Old computer to upgrade

[indil377]

Hello,

I'm thinking of upgrading my old rig for better performance. it's quite old but runs swell and would like to keep using it. It's an older Compaq Presario 6010US. My old card went bad several years ago and I've been using the integrated card since for genearl stuff. Son is old enough to game now and I want to get my rig back up for gaming. I need to use an AGP type card and am looking at the HIS Radeon 4350. I've upgraded my power supply and maed out at 1gb memory. My qeustion is how do I tell if this video card will work with my computer?

Matt





AQ PRESARIO 6010US

Compaq P/N : 470027-054
Standard Features Dimensions & Weights

(L x W x H) Unit: 16.55" x 6.88" x 14.5" (23.8 lbs)

Package: 23.20" x 13.0" x 23.50" (37.9 lbs)Processor AMD Athlon™ XP Processor Model 1600 (1.4 GHz)System Bus 266 MHz System BusCache • 128KB L1 Pipeline Burst Cache

• 256KB L2 Pipeline Burst CacheSystem Memory 256MB 266MHz DDR DRAM - 2 Total DIMM Slots Upgradeable to 1.0GB (DDR DRAM DIMM required)Hard Drive 40.0 GB UltraDMA Hard Drive Optical Drive(s) • 16X DVD-ROM Drive

• 24X CD-RW Drive Communications 56K ITU V.90 Modem and Integrated 10/100 Ethernet NetworkingDiskette Drive 3.5" 1.44 MB Diskette driveGraphics Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce2™ Graphics with 32MB shared system memory:

• 64-bit hardware-accelerated 3D graphics
• Compaq DVD Player/Navigator
• Video Player (AVI, MPEG2 and others)
• Maximum non-interlaced resolution of up to 2048 x 1536 @ 75Hz (when supported by monitor)

Audio/Speakers Integrated Soundmax III Digital Audio:

• Audio CD player
• Create, organize and play digital MP3, WMA or personal CD audio files on your PC
• Dolby® Digital Surround Sound (AC-3)

Mouse Internet Scroll MouseKeyboard(s) Compaq Internet KeyboardCompatibility/Compliance • Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

• Plug-and-PlayPower Supply Steady-state 200 wattsDrive Bays • One (1) 3.5" internal for hard drive

• One (1) 3.5" external for 1.44 MB diskette drive

• One (1) 3.5" external open for expansion

• Two (2) 5.25" external for optical drivesExpansion Slots • One (1) PCI slot with modem installed

• One (1) AGP slot open for expansion

• Two (2) PCI slots open for expansionI/O Interfaces • Six (6) USB ports (2 front, 4 back)

• One (1) Serial RS-232C compatible, DB9 connector (16550) (1 rear)

• One (1) Parallel EPP/ECP standard centronics-compatible interface (DB + B3225 connector) (1 rear)

• Two (2) PS/2 ports (mouse, keyboard)

• Two (2) RJ-11 phone jacks (1 input, 1 output)

• One (1) RJ45 Ethernet Port

• One (1) VGA monitor connection

• Three (3) Audio ports (1 line-in, 1 line-out, 1 microphone-in)

 

[Insomniator]

The 4350 would most likely work OK. A 300W PSU is recommended but your machine only has 200W... probably not an issue though.

What do you plan to do with this computer? It will only run very very old games regardless of what kind of video card you put in there. With 256MB ram even a basic Windows XP install will chug... probably not even fast enough to surf the net.

 

[indil377]

I've upgraded to a 450w PS and upgraded to the max of 1 gig RAM. We play Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2. My rig ran fine before with those games so I don't see any issues. If we decide to play games like COD MW, or Black ops then I will definitely have to get a new rig but for the two games mentioned it should be ok. I don't like the integrated video card so a new one would be nice. Thanks for the reply.

Matt

 

[Harvey]

Don't waste more than the price of a VERY cheap video card (preferably free or free after rebate) on this machine. The specs show that the max RAM it can accept is 1 GB, which is enough to do general word processing and maybe light web browsing, but it will cost more than twice the price for the same amount of DDR2 or DDR3, and you still won't have much of a machine by current standards.

This machine can never be brought up even to the requirements for even light gaming, and you'll get far more performance for your money building a decent machine from new parts.

Good luck.

 

[veri745]

The video card you linked should work with your system. I wouldn't pay more than $30-40 for the upgrade though, at that point, a new system would provide MUCH better performance/$ improvements.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The 4350 should do the job. Any "new" low end card is what you should be looking at - HD 4350, HD 3450, HD 5450. There won't be much benefit for you to spend any more on a faster card, because the 1600+ won't keep up.

For those two older games you mentioned you'll be fine with a 4350, and it should be one heck of an upgrade over a Geforce 2.

Although if you feel crafty you might look into buying an older used card. Cards like a Radeon 9600 Pro/XT, Radeon 9700, Radeon X800, Radeon X700, Radeon X1600, Geforce 6600, Geforce 6800, Geforce Ti 4600.

Even and old card like the 9600 Pro can play Call of Duty fine.

 

[toyota]

I have a 6600 AGP that you can have for 15 bucks shipped if you are in the contiguous 48.

 

[veri745]

I have a 6600 AGP that you can have for 15 bucks shipped if you are in the contiguous 48.

This would be a huge upgrade, and reasonably priced.

 

[indil377]

I have a 6600 AGP that you can have for 15 bucks shipped if you are in the contiguous 48.

Very generous. I've sent you a PM so we can work out the details. Thanks a bunch. Can't wait to hear the sounds of COD again. Also, thanks to everyone for your advice.

Matt

 

[toyota]

how much ram do you actually have in that pc? I have some DDR 333 and 266 ram that I can just throw in for free if you need it. I assume a 512mb DDR 333 stick would work fine but just run at 266 of course.