calling all you PC guys (& gals)

[wardy]

My PC is now 3 years old, and I'm thinking of trying to squeeze another year out of it before changing it.

I've already increased the RAM from 512 to 1Gb, and now to 2Gb.

I'm thinking of changing the graphics card to, as some of the newer games struggle on it.

It's a P4 3.2
160Gb Hard Drive
2Gb Ram
and is currently running XP

The graphics card is Nvidia 256mb 6800 PCI Express

I've seen Nvidia 512mb 8500GT for less than £50. Would that make any significant progress over the old card?
Any other card recommendations? Dont really want to spend lots on it as I'll probably replace it in a year or so.

Cheers

[Penfold101]

To be honest mate, upgrading to components that are already out of date is rarely a sensible move...

You'd be much better off saving the money to put towards the new one, and get a decent Spec then. If you're wanting to play the latest games, you'll need the latest graphics cards, along with ta system that can handle it (Motherboard, RAM, Processor etc...)

Even upgrading the graphics card will be useless without a system that can support it and make the best use of it..

On the other hand, it's less than 50 squid, so you aren't losing much if it doesn't make any difference...

[Ian]

what speed is your memory, what sort of Motherboard is it and what type of HD is it. I only ask as these are the things folk forget and just concentrate on Processor speed and memory sizes. Unless your memory speed, MB and HD speed can match a decent graphics card then theres not much point in changing it really as the PC will use some of that healthy 2GB memory for the graphics anyway. The only benefit to increased Graphics memory is when everything else can keep it full up if you see what I mean.

[VauxVeteran]

Software method is going to be the only way to really squeeze it a bit, try out some good cache cleaners and anti spy progs, free ones I'd recommend to you are CCleaner,Spybot,Adaware and the trial of Zone Alarm security suite, CCleaner has a reg fixer also, this is the one I'd recommend.

[glenboy]

Software method is going to be the only way to really squeeze it a bit, try out some good cache cleaners and anti spy progs, free ones I'd recommend to you are CCleaner,Spybot,Adaware and the trial of Zone Alarm security suite, CCleaner has a reg fixer also, this is the one I'd recommend.

I used CCleaner the other day after someone popped a link on here for it,thanks btw,worked great on my laptop,had a problems with graphics and text,but this sorted all that out and its just as quick as when i first bought it,well recommended.......

[wardy]

what speed is your memory, what sort of Motherboard is it and what type of HD is it. I only ask as these are the things folk forget and just concentrate on Processor speed and memory sizes. Unless your memory speed, MB and HD speed can match a decent graphics card then theres not much point in changing it really as the PC will use some of that healthy 2GB memory for the graphics anyway. The only benefit to increased Graphics memory is when everything else can keep it full up if you see what I mean.

Looked in the system info, can't see any reference to the mother board. Sorry, bit of an IT idiot!
How can I tell?

Its a Dell D03506 Dimension 5000
P4 processor 540 with HT (3.20Ghz, 800 fsb, 1MB cache)
Duel Channel DDR2 400 Mhz Memory (now upgraded to 2 Gig from 1)
160GB Sata (7200rpm) Hard Drive

Does any of this help?

Cheers

[Signum_CDTI]

get yourself on to ebuyer - got a hand built pc to my spec from them - including case, all internals, keyboard and mouse it was £500 - bargain!

[merikiito]

Go here for Videao cards


http://www.videocardshop.co.uk/defau...ory=Show%20All

[DNS]

I just upgraded my PC for £300 from ebuyer.

Got a new motherboard, AMD Dual Core 6000+, 2gb RAM, NVidia 8600GT graphics and a 500gb hard drive, plus a new power supply. Bargain in my opinion, I'm well pleased with it!

[Signum_CDTI]

I just upgraded my PC for £300 from ebuyer.

Got a new motherboard, AMD Dual Core 6000+, 2gb RAM, NVidia 8600GT graphics and a 500gb hard drive, plus a new power supply. Bargain in my opinion, I'm well pleased with it!

Great arent they!!

got mine about 18 months ago - but still right up to date as it was soooo far advanced when I got it.
Can play all the decent games too!!
Going to try and get COD 4 soon - looks good!