So you only have PCI slots and want to game?

Budget? lol

Bro, I'm waaaaaaay cheap!

What did you have in mind? I actually have been looking for used stuff, but people on craig's sometimes ask CRAZY figures for things.

Like $60-ish? STOP LAUGHING!!!
 
Ooof, that's really not much.

I'd try to save up a bit more before trying to do anything serious. Graphics is your biggest weakness, and spending the $60 on something like an 8400GS is not worth it.

Save yourself about ~$200 and you're in a much better position. With that I have a motherboard in mind that takes either DDR or DDR2 (not both at once) and AGP or PCIe (not both at once), a budget Intel dual-core and a respectable video card. The only x factor is whether your XP installation will work with the new hardware or it would be best if you had a retail XP disc.
 
PCIGamer said:
This is complete text removed.
Click to expand...
yes 7-30fps, at 1280x1024, Normal to hight settings, NO AA, AF Full, texture resolution at " extra settings. Shadows is always off, like shadow map resolution, all of that is a waste of time. Keep in mind, i had the game running off my external HD with 1.1 speed. Only because i only have 10GB on my internal, its the same Internal HD from 2000 lol, never really bother to change it hahah. But i have 5GB left now, so i will run COD4 again off my internal and see how it runs , because its faster then my external HD.

Nevertheless, i have Ati tray tools install, so i can use OSD and show you more accurate stats, even tho i was just sharing my benchmarks, don't really have to prove to you, but at those settings in COD4, the game runs just fine. Now recording video is a problem off my external, so i will see can i record from my internal.
I can't even run the game at 800x600 or 1024x768, i lose performance rather then gaining it. But at 1280x1024 everything is smooth. When i start the demo, and you are at the front of the action, it stays between 7-10, but after that part, i get inside the building, i get 15-22, at times i do get 30 if i look at the ground, 27 once i am outside with that rocket launcher thing, taking out the tanks. But once that whole area is cleared out, i get 20 to 30 just walking around.

I think it did help by me fixing those IRQ issues, not that my card is not shared with my sound and all that other stuff.:) I will have benchmarks using at tray tools tomorrow.

FusilliJerry82 said:
Yes but what is the model of the tower? Like the model number on the front of the tower.
Click to expand...

MFG Date: 5/12/00,
Micro ATX, BRY-GP7i-600SE

FusilliJerry82 said:
From 600Mhz to 1Ghz is definitely worth looking at considering a 1Ghz PIII/100Mhz FSB at my preferred source for older processors is only $9. And replacing a CPU is not tough at all, the hardest part is getting the heatsink off and back on which isn't a big deal when you take a good look at how its done.
Click to expand...

But if i can't find this item at newegg or in stores around my way, then i am not bother by it. I have a ebay account, however i have no plans to use it right now, for security reasons( don't ask )


FusilliJerry82 said:
The performance wasn't bad processor-wise; apparently a 1.4ghz P3 outperforms the P4 up to 1.7-1.8Ghz. When I had an FX5950 Ultra in it, it ran Battlefield 2 on lowest settings.
Click to expand...

I thought' P4 are more powerful then P3's?
 
The adapter for the newer PIII's are only available on ebay so if you're wary of that than oh well. The setup of the adapter may be too much for you anyway.

For a 1Ghz PIII that should work out of the box, look right here. It's not Newegg, but I've personally ordered processors from them several times with only good experiences. $9 is hard to not be able to justify almost doubling clock speeds.

P4's only became more powerful than PIII's because they could hit much higher clock speeds than the PIII could at the time. Clock for clock, the P4 was less efficient and less powerful, which is why a 1.4Ghz (or God forbid the more rare 1.3Ghz) P4 falls on its face against a 1.4Ghz/1.3Ghz PIII.
 
Wait a min, i am considering about getting one of my family members to buy it for me, because as i said i don't do ebay right now for security reasons, but hey i said why not. But i have a question, what do i do with that sliver grey looking thing on my motherboard, it reads 600mhz on the site, wouldn't i have to remove that or keep it?

And btw, if i do this and i get 1ghz, wouldn't i need a better PSU? or everything should work the same?
 
Well you wouldn't have to go to ebay to buy a 1Ghz chip they can be had at the link I provided in my last post; you need only go to ebay to get the adapter necessary to run a 1.4Ghz Tualatin chip, so that's your choice. The adapter basically installs like a CPU in and of itself into which the actual CPU installs like normal

BE FOREWARNED: if you decide to go this route, there's a chance that your motherboard won't support the chip. It will work more often than not but there's a chance. It's up to you whether you want to take the risk. Worst case you could almost certainly resell it on ebay for little or no discount from what you bought it at.

To see what's involved for a plain old installation (the standard 1Ghz CPU, the kind that doesn't involve an adapter), look here:

http://www.cheap-computers-guide.com/cpu-installation-guide.html

Your power supply should be fine in any case. As a matter of fact, the newer Tualatin CPUs may use less power than the older 1Ghz due to their smaller circuitry process. Some of these adapters for the newer processors require you to plug in a hard drive power plug, but that's only for better voltage regulation. It doesn't use any more power than the kind that doesn't need a plug. I honestly don't know which kind is the one included in those auctions but it doesn't matter much to the user.
 
He seems Hell bent on keeping his PIII till we finally have flying cars, so he might as well squeeze more out of it.

When I moved to a 1.4Ghz chip from the stock 750Mhz, it was a stark improvement.
 
Hi General. I know I haven't posted in alittle while. Sorry. I wanted to do some more digging before i came back to ask more pointless, blundering questions and let everybosy know that I don't know what the crap i'm talking about. *phew* (try saying all that in one breath).

Anyway, right now i'm in the process of 'searching and saving'. I'm searching for the right video card (obviously, right?). I found a whole lot but it's the size i'm worried about. I need some help. Is there anything that i can go on when determining the size of the video card, and subsequently what size can fit?

N.B. I'm looking for a PCI card. It's what my computer uses. (Had it about 4 years now) See if this helps. The card my comp. is usiing right now is an Intel 915gv chipset. If anybody can find out any sort of info.about the size of it, i'd really appreciate it. thanks.
 
KarmasAlexis said:
Hi General. I know I haven't posted in alittle while. Sorry. I wanted to do some more digging before i came back to ask more pointless, blundering questions and let everybosy know that I don't know what the crap i'm talking about. *phew* (try saying all that in one breath).

Anyway, right now i'm in the process of 'searching and saving'. I'm searching for the right video card (obviously, right?). I found a whole lot but it's the size i'm worried about. I need some help. Is there anything that i can go on when determining the size of the video card, and subsequently what size can fit?

N.B. I'm looking for a PCI card. It's what my computer uses. (Had it about 4 years now) See if this helps. The card my comp. is usiing right now is an Intel 915gv chipset. If anybody can find out any sort of info.about the size of it, i'd really appreciate it. thanks.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a P4, and a very cool chip in IMO.
Anywho, newegg shows some photos of the cards so you can look at them to see the actual size. But my question, what video card are you looking to get in PCI form?

I have a small tower, but not that small, and i had to take back the PNY version of the 8400gs, it was too big. But video cards like the 2400HD, sparkle 8400gs, those are low profile and should fit into any tower.
 
Yes, looks like the fans which they use on the fx5500 and 6200 bfg. They keep the card cool.
Btw, it seems like the evga card just came out today, also notice the specs on it is the highest, 1000mhz, 8GB bandwidth. I can't wait to get it. :) Should run pretty good on my rig.

I am worry about the PSU requirements, it says 350, my 2400hd is 270, 90watts is fine on it, but 350, hmmm. I think the card only requires 20w.
 
The size of the fan used on the 8400GS is sad though better than nothing. I have what I believe is a PNY in PCIe with a fan that looks exactly the same as the EVGA and the card runs hot. In a small form Dell, in 3Dmark it gets up to 90 C.

A power supply upgrade may be worth looking into if you get one that's efficient. In the years since the P3 heyday, many PSUs have gotten 10-20% more efficient, which saves a lot of money in power bills.

The only issue is it sounds like yours is a smaller type like an mATX PSU or something proproetary. If you were interested in looking into upgrading it, try to take a few pictures of the inside of the PC.
 
Hey fusillijerry82. I am going to buy the 8400GS evga and the PIII chip next month. Someone at my local pc shop is going to install the chip for me, once i buy it. He is only going to charge me 15 dollars to do it. I buy from their shop all the time, so he says its cool. So i should have higher speed then 600 sometime next month along with the evga card.

Now you said 90c, well i have use PCI cards forever, and none of them ever reaches that high. The highest one of my cards ever went up was 62, which is with my BFG 6200. The BFG 6200 fan is the same size as the evga one. ( i think )

Here is a photo of my PSU btw:

This seems to be the same size and model as mine:

http://www.paddlersite.com/azne90flatxp.html

So if you can find me one in the same size that can fit correctly in my tower, cool i will add that too my list as well. But i will pick up a new PSU for my p3 when i buy my secondary computer.
I found this also:

http://www.atxpowersupplies.com/index.htm
 
Sounds like you have a P4, and a very cool chip in IMO.
Anywho, newegg shows some photos of the cards so you can look at them to see the actual size. But my question, what video card are you looking to get in PCI form?

I have a small tower, but not that small, and i had to take back the PNY version of the 8400gs, it was too big. But video cards like the 2400HD, sparkle 8400gs, those are low profile and should fit into any tower.
Click to expand...
Well to answer your question teklord suggested i get the Sparkle 8500GT PCI. So i checked it out. Here's the link: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?In...m=ShoppingSites&utm_campaign=SF-PC85GT256U2-P

But looking at it again.... I think it might be too big.
But i like it. It has all these features. The thing is, i need it to play The Sims 2, so maybe all those features aren't necessary. But better safe than sorry i say. Anyway i'll check out newegg and see what happens...
 
PCIGamer said:
Looks like newegg added 9400GT 512 and 1 Meg versions as well

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187057

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187058
Click to expand...

Newegg proves why they are the king of all things PC related once again! Good to see they got on the ball with the latest PCI cards, should pay off for them IMO. Don't know if the 9500 GT will prove to be vaporware since the 9400GT is so close in specs, but for the moment, I recommend the Sparkle 9400GT for all PCI only users and the 8500GT for the more budget conscious PCI only users, both from Newegg as those are the best prices I have seen. Great find PCIGamer, makes me want to stick a 9400GT in this rig. :D

KarmasAlexis said:
Well to answer your question teklord suggested i get the Sparkle 8500GT PCI. So i checked it out. Here's the link: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?In...m=ShoppingSites&utm_campaign=SF-PC85GT256U2-P

But looking at it again.... I think it might be too big.
But i like it. It has all these features. The thing is, i need it to play The Sims 2, so maybe all those features aren't necessary. But better safe than sorry i say. Anyway i'll check out newegg and see what happens...
Click to expand...

Recommend the Newegg price, Newegg ships super fast also and ships their products very well insulated from shipping damage. If price is no object, get the Sparkle 9400GT PCI card as that is the best available anywhere as of this posting. PCI cards aren't that big overall, but the 8500GT with the heatsink takes up two slots in width, so again I recommend that Newegg model with just the fan and no heatsink if you are going the 8500GT route. Should run Sims 2 okay I believe, but to squeeze the most performance you can, again I recommend the 9400GT.

As to whether the Albatron 8600GT or the Sparkle 9500GT/9400GT is better, I think the Sparkle card with 32 shaders/processors has the slight edge over the Albatron 8600GT's DDR III IMO. The full 1 GB of RAM on the Sparkle cards may not make a huge difference, but it's nice to have although I would settle for 512MB of DDR III on those.

For the love of decency Tha General, get a better PIII for that PC of yours. I put the best CPU this old mobo could handle (from a 2.8 GHz Celeron to a 3.06 P4 HT), and it sped up applications two fold seemingly. Get the 1.4 GHZ PIII, but make sure your mobo can handle it, and at least get the fastest PIII you mobo can handle, should only cost you a few dollars. They aren't hard to install, just read a tutorial on how to do it in a Google Search and make sure to use thermal paste (if those old processors even had heatfans).
 
wow

Good for you General, it's about time IMO. You need to contact Gateway to verify what the fastest compatible speed is with your mobo. 1.4 GHz looks like the fastest according to Wikipedia, so if it's compatible, stick one of those in for now, you'll be improving the speed of your PC by almost 2.5 times. :grinthumb
 
LOL yea , my game performance is pretty good as it is, so yea with better speed, no telling how well it will improved.
I will called gateway and ask them :)

I am still buying my secondary computer tho, but not at the moment.
PEACE
 
teklord said:
Good for you General, it's about time IMO. You need to contact Gateway to verify what the fastest compatible speed is with your mobo. 1.4 GHz looks like the fastest according to Wikipedia, so if it's compatible, stick one of those in for now, you'll be improving the speed of your PC by almost 2.5 times. :grinthumb
Click to expand...

I dont think it would double fps per say, but computing in general would be better.
 
I don't believe the 9500gt is ever going to show up in the united states. I think the 9500GT is on that same path has the 7300GT pci version is. They mention it, but it was never release. I think sparkle just said they will release the 9400gt and thats it. I could be wrong, but looking over at their site, the 9500gt is nowhere to be found. Oh well, if they release another pci card, my guess its going to be 9600 or 9800.

Thinking ahead in the future tho, i think PCI cards from Nvida will stop being made(if they make one) after the 9800gt. I could be wrong, but i don't see them making a geforce PCI 280 lol.
As for ATI, they have plenty of models to use, from the 3 series or even 4. Just take a look at the 4550 card, thats perfect for pci users. So i guess we will just have to wait and see.
 
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