Ok... I am having this thing were I am really needing to get a new graphics and sound card so that I can keep up with the new games that are coming out for Windows. My computer is a Version 2002, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition running Service Pack 2. with an Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80GHz and 1 GB of RAM. I want to replace my current ATI Radeon X300 with something like a GeForce 7950 or something, but I want to be able to keep DirectX9 due to the fact I don't want to use Vista just quite yet. For my current sound card... I don't even know the sure name of what it is called since there are so many listed on the audio devices on my drivers list. I thought about something from Creative but like the graphics card, I would like some input if you guys/girls don't mind. To make things more laughable, I have never upgraded a computer so I really don't know what all I need to be exact, but I do know the basics of what has to be done. Here are some of the things I am thinking about while I am looking for both of these cards.

• I would like to play Half-Life 2 with ease... No troubles with anything on that game like I have right now
  
• TimeShift is soon going to be in my hands and I want the ability to play that without any problems from my PCs end of the game
  
• StarCraft 2 needs to be played on full settings... I need to make sure of it because I can't wait to see what it looks like!
  
• Want to be able to support duel-monitors. I like the idea of having 2 monitors on 1 desk
  

How much are you looking to spend?

Well... i saw a nice Creative sound card for about $50 and the graphics card that I was seeing was around $200... So really, I would like to keep it within $200-250

so...uhh... agp or pci-e?

I'm not sure when 8800GT's will be available, but if they do, they'd really kick ass for performance (although you would be bottlenecked by your CPU.) However, they will still likely be out of your price range, so..

8600GTS is a good option for your price range.. sort of... the x1950xt is as well.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102067R

The X-FI XtremeGamer would be a good choice. Stay away from the XtremeAudio, though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

I'm not looking for anything that will require DirectX10... I don't want to change to Vista and keep my XP with DX9...

isnt it possible to use a 8800 on dx9?
and do you want agp or pci-e!!

Last time I checked, just because a card support Dx10 doesn't mean you have to use it.

I don't know the difference... Could you tell me or give me a link that could tell me what it means?


Hum.... That makes me think about a couple of things then... I might simply consider that because some of the graphics cards that I looked at that are supporting DirectX10 are better than the ones supporting DirectX9 but cost a good bit less for some odd reason... Either that or I'm missing something and I don't know it

Well, DirectX 9 cards have been replaced by DirectX 10 cards, therefore they aren't produced. Meaning there is less supply of the Dx9 cards, making them cost more.

But even though I would be getting a DirectX10 card, if I do that is, I would still be able to use it on my XP correct?

Yes.

learn about video card interfaces!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CategoryIntelligenceArticle.aspx?articleId=223#topic1
pci-e is pci-express

(I wish i had a pci-e slot my comp only has a pci slot )

It looks like I have a normal PCI interface, but the pictures kinda look all of the same at times. Plus, I have a 2002 model which also makes me think that I have a PCI as well

EDIT:
I found out the actual interface on my system settings... It is a PCI slot for sure

SCREWED! just like me
MasterJohnny's video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143032
The Video card MasterJohnny wants (cause its the best pci nvidia card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143110
The best pci video card out there (i think)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103031

Now this is just assuming that you are ABSOLUTELY correct about your interface, those 2 are the best pci video cards


Theres no way you can do any of that with a pci slot
And I am confused i thought Radeon x300 were agp or pci-e only?

Post has been edited 8 time(s), last time on Nov 5 2007, 3:58 am by MasterJohnny.

It says PCI in my device manager... Funny thing is, is says the same thing on my new Vista which isn't the best thing in the world but that is running a GeForce 6150 on a PCI slot... I don't know if it it me or what but wow... Didn't know they would do that on a Vista. I'm just going to go for Alienware at this point...

Um, why? Alienware = overpriced. ibuypower.com, while some people have had issues with technical support in the past, has to the best of my knowledge become immensely better in that regard, and you'll get a much better price for a similarly configured machine. This is to say if you don't want to build your own rig, and it looks as if you'll need to purchase an entirely new system.

I thought that ATI Radeon X300 was PCI-e last time I checked...
If you're absolutely sure you are using a PCI graphics card, then you're kind of limited on choices.
I also don't recommend Alienware. Their stuff is nice but overpriced... you'd probably be better off building your own rig.

I might be wrong, maybe my graphics card is a PCI-E... Maybe I am looking at the wrong thing. Could I find something in my computer that would tell me for sure what it is without having to look for myself because I can't determine it by looking right at it..

How many sizes of slots do you have and how many of each? If you have 3 or more sizes, at least two of those types slightly shorter in height than the other, and one of those two types really short in length, and the other of those two types being longer, then you probably have PCI Express. Of course, you may still have PCI Express even if you don't have all of those types of slots.