Whats the problem?

jwilliams · 09-02-10, 01:10 AM

My advice would be :-

If you dont know what your doing, get someone who does know what they are doing to upgrade your PC.

There are many things that may need to be done, it may not be a simple case of buying a new graphics card and plug'n it in.

My last upgrade was a new Graphics card, but i also had to buy a new PSU (Power Surply Unit) as the one in my pc was not powerful enough and didnt have the power connectors to run the card i wanted to install.

If your want to learn.... great.... start by reading books, mags etc. Make sure you understand what your doing before you attempt it, as mistakes can be costly.

For me the learning process and the achievement of building my 1st PC from scratch was a great reward. Now my PC is 7 years old. And im looking forward to building my next. Just gotta talk the wife into letting my spend the many dollors it will cost.

Sailor Steve · 09-02-10, 09:59 AM

I would say it's a tossup between the RAM and the graphics. 4 GB is good, 8 GB is better.

As for the card, I recently upgraded my poor old machine, and it's much easier than you think. Every new card comes with instructions, and with a disc that installs the software for you. Yes, I currently have XP, but hardware upgrades are fairly straightforward and pretty much the same across the board.

That said, don't trust me. This is where the Subsim computer crowd hangs out, and you'll find several people who can help you, and will.

Third, jwilliams' advice is also worth listening to. Ask around and you should be able to find someone who has done it before. But make sure they show you what they've done to their own machine and aren't just talking big.

I've upgraded my PC several times, and it's not nearly as hard as it we always think it's going to be.

Takeda Shingen · 09-02-10, 10:09 AM

Moved to PC Solutions forum. This is where the tech gurus hang out.

JU_88 · 09-02-10, 10:17 AM

4gb Ram is plenty adaquate to run SHV smoothly,
I run it at 1680 x 1050 with high settings on the following:
Core duo E8500, 4GB, GTX 275 and there is no noticable problem with FPS.

So I'd say invest in the best graphics card you can afford and problem solved.

Sailor Steve · 09-02-10, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Moved to PC Solutions forum. This is where the tech gurus hang out.

Thank you, especially since I seem to have forgotten to put a link in my link.

arnesw · 09-02-10, 10:21 AM

The HD 3200 is an onboard graphics chip, right? That is, it's integrated with the motherboard.

Anyway, I think a new GFX card is the first thing to do. More RAM might help a little if there's a lot of other stuff running on your machine, but my guess is you won't notice much difference.

Unless a screwdriver to you means only vodka and orange juice, you should be able to install a new graphics card just fine

SteamWake · 09-02-10, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesw

The HD 3200 is an onboard graphics chip, right? That is, it's integrated with the motherboard.

Anyway, I think a new GFX card is the first thing to do. More RAM might help a little if there's a lot of other stuff running on your machine, but my guess is you won't notice much difference.

Unless a screwdriver to you means only vodka and orange juice, you should be able to install a new graphics card just fine

This ... onboard graphics chips are not comprable to their discrete counterparts. As mentioned make sure your PSU is up to the job or you could conciveably fry the motherboard bus then your really screwed.

FIREWALL · 09-02-10, 12:09 PM

Download CPU-Z or other simular tool and post us your specs.

For sure you need a video card upgrade. Tools needed.... screwdriver and a $2.00 Ground strap sold at most if not all Computer stores.

Will you need a PSU upgrade ? Newer and more powerfull Vid cards require a more powerfull PSU.

4GB of Ram is fine.

JU_88 · 09-02-10, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

This ... onboard graphics chips are not comprable to their discrete counterparts. As mentioned make sure your PSU is up to the job or you could conciveably fry the motherboard bus then your really screwed.

Very unlikley to do mobo damage this way, more likely the PSU will blow out but thats it.
Modern mothorboards are amazingly good at protecting them selves from these things.

True though that is more to condsider than just the screwdriver,
1) Ensure your board has a 16x PCI-E slot
2) Ensure you have adaquete room in your case (e,g depth and bracket size)
3) Check you got free PCI-E power connectors on your PSU.
4) Check the min requirements for the graphics card you want to buy - and Steamwake points out, check your power supply (PSU) lable for the wattage rating, and the indervidual rating on the 12 volt rail.

If in doubt, take it in to a specialist.

And i'll re-enforce the memory argument, there is little improvement to be gained from going from 4 to 8 GB.
If you had 2GB though - that would be another story.

CaptainMattJ. · 09-02-10, 09:12 PM

Here they are. my system specs. i dont what to make of it. hope this provides enough info...

JU_88 · 09-03-10, 03:37 AM

Akk! you on a laptop?
If so Im afraid you cannot upgrade your video card.

Its built in.

09-02-10, 01:10 AM	#1
jwilliams Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,013 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	My advice would be :- If you dont know what your doing, get someone who does know what they are doing to upgrade your PC. There are many things that may need to be done, it may not be a simple case of buying a new graphics card and plug'n it in. My last upgrade was a new Graphics card, but i also had to buy a new PSU (Power Surply Unit) as the one in my pc was not powerful enough and didnt have the power connectors to run the card i wanted to install. If your want to learn.... great.... start by reading books, mags etc. Make sure you understand what your doing before you attempt it, as mistakes can be costly. For me the learning process and the achievement of building my 1st PC from scratch was a great reward. Now my PC is 7 years old. And im looking forward to building my next. Just gotta talk the wife into letting my spend the many dollors it will cost. __________________ Windows 7, 64bit. Phenom II 965BE (OC 4cores @ 3.8 Ghz). Radeon HD4870 (1gb gddr5). 6gb Ram.

09-02-10, 09:59 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I would say it's a tossup between the RAM and the graphics. 4 GB is good, 8 GB is better. As for the card, I recently upgraded my poor old machine, and it's much easier than you think. Every new card comes with instructions, and with a disc that installs the software for you. Yes, I currently have XP, but hardware upgrades are fairly straightforward and pretty much the same across the board. That said, don't trust me. This is where the Subsim computer crowd hangs out, and you'll find several people who can help you, and will. Third, jwilliams' advice is also worth listening to. Ask around and you should be able to find someone who has done it before. But make sure they show you what they've done to their own machine and aren't just talking big. I've upgraded my PC several times, and it's not nearly as hard as it we always think it's going to be. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-02-10, 12:09 PM	#8
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Download CPU-Z or other simular tool and post us your specs. For sure you need a video card upgrade. Tools needed.... screwdriver and a $2.00 Ground strap sold at most if not all Computer stores. Will you need a PSU upgrade ? Newer and more powerfull Vid cards require a more powerfull PSU. 4GB of Ram is fine. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

09-02-10, 09:12 PM	#10
CaptainMattJ. The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,364 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	Here they are. my system specs. i dont what to make of it. hope this provides enough info... __________________ A popular Government without popular information nor the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives - James Madison

09-03-10, 03:37 AM	#11
JU_88 Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,803 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Akk! you on a laptop? If so Im afraid you cannot upgrade your video card. Its built in. Last edited by JU_88; 09-03-10 at 07:09 AM.

09-02-10, 10:09 AM	#3
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Moved to PC Solutions forum. This is where the tech gurus hang out.

09-02-10, 10:17 AM	#4
JU_88 Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,803 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	4gb Ram is plenty adaquate to run SHV smoothly, I run it at 1680 x 1050 with high settings on the following: Core duo E8500, 4GB, GTX 275 and there is no noticable problem with FPS. So I'd say invest in the best graphics card you can afford and problem solved.

09-02-10, 10:21 AM	#6
arnesw Watch Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 21 Downloads: 84 Uploads: 0	The HD 3200 is an onboard graphics chip, right? That is, it's integrated with the motherboard. Anyway, I think a new GFX card is the first thing to do. More RAM might help a little if there's a lot of other stuff running on your machine, but my guess is you won't notice much difference. Unless a screwdriver to you means only vodka and orange juice, you should be able to install a new graphics card just fine