Upgrade video card

[waggy]

What's the most suitable upgrade for my current video card, a Radeon X300, 128mb?

Machine : Dell Dimension 4700, 6 years old,
Dell motherboard OM3918(v), chipset i915P/915G
graphic interface : PCI Express x16
CPU : Pentium 4 530 3.00 GHz, core speed 2.99MHz, socket 775LGA
Memory : 2.5 gb DDR2
Monitor : Dell P991 19inch crt
Power Supply : Dell, model PS-6311 - 1DFS, DC output 305w,
combined power +12v-A VDC and +12v-B VDC not exceed 264w,
current on +12A VDC : 18A, +12B VDC : 18A, -12VDC : 1A

Gaming limits : military strategy rather than shootup, flight simulator
Country : UK
Budget : $100

Hope this is enough info and thanks in advance.

 

[g4mer]

You should upgrade your processor and power supply before upgrading your video card.

 

[red1776]

Your PSU is limiting your upgrade choices to almost nothing. something like this is about all you should put in there with that PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102896&cm_re=hd_4550-_-14-102-896-_-Product

 

[Relic]

What games are you trying to play? Upgrading such an old PC might not be worth it especially if the game is rather new and likely won't run well to begin with even with a limited GPU upgrade.

 

[waggy]

Thanks to g4mer, red1776 and Relic for your informative replies. I'm trying to play Napoleon Total War (Sega 2009) which requires minimum video card 256mb, direct X 9.0c shader model2b, recommended card 512mb, direct X 9.0c shader model 3. Minimum CPU 2.6GHz

 

[g4mer]

Your PSU is limiting your upgrade choices to almost nothing. something like this is about all you should put in there with that PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102896&cm_re=hd_4550-_-14-102-896-_-Product

Im not sure that GPU is strong enough to play any game at all.

waggy, i guess you want to play those games at higher detalis. If so, you'll need a better power supply. Most mid end cards require 350W or higher PSU.

 

[red1776]

g4mer;910573]Im not sure that GPU is strong enough to play any game at all.

Nope, not much, or at very low res and detail.

 

[captaincranky]

Anyway, the Intel 915 chipset will play such silly things as Flight Simulator 2004, and my favorite, Spider Solitare. However trying to soldier on with that PSU, as everybody has mentioned, is courting disaster.

Intel 915 is a reliable but horrifically slow booting relic, 32 bit contraption, suffering from paranoid delusions of real computerhood. I should mention that I love my 915 machine, but its real utility lies in downloading porn, not competitive gaming.

Methinks that you might consider saving a bit more, then springing for a step up PSU, and a bit of a better card, something worth taking with you if, (more likely when), you graduate to a newer computer.

My PSU choices would be; Antec EA-380D or EA-430D, or possibly a Corsair 400 to 450 watt model.

It doesn't seem to make much sense to link these for you, since what I can buy any one of them for here in the colonies, is not likely going to be your price in the UK.

As far as a video card I would look at Nvidia 8800GT, 9800GT, or ATI 4770 models. If you're really sure you don't want to play high requirement games, then you might look at Nvidia 9500GT models.

 

[waggy]

Thanks again, all - without your help I would have blundered into buying a way too powerful and expensive useless piece of gear. I've now got the facts to make an informed choice.

 

[Relic]

Ah Total War, the series has some really fun games. While I haven't played Napoleon TW I have personal experience with there earlier releases and they are pretty CPU demanding just fyi. So you might encounter severe drops in FPS to unplayable levels during intense battles even with a GPU upgrade.

 

[g4mer]

Yeah, 9500GT is good for that system. I have it on a 450w shitty PSU. That CPU will bottleneck 8800GT and 9800GT.