I'm not sure what version I'll get. So does my integraded card only do 64mb of video ram or can it do more? Like I said the box stated up to 256mb. I didn't buy the computer based the video card I would have bought it no matter what. Got it for $399 with 15" lcd and a printer, great deal I couldn't pass up.

 

[Impr3ssiv3]

Hi

Well the "Up to" is used to cover up the fact that some integrated GPU's nick some of the RAM this is why Your System Memory is reporting as 960Mb, so all in all that’s one big reason why integrated GPU's are bad.

As you said you have an Available PCI Express slot, so you are pretty much able to buy any new card that Uses PCI-E, the only other socket type is AGP, so it’s not too complicated when you come to buy one. PCI-E (x16) is the fastest slot out there for graphics cards.

No here comes the bad news Vista (guys correct me if I’m wrong) is going to be Utilizing DirectX 10, so you will want a DirectX 10 Compatible Graphics Card. So you need to find that one out, I know the Nvidia Geforce 8800 is but that’s an expensive piece of kit.

And secondly what version of Vista were you going to upgrade too?

Because if I am right the basic edition is going to have so much cut out of it its not the vista experience everyone would expect. i.e. its "Glow" effects aren't there or somthing

the reason he only has 960MB is because the system and OS are using the other 64MB