I bought a video card for my PC a year or so ago (It's an ATI Radeon 9250). It's not the best video card ever, but I'm able to run fairly graphics-intensive games with it. Unfortunately, I'm reduced to playing most of those games at the low-mid level graphics settings. I'm wondering whether I should buy a new video card or upgrade my RAM (I'm running on 512 mb at the moment)? Or should I just buy a new computer?
2007-06-01 09:42:52 · 10 answers · asked by Mailleman 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
I guess I should've said that I'm wanting to be able to run games at higher graphics settings and resolutions. Right now the FPS levels dip a bit low.
2007-06-01 09:45:06 · update #1
I'm running with 2.4 GHz of CPU, if that still matters.
2007-06-01 10:44:16 · update #2
If your PC uses PCI slots only, better upgrade the motheboard, RAM and videocard OR consider a new PC.
If you have an 8X AGP slot there, you could try the 7300GT AGP. The faster 7600GS AGP or X1650 Pro AGP may require a power supply upgrade. These DX9 cards have much better architecture than your 9250 and would definitely provide significant gaming performance improvement without breaking the bank.
2007-06-01 13:30:03 · answer #1 · answered by Karz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would upgrade to 1MB of RAM first. That will provide a benefit for whatever you are doing with the computer, not just gaming.
If you are running high-intensity games, it sounds like you'll need a faster CPU -- but don't buy a new computer until Microsoft relents and issues Vista SP1!
2007-06-01 16:53:51 · answer #2 · answered by coryfucius 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
having been working with computer for a long time i would say 512mb ram is average for 2 years ago, 1gb is the average now, plus that vid card is very old, i would suggest upgrading that first. id say the early Xseries ATI cards would do you good if you dont plan on spending too much.
2007-06-01 16:47:37 · answer #3 · answered by sscultima 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of todays games require a processor speed of at least 2GHz, 1Gig of ram, and 1 to 2Gig graphics cards. To start upgrade the ram to at least 1 Gig, see how this does. If you have at least a 2.0GHz processor you may want to think about upgrading to a graphics card that has at least 512MB's of ram, next. May I suggest going to these site's to further enlighten your knowledge: Hardwaresecrets.com, Sysopt.com, Extremetech.com, Howstuffworks.com, Tomshardware.com
2007-06-01 17:21:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't tell us how much cpu you have.
You can use task manager to see how much RAM you are using. -- but I don't think RAM is the problem
I would vote for new video card or just new computer at this point. But there really is not quite enough info to answer this.
2007-06-01 16:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get like 2gb of ram!! new games need 1gb at the min.
Your video card is not bad, but upgrading that would be good to.
The main thing you do need to do is get more ram
2007-06-01 16:46:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
FPS games?? Like Doom 3 and F.E.A.R.?? Get a new graphics card, you better have atleast a Gig of RAM first. 7600 GT GForce card fur 140 at Tigerdirect. Workz wonderfully, and I can play Doom 3 at super quality....
2007-06-01 16:55:03 · answer #7 · answered by DarkWolf_1st 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would start by doubling up the ram it would help a bit but there are some nice video cards out there that are not expensive.for games 1gig at least for ram
2007-06-01 16:49:03 · answer #8 · answered by Tio 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can depend on ur cpu speed as well if its less then 1.5Ghz a new comp a good idea also. anyways more RAM should work. 2gigs of ram awsome.
2007-06-01 16:48:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
video card. rams are slightly bit cheaper, but boost speed, do u want better image or faster speed?
2007-06-01 16:46:23 · answer #10 · answered by mikechadwick123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋