Desperately Need GFX Card Advice - Dell Dimension 2400

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with an integrated intel graphics card. Unfortunately my computer only has PCI slots. Are there any good PCI cards available? If not, is there a way to convert my PCI slots into AGP slots? Id love to be able to play newer games with the graphics on high, but i dont know if PCI cards are good enough.

 

No sorry, there is no way to convert your PCI slots, nor can any PCI graphics card play modern games on high settings. Pretty much the best you can do is the GeForce 5500.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133134
You'll have to upgrade your motherboard and powersupply as well if you wish to use more powerful card We can help you through that if you like though.

 

Sure, Id love some help.

This is what I have right now:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer
Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS - Service Pack 1
DirectX - 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard
CPU Type - Intel Pentium 4, 2200 MHz (22 x 100)
Motherboard Name - Dell Dimension 2400
Motherboard Chipset - Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV
System Memory - 512 MB (PC2700 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type - Phoenix (07/31/03)
Communication Port - Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port - ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter - Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)
3D Accelerator - Intel Extreme Graphics

Multimedia
Audio Adapter - Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-1]

Storage
IDE Controller - Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Floppy Drive - Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive - WDC WD400BB-75DEA0 (37 GB, IDE)
SMART Hard Disks Status - OK

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 38107 MB (1251 MB free)

Input
Keyboard - Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse - HID-compliant mouse

Network
Network Adapter - Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller (192.168.2.46)
Modem - Conexant SmartHSFi V92 56K DF PCI Modem

Peripherals
Printer - Auto Epson Stylus Photo 1200 ESC/P 2 on NOAH
Printer - Fax
Printer - HP DeskJet 710C
Printer -hp photosmart 7150 series
USB1 Controller - Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - USB Controller [A-1]
USB1 Controller - Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - USB Controller [A-1]
USB1 Controller - Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - USB Controller [A-1]
USB2 Controller - Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - Enhanced USB2 Controller [A-1]
USB Device - photosmart 7150
USB Device - USB Human Interface Device
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I realized that I only had PCI slots, I was considering the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. I also plan on adding another stick of 512 ram.

What would I need to do in order to make my PC compatable with cards such as the 9800 Pro?

 

as far as I see your system will work with a newer card only you'd need an AGP8x or PCIex16 slot, so you will need a new motherboard in the upgrade, im more knowing in AMD so I can't help on that matter

but about the PSUs, id recommend this thread
http://www.hardwareforums.com/showthread.php?t=5218

what budget are you willing to spend for the mobo and video card?

 

I definitely dont want to spend a fortune. Im fine with the bare essentials, as long as it wont result in something malfunctioning or something like that. My goal is to have a computer that can support a card like the 9800 Pro efficiently.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103377
$162 for good motherboard and good processor if you're going to go AGP.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161109
good 9800pro with very nice cooling, stock cooling on the regular 9800pro's isn't very good. $136

 

Do I need a new processor? And what about a power supply with that mother board?

 

going to AMD for a new processor will be cheaper for performance. P4's are expensive and not very good for gaming. You'd be alright with a p4 2.2ghz but you'll get a large performance increase with a faster processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153006
$40, nice power supply

 

In the long run it's worth upgrading the processor along with the motherboard (AMD) but if you're going to upgrade you might as well go with something current. Could you give us a rough budget?

 

The prices that Ninja is showing me seem good. So with that, Id say 200-250 dollars excluding the Video card.

 

Here's a powerful modern approach
Motherboard (nice for overclocking and stable from what I hear)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123243
Processor, very fast, excellent overclocker, will last you a long time.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103537
Video card, faster than the 9800 Pro, but with newer technology to boot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130220
I know you need more ram too, I'd say save up a bit and get a gig or PC3200 (in dual channel for extra performance).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440
Hope this helps

 

i'd agree with both ninja and ex, but if you are willing to spend a bit more money you will get alot more performance than you expected to get out of those couple dollars

the things that ex provided too are very good in performance but also very overclockable so in the future you can oc them to raise performance when the system starts getting a little slow which will not be for a good while, and the future 64 bit capability does extend the usefulness

 

Would it be easier for me to buy a Dell Motherboard so that I wouldnt have to upgrade the power supply?

 

dell doesn't manufacture boards they use the same mobos that you can buy from people like abit and other lines, and if you want to upgrade to what ex or ninja said you'd need a 350-450W PSU anyway just to be on the safe side and stable side :good: