Member Avatar for dradgy

The machine is a Gateway GT5404 w/ Pentium D Processor 915 dual core each @ 2.8 GHz---2 GB RAM---and the problem is an Intel GMA 950 (82945G Express Chipset Family). Works fine for surfing but not gaming. I have a PCI Express slot available. I have installed PCI cards in older systems, but not express slots. I not sure what video card I can put in for a better gaming experience. I would like to run the new MOH. Thanks, Dradgy

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A short, practical addendum for anyone running an older desktop with integrated graphics: was right to flag power, and ’s follow-ups show a discrete card can fix gaming lag — but a few checks up front avoid dead ends.

Before buying: confirm the power supply’s real capacity (look at the +12V rail amperage as well as the total wattage), verify whether the PSU has any PCIe power plugs, and measure card clearance inside the case. If the PSU is constrained, pick a card that doesn’t need an external 6/8‑pin connector or a big 12V budget. (forums.tomshardware.com)

Good, low‑power choices for constrained systems are the GeForce GT 1030 (very low card power and no supplemental connector on reference boards) and entry RX 500‑series boards such as the RX 550 (typically ~50 W and no external power). These are budget/entry parts that improve visuals and frame rates on older machines without demanding a high‑end PSU. Always check the specific board’s TDP and the manufacturer’s “minimum system power” recommendation before buying. (nvidia.com)

Reality check: older dual‑core desktop CPUs like the Pentium D are slow by modern standards and will often bottleneck newer games; likewise, single‑digit gigabytes of system RAM are now a major limiter for contemporary titles. For serious gaming, upgrading RAM (and ultimately the platform) usually gives bigger wins than squeezing the last FPS out of an older CPU/GPU pairing. (techpowerup.com)

Install tips: disable or remove old iGPU drivers before first boot with a new card (Device Manager or a clean tool such as DDU), set the BIOS/UEFI primary display to PCIe/PEG if needed, and update drivers from the GPU vendor. If you hit a black screen, connect the monitor to the onboard port to enter BIOS and confirm settings. (intel.com)

Summary: for a tight‑budget older PC, a modern low‑power discrete card is often the simplest fix — but check PSU +12V capability, physical fit, driver/BIOS settings, and keep expectations modest if the CPU/RAM are still legacy.

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Member Avatar for Xlphos

Hello,

Almost any recent graphics card would be better than what you already have; putting a graphics card in is quite similar to what you say you have done already.
However run the system checker here. According to your specs your may only just meet some minimum system requirements. Get a graphics card that is of better specification than they ask.

Things to consider about graphics cards;

  • Power; you must have a powerful enough PSU
  • Memory size; I would say 512MB+
  • Memory speed
  • core clock speed

- Let us know how it goes

Edited by Xlphos because: n/a
Member Avatar for dradgy

Thanks for the heads up on the power supply. I have only a 300 watt ps. That will limit my choices. I ran system checker and it indicates that my system is good enough, but I afraid of video lag and if I go multiplayer, I don't think that I will have too many friends. Thanks, Dradgy

Member Avatar for dradgy

I put in a Visiontek Radeon HD2400 PCIE card w/256mb video memory. Had to stay in my power supply limits (300w). Tried first just to disable my existing video graphics drivers but wouldn't work. I had to uninstall the drivers. Graphics are much faster than before. Thanks daniweb users!!!!!!!

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