I saw the video card list.....how will hl2 do on my system?

[Ceen]

I have a p4 3.2ghz 512ram, but only have pci slots heh...

so..... I am probably going to buy http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3606&item=8161937280&rd=1

unless someone how a better suggestion (don't tell me to get a new comp)

 

[the_lone_wolf]

that'll seriously bottleneck your system, get a new mobo with an AGP slot and buy at least a 9600 if you want it to have a hope of keeping up with your processor, pref a 9800, by the looks of your specs i'd say you have a dell, massive processor but only adquete ram and no graphics card

 

[Ceen]

lol....I said do not tell me to get a new comp lol...

What do you mean bottleneck?

Any pci cards out there that won't?

maybe this? http://royalbusiness.com/product_info.php/products_id/125531/scs/1

 

[Washuu]

Don't get a new computer, just replace one part ( the motherboard ) and get a new one, an AGP video card. PCI card now, is a waste of money unless the next-gen game you will get a new system. He is also right that a 9600 would be cheapest but most beneficially card. 3.4 P4 is a good processor, and I don't think a motherboard with PCI is using it the best it can.

 

[firemachine69]

You're kidding me, right?

Get a mobo with an AGP slot. Then go from there.

There's not a single good PCI (-Express excluded, obviously) card out there to date.

 

[Ceen]

I don't even know where to begin with a new mobo. How hard is it to install..what should I get...etc

 

[the_lone_wolf]

I don't even know where to begin with a new mobo. How hard is it to install..what should I get...etc

ceen, by bottleneck i mean that your processor can do umpteen caculations per second and your RAM can store a sh1t load of textures but when it comes to putting them on your monitor your graphics card will slow them both down completely, it's like an 8 lane highway (your cpu and memory), it can carry loads of traffic but somwhere along the way it drops to 2 lanes (your graphics card) so all the traffic (your data) has to squeeze through there, hence thats as fast as traffic can flow through the whole system.

as for a motherboard i don't really know a lot about them, but you needn't spend a fortune, £50 will get you a decent one with 5 PCI slots (for expansion) and an AGP (advanced graphics port) slot <--very important. also check that it's suitable for your processor (i expect intel have a list of suitable mobos) - also make sure it is capable of supporting your memory (speed, eg pc3200/size/number of modules) - other features are nice but not needed, modern ones have things like USB2 and firewire support, LAN ports, and built in surround sound <-- although i would personally avoid using this, a decent soundcard is much better IMO.

i hope that helps, try www.google.com and search for information like "choosing a motherboard" for more info

edit: i would say although i can't invisage if being too complex for someone with basic computer knowledge if you are unsure about selecting/installing a mobo then leave it to someone who knows more about computers, your mobo connects all of your components together so if it is not right it will cause problems

 

[bryanf445]

make sure that you get a new case too if your new mobo is atx....unless you have a midsize atx case right now and not a mini-atx case