The Sims 2 Upgrading Graphics Card

[pumpkinpie0208]

I need a good graphics card for my dell dimension esktop for the Sims 2. Right now I have no graphics card that I know of. I know I only have a PCI Express slot. What kinds of graphics cards would work great with the Sims 2 but not be really expensive?

 

[BadThad]

How much do you want to spend? Graphics cards are all over the place in terms of price/performance.

You have no AGP slot? There's some great deals in the FS/FT section of AT forums on AGP cards like the ATI 9700 ($80-$100) and the ATI 9800 ($100-$140).

 

[pumpkinpie0208]

I have NO AGP slot. Unless you know if dell deminsion desktops have an AGP slot? I am assuming I have a PCI slot. But I don't know.

 

[BadThad]

What is the EXACT model of your Dell?

 

[pumpkinpie0208]

Dell Dimension 3000 with flat panel screen

 

[rise]

well if you have a pci-e like you said then chances are you don't have an agp.

need some sort of an idea of what expensive is though.

 

[pumpkinpie0208]

anything over $150 is expensive I really need at good graphics card for the Sims 2.

 

[rise]

well the x700 will keep you well under 150 and the 6600gt is a little above 150. the 6600gt is a better card but the x700 is very good for the price.

edit- heres the x700 vs other mid-low range cards.

there is a direct comparison i'll see if i can find it.

 

[BadThad]

Sorry, but you'll need a new PC to upgrade the graphics to anything decent...you get what you pay for.

Link to Specs

This system has NO AGP slot and only 3 PCI slots available. It has NO PCI-E slots, it's a S478 mobo with the i865GV chipset. Best you can to is try to find a PCI video card..NOT a PCI Express one...that is totally a different beast.

 

[rise]

youch.

nice search BT. thats a shame dell does that. how much money can it cost to include an agp slot?

 

[BadThad]

I'm surprized, but there's actually quite a few PCI video cards on Newegg. I'm not going thru them all, so happy searching. Not sure how much better they will be over the onboard Intel video.

 

[ender11122]

Had a friend with the same model. He bought a PCI card and it was sufficient, a fair amount better than onboard, but was nothing compared to even an older model AGP card.