Ok I’m in need of a better graphics card for my computer, I had the PCI version of NVIDIA Geforce FX5500 256Mb DDR, but it broke on me so I'm using my dads as a temp.

I would like to give him his card back ASAP but I need a new one for mine first.

I know my computer isn’t all that great so rather than telling me what I should or shouldn’t upgrade before a new graphics card please just tell me what the best card is that I can use.

I have $80 to spend on one it MUST BE PCI I don’t have any PCI-e or AGP so I know my choices are limited.

Below is a CPUz Report of my computer, if it doesn’t provide enough information let me know and Ill get whatever you need.

Name Intel Celeron 320
Code Name Prescott
Specification Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz
Family / Model / Stepping F 3 4
Extended Family / Model 0 0
Package mPGA-478
Core Stepping D0
Technology 90 nm
Supported Instructions Sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
CPU Clock Speed 2394.1 MHz
Clock multiplier x 18.0
Front Side Bus Frequency 133.0 MHz
Bus Speed 532.0 MHz
L1 Data Cache 16 Kbytes, 8-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L1 Trace Cache 12 Kµops, 8-way set associative
L2 Cache 256 Kbytes, 4-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Speed 2394.1 MHz (Full)
L2 Location On Chip
L2 Data Prefetch Logic yes
L2 Bus Width 256 bits



Main board and chipset:
Motherboard manufacturer Dell Computer Corp.
Motherboard model 0N6381,
BIOS vendor Dell Computer Corporation
BIOS revision A02
BIOS release date 11/08/2004
Chipset Intel i865P/PE/G/i848P rev. A2
Southbridge Intel 82801EB (ICH5) rev. 02
FSB Select 533 MHz
Performance Mode enabled




Memory:
DRAM Type DDR-SDRAM
DRAM Size 768 MBytes
DRAM Frequency 166.3 MHz
FSB: DRAM 4:5
CAS# Latency 2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge 3 clocks
Cycle Time (TRAS) 7 clocks
# Of memory modules 2
Module 0 MOSEL DDR-SDRAM PC3200 - 512 MBytes
Module 1 Infineon DDR-SDRAM PC3200 - 256 MBytes



Software:
Windows version Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
DirectX version 9.0c

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-

I forgot to mention that the $80 I have to spend includes shipping.

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-

Hi,

If you could muster up another 9 dollars try this one out

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133134

AMD Athlonxp 3200+ OC
Asus A7N8x-deluxe-E
ATI AIW 9600pro
2x WD SATA raptors/raid0
Corsair XMS3200
16x Lite-on DVD
12x DVD-R
48x Lite-on CDRW
Aspire Super Alien Case

That is a nice card, but whats whats point?

I had the same card but mine had 256Mbs of DDR ram on it, this would be a down grade and would cost about $40 more then the first card I had.

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-

I think the point was that for 80$ you cant get a great card. I recoment a used PS2 if all yuo have is 80$ to spend. Also because your puter is PCI only you will always be severely bandwidth limited no matter what. What gem of a graphics card did you buy for 49$?

Oh my god I read the rest and I see you have a DELL! I love planned absolescence. I have seen the insides of many dells and I am always suprised to see that even most of the newer models have no agp slot!

But more to the point newegg has the best prices for anything computer related that I have seen on the internet. If that card is 89$ at newegg you wont find it cheaper anywhere else, unless you find a used one somewhere. Newegg also has many refurbished items for sale at discounted prices.

I was thinking about getting a newer motherboard with PCI-e but I have only found 1 mother board that supports PCI-e and a socket 478 CPU. I do plan on getting a newer CPU soon but I’m holding out until the P5's come out and the prices for the P4 to drop.

So until then I want to get this computer a better video card, I can get a new motherboard with PCI-e and continue to use the NVIDIA Geforce 4 FX5500 until I can afford a PCI-e video card.

The only board I have found that will work is this one http://www.asrock.com/product/product_P4Dual-880Pro.htm but I can’t find any prices on it in USD and I’m not good at converting to US currency.

If absolutely necessary I have spend $120 (Including shipping and handling) but I would rather spend around $80 so I can still get some new PCMCIA cards for my laptop.

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-

Dude, 128MB vs 256MB with a PCI card means absolutely nothing! The important thing is to get a card that uses 128-bit memory. Actually, the 128MB card is usually faster than the 256MB version of the same card, because the 256MB RAM used on the card usually has a higher latency (slower).

If it'll make you happier, you can wait on this 256MB card...it's cheaper but currently out of stock:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143032

This space for rent

How about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814103167 I was originaly going to get this one about 2 weeks ago but it went out of stock in the last few days.

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-

for one thing, it's a 64-bit card...so that automatically means it's slow for gaming. Also, it doesn't support DX9, even though the description says it does.

These things are what you should look for:

- 128MB or 256MB (doesn't matter)
- 128-bit memory interface
- supports DX9

There are only two PCI cards that qualify...the FX5200 or FX5500, & the 5500 is the better card.

If you can't wait for the FX5500 to get back in stock, or if you don't wanna spend that much, here's an alternative:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PCI-FX5200-128MTV&cat=VCD

This space for rent

Hey,

What's the point? Buying a dell and then wanting to upgrade the video without at least an AGP slot?

Talk of downgrading, you certainly will with the 9250. if that craps out get an ati 7000. When that goes get an old voodoo card.

AMD Athlonxp 3200+ OC
Asus A7N8x-deluxe-E
ATI AIW 9600pro
2x WD SATA raptors/raid0
Corsair XMS3200
16x Lite-on DVD
12x DVD-R
48x Lite-on CDRW
Aspire Super Alien Case

It seems I should just keep saving my money and get a new motherboard, CPU, and video card.

"What's the point? Buying a dell and then wanting to upgrade the video without at least an AGP slot?"

If you have ever read any post I have made about this dell you would know I didn’t buy it, it was a Christmas gift last year.

Sunset, expect
This to be your last with Our vast return
As Death is set
At three sixes where hill-beacons burn

Darkness, undress
Your descending skirts yield a thirsting altar
Blood-