Member Avatar for Bryfry221

I'm looking to upgrade my video card from a Nvidia GeForce 7300LE to something a bit better.

My system specs are:

Windows XP sp2
2gb ram
3.00ghz Pentium D cpu
Dell 0WG864 Motherboard
(i think that's all, tell me if there's something else i need to post)

Which cards would be compatible and what should I get for better gaming use. I can play Bioshock, crysis demo, timeshift and other new games, but only if they're at the lowest settings right now. I'm looking for something that will allow me to play them fairly smooth at higher settings and hopefully not too expensive.

Also could someone tell me how to know what is compatible with my computer?

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Dani AI

Generated

Practical compatibility checklist and step-by-step checks for upgrading the GPU in this Dell system. The three practical constraints to resolve are physical fit inside the case, whether the power supply provides the right connectors and enough 12V power, and whether the graphics vendor supplies drivers for the OS. Follow the steps below before buying a card.

  1. Identify the exact Dell model or service tag and download the service manual. That manual usually lists maximum card length and whether the PSU is a proprietary unit.
  2. Measure inside the case. With the side panel off, measure from the rear expansion bracket forward to the nearest obstruction (drive cage, bracket, etc.). Compare that to the card length listed in product specs. Also check available vertical clearance for dual-slot coolers.
  3. Inspect the PSU label for total wattage and the 12V rail amperage. Look for one or more PCIe power leads (6-pin or 8-pin). If the PSU has no PCIe plugs, a small card that draws only slot power is the safest option; adapters exist but can overload weak OEM PSUs.
  4. Confirm driver/OS support on the GPU maker’s support page. Some newer GPUs lack stable drivers for older Windows versions. If drivers aren’t available for the OS on the Dell, the card may run but could be unstable or under-featured.
  5. Consider CPU balance. An older Pentium D can limit the frame rates a faster card can deliver; a midrange card is often the best cost/performance match for older CPUs.
  6. Look for low-profile or single-slot OEM cards if space is tight, or consider the used market for well-matched, lower-power cards.

As recommended, verify the slot and as warned, check Dell OEM PSU/case constraints carefully. If all the physical and power checks pass and drivers exist for the OS, a midrange, low-power card will give the best real-world gaming improvement on this platform without forcing a full system overhaul.

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Member Avatar for Serunson

First off what GFX (GFX = graphics card = video card) slot you have in your computer? This is either PCI-express x16 OR AGP.
This is crucial to know because they have a different slot and they have a different set up.
Otherwise all cards of that type (either AGP or PCI-express x16) will work with your computer as long as you install the drivers for that video card. I would personally go for an ATi card, because i know about them the most and i have never used an Nvidia product. But i would shop around the internet and high-street stores seeing as prices for cards vary massively.
Also seeing as you don't currently own Vista you can't run any GFX card that has DirectX.10. So i would advise going for a card with 512Mb of VRAM as on-board memory, if you do want to upgrade to Vista then go for a DirectX.10 one, so that you can run Vista. Also for increasing the gaming experience, for Bioshock especially, that game is very high-end graphics and is probably better off with a Duel Core processor of some sort. Your RAM amount is fine. Also another thing to consider is the size of your PSU (power supply unit) if the wattage (W) of your PSU is too low then it will struggle to run a high end graphics card.
Anyways is a place to start of your search for a new graphics card

Member Avatar for Bryfry221

my computer has a pci-e slot, any recommendations for a nvidia card?

Member Avatar for Serunson

This one would seem to be a pretty good video card all round

Otherwise such through different websites/high-street store to find the offer right for you. Look for 512Mb of on-board memory as a must if you want to play games of the future.

Member Avatar for carljonson07

Windows XP sp2
2gb ram
3.00ghz Pentium D cpu
Dell 0WG864 Motherboard

excellent...
i wanna ask u , do you have to buy a new gpu . also i would prefer nvidia ( i dont remember the card exactly)

Member Avatar for jbennet

be careful. dells have crap power supplies (which you cant replace) so you probably cant put anything better in - also the dells cases are crap design (cant be replaced either) so those "fat" cards wont fit

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