Compatible Graphics Card??

[annie0000]

Is there a site that tells you which Graphics cards are compatible with your PC - something like Crucial does for memory cards?

Just need something cheap and cheerful for boy 2's old PC.

[MarkRae]

You really need to know only what type of available expansion slots the machine's motherboard has, e.g. PCI, PCI-e etc. Which does the machine in question have...?

[annie0000]

lol Mark, I think you are confusing me with someone who has a clue!

He has an inherited Dell Dimension 2400 and I've upgraded the memory to 2 GB, the maximum it'll take but the game he wants to play is looking for more graphics.

[MarkRae]

There you go! According to this: http://support.dell.c...0/en/sm_en/specs.htm, it has integrated Intel 3D Extreme Graphics and PCI expansion slots. So, you'll need to get a PCI graphics card and disable the on-board one, probably by setting a jumper somewhere.

However, you've already upgraded the memory to its maximum of 2GB and that is VERY low for modern gaming, so you may be wasting your time here...

[annie0000]

Ok Mark, thankyou, i'll look into that - I know it's pretty low for gaming - he wont be doing serious stuff on it - he is only 10 and already has a PS3,Wii & various DS thingys. He just wants to play minecraft which his little netbook manages on 1gb but is "laggy". The PC will cope fine I think with a bit of graphics help. His brothers machine was fine on 2gb but he upgraded that to 4. They will both want proper gaming machines at some point but they'll need to get saving!!!

[MarkRae]

I've used these people for years: http://www.nsysonline...he-gaming-pc-88-c.asp

The thing with computers is you (don't) get what you (don't) pay for...

[annie0000]

Thanks Mark - I think we will be heading that direction in a year or two. Boy 1 is 11 and he and his friend have already set up a server for Minecraft and would play all day everyday if they got the chance. They sit chatting on Skype as they play and build - my wee boy looks like he works in a call centre!!