Upgrading graphic card, is it worth it?

[the2020]

Hey everyone,
I have a really old computer and I can't afford to buy a new computer, motherboard, or psu. I was wondering if its worth it buying a new graphic card.

My specs:
Pentium 4 2.20 GHz
2X1 GB DDR2
AGP 4x
nvidia geforce 5500
1 80gb ide
1 40gb ide
1 dvd drive
1 cddrive
300w PSU

I was thinking of getting a Radeon HD 3650 512MB AGP video card. Its around 60$ on newegg.com. Do you think my system can handle this card, and do I have the required amount of power. Also is it even worth it upgrading this computer. I don't think I'll be buying a new system this year, and i'll probably be buying a laptop right before college next year.

[Firestem4]

Check the required specifications for the Graphics Card and make sure your computer can handle it. Notably your Power Supply. I upgraded my graphics card a long time ago to an ATI 1950 Pro, and overlooked the fact that my Dell computer had only a 330watt PSU, and the card needed at least a 500watt PSU.

(As a note, the required specs for PSU's are a recommendation. A GPU does NOT take 500watts, however you do have the rest of the computer to consider)

You won't be able to tell but your computer will suffer from bottlenecks due to older equipment. Even at AGP, the ATI 3650 is a powerful GPU.

[pookiebear]

I wouldnt do it now, AGP is too far gone. And the jump won't be that much. You are better off saving for another bundle to put in your case.

But turn the topic around. What is prompting you to need another card? is it a game you want to play?

[the2020]

hmm just checked it out and it said the minimum was 300watts. Here's also a link of the one im specifically talking about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161237.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a video card for my system?

edit: and ya I wanted it for casual gaming. I tried sims 3 on my computer and it worked pretty well, i just wanted a smoother gaming experience. I also wanna be able to play some older games, that arent too old, within the past 2 years.

[boof1988]

Hey everyone,
I have a really old computer and I can't afford to buy a new computer, motherboard, or psu. I was wondering if its worth it buying a new graphic card.

My specs:
Pentium 4 2.20 GHz
2X1 GB DDR2
AGP 4x
nvidia geforce 5500
1 80gb ide
1 40gb ide
1 dvd drive
1 cddrive
300w PSU

I was thinking of getting a Radeon HD 3650 512MB AGP video card. Its around 60$ on newegg.com. Do you think my system can handle this card, and do I have the required amount of power. Also is it even worth it upgrading this computer. I don't think I'll be buying a new system this year, and i'll probably be buying a laptop right before college next year.

If the computer has an open AGP slot and you have a local used-computer shop in the area... Maybe buy a used AGP card. In the Columbus, Ohio area one can find a 8, 16, or 32 MB card for about $10-$25. Not sure how much they would be in your area though. I use a card like this and it gives more colors than the integrated graphics (Pentium IV @ 1.8GHz) so the screen looks better to me.

[the2020]

If the computer has an open AGP slot and you have a local used-computer shop in the area... Maybe buy a used AGP card. In the Columbus, Ohio area one can find a 8, 16, or 32 MB card for about $10-$25. Not sure how much they would be in your area though. I use a card like this and it gives more colors than the integrated graphics (Pentium IV @ 1.8GHz) so the screen looks better to me.

The one i have now (geforce 5500) is 128mb and I was looking for maybe an upgrade.

[boof1988]

The one i have now (geforce 5500) is 128mb and I was looking for maybe an upgrade.

Yeah... Sorry... I didn't see which graphics card you currently have.

[CharmyBee]

Oh yeah it'd be worth it for that old rig. That FX5500 is slow and the new Radeon you want will blow it away. The CPU will be a bottleneck, though. I'd personally recommend a Radeon9700 but there's no more driver support for that, so the HD3650 is the better deal.

[HappyFeet]

Here's one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143102

I have a 7300GS on my other machine, and it plays games fairly well. It's about the best AGP Nvidia card available right now, as they are phasing them out.

[the2020]

Here's one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143102

I have a 7300GS on my other machine, and it plays games fairly well. It's about the best AGP Nvidia card available right now, as they are phasing them out.

How about this X1650PRO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073, I am using this chart here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-cards,1942-7.html and both cards look about the same but the x1650 looks cheaper. What do u think?

Edit: But also it says both need 350w power supply =/

[swoll1980]

I would upgrade the processor. You can get a p4 on ebay for like $10 I don't know what fsb your motherboard can handle, but with a 400 Mhz fsb you could go to a p4 2.6 I believe, with a 512 MHz fsb you can go to p4 3.1

[the2020]

This is my motherboard http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=1658#anchor_os
How can you tell the FSB?
And thanks to everyone that has replied!

[swoll1980]

This is my motherboard http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=1658#anchor_os
How can you tell the FSB?
And thanks to everyone that has replied!

Oh, it's an AMD board, nevermind. I assumed you had an Intel chip set for some dumb reason. I know nothing about AMD processors.

[SerenityKill3r]

You can pick up a 7800GS pretty cheap now...

[CharmyBee]

How about this X1650PRO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073, I am using this chart here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-cards,1942-7.html and both cards look about the same but the x1650 looks cheaper. What do u think?

Driver support ended for that one in March. Jaunty wouldn't support this card. I'm still behind the HD3xxx option.

[the2020]

could you explain what you meant by the hd 3650 being bottlenecked, by how much performance wise?

[Firestem4]

could you explain what you meant by the hd 3650 being bottlenecked, by how much performance wise?

The ATI 3650 is a high performance graphics card. It is not that old, however your computer is. I am certain that the 3650 AGP card itself can process more data than the AGP 4x socket can handle at once. That is your first bottleneck. The others are your RAM (Older hardware means slower RAM), and Processor will be pegged too.

That graphics card would effectively be the fastest thing on your computer. And nothing in a computer is faster than its slowest component.