Buying my first graphics card.

[JB9606]

I know nothing about graphics cards, so I need some major help here. I know this forum is full of the most knowledgable people around, so help me out if you know what you're talking about.

My system looks like this:
Compaq 5003US (bought in January of 01)
ME (one of the later editions that runs relatively well)
P3 933
384 RAM (added 256 to 128)
60 gig hard drive (massive for personal use. I've only used 11)
"Up to 11 MB allocated video memory"
No graphics card. YET

Should I buy a graphics card, or upgrade to XP?

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...1a6ecb58ef.jpg
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Go Cardinals!

[xplanefanatic]

I have the geforce 4 ti4400 I don't know what price range we are talking about, but I think that it would fit your specs pretty well. There is no reason to get the best of the best unless your system is also tbotb. Hope this helps...

p.s. my system specs are almost the same as yours athlon 1.2 ghz, roughtly the same...
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...d9132c3acd.jpg

[Bigshot]

Looks like you have onboard video. No card, just a chip on your motherboard. That's OK in that you can disable it and add a video card. What you need to find out is if you have an AGP slot for the good video cards. If not, you'd be stuck with PCI and you may be better off with a new rig.

[JB9606]

Interesting.

I'll have to find out exactly what my puter's running on at the moment. I don't need the greatest card, just one that will keep it from being so choppy. Could XP speed up the game even without a new card? even though a new card WOULD be less expensive...
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...1a6ecb58ef.jpg
[font color="red"]
Go Cardinals!

[xplanefanatic]

That is debatable. I am one that swears by XP, you will find that peoples view of o/s runs the gamet.... :-wave

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...d9132c3acd.jpg

[Bigshot]

Look at the literature that came with the computer. See if the motherboard has an AGP slot. If it does, try a GF3Ti200 card. Buy it somewhere where you can return it if not happy.

[CCairns10]

Mine's is the Hercules Prophet 4500 64MB RAM, inexpensive (£100 or $150), good performer and no major problems with it. My specs are roughly the same as yours. Upgraded to WinXP but only because my resident WinME became defective, if yours is OK then I don't see any real reason to upgrade.

Chris