What PCI nvidia graphics card works best on the Dell Dimension 3000?

Question

I'm trying to fix up my computer, to boost it's performance but here are my current specs. and the specs. I hope to have on my computer when finished.

Currently:

-Pentium 4 running @ 2.8GHz
-Intel Extreme Graphics [yeah, on-board graphics sadly]
-512 MB of RAM [I'd like to know whats compatible for my system so I can upgrade to 1GB]
-40GB Hard Drive

Here are the things I want to upgrade, any help would be nice!

-some sort of PCI [I don't have AGP or PCIe] graphics card with NVIDIA that gives good quality gaming for the Sims 2 and GTA San Andreas
-1 GB of DDR RAM [512MB x2]
-160 GB ATA Hard Drive [since my motherboard dosen't have SATA]

***If anybody can help me find hardware for me that is compatible with the Dell Dimension 3000 and try to stay within a $170 budget [at the most, I can get the graphics card and hard drive, the RAM could wait] I'd greatly appreciate that!***

Answer 1

I have a Dimension 3000 with the same specs and i upgraded it yesterday with a Video card and 1gb memory.

I bought 3d Fuzion Geforce fx5500 pci 256mb ddr video for $69.99.
and Kingston 2x512mb 400-184 pin ddr memory for $24.99 after rebate each. Bought both items from circuitcity.
Hope this helps. Both items are working fine in my Dim 3000.

Answer 2

Here's one of the best:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2467314&CatId=319

But do not expect awesome performance improvement in games. The PCI bus is TOO SLOW for graphics acceleration that is why we have the faster 8X AGP and the fastest x16 PCIe graphics interface. The PCI bus will just bottleneck/slowdown any good card that you put in there. If you really want to enjoy games, upgrade to a board w/ at least an 8X AGP slot. Even a $60 ATI 9600 Pro would give awesome improvement over any PCI card.

Answer 3

i think any pci card will work since they all are standard

theres not much out there for pci graphics cards

you'll probbally have to buy one line

heres a list of some


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Recs=10&Nav=|c:319|&Sort=3

Answer 4

Hey,

You might want to try using AGP instead of PCI. You usually get better performance with AGP. =)