Video Card Help?

Question

I am seriously looking for help right now because I cant seem to figure out which kind of video card to get my Compaq presario SR1230NX. I am trying to spend the least amount of money possible because I spent about 60$ on a 1gig ram and people are telling me i got jipped. I dont know if i should really risk buying a new video card and getting ripped off. Will someone please let me know if they know what a smart idea or move would be to buy a new video card. Im looking for something not to expensive under 100 and something that will last. Please help me get whats worth the money for gaming. I play games like WoW and Cs please let me know. Thanks

Answer 1

Give me just a minute to look up your system and then I'll respond.

See the link below for a great guide to video cards from Tomshardware.com. I've been going to that site for over 15 years, and they've never led me astray!

I've linked to two great recommendations for you. The first one is about 70 bucks, the second about 115. The biggest benefit to the 2nd one would be DX10 support. It won't really help you much now, but it will become more and more valuable as each new game is released.

And if you didn't see my reply to your RAM question, for DDR ram you got a decent deal. The $25 ram is DDR2 which is more common now, so the supply is higher and prices are lower.

Answer 2

$60 for 1 GB is NOT getting gibbed if you bought it retail, but it's not exactly cheap either. Don't always believe what others say. Remember, computers is one of those things that gets compared a lot, as in "my ___ is better than your ___".

According to my sources, you have a built-in S3/VIA Unichrome video chipset, but also an AGPx8 slot for video card. You can get a very decent NVIDIA 8600 that goes in there for about $150, and that should last you a while.