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General => General discussion => Topic started by: Guy on 11 December 2011, 20:11

Title: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 11 December 2011, 20:11
and Win 7 Aero

arrrrgh!!!  :grin:

Right... I have a very old Dell Dimension 4500S (slimline) running win7 and 2gb RAM

I want to run Aero and also be capable of supporting games such as Sims3 which a small person might be getting from Father Christmas

It takes PCI (not PCI-express) cards.

The Dell website says that the following cards will work http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=6715&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&mfgpid=123627&chassisid=8209 (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=6715&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&mfgpid=123627&chassisid=8209)

although as I understand it from my various googlings the CPU will only support 128mb cards

can anyone answer these two questions please...

1. what is the minimum spec to run Aero and games etc
2. can you point me to a card on Amazon.co.uk that will work with my CPU please as I have tried this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/VTX3D-Radeon-Graphics-DirectX-Support/dp/B005N5KKHU/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1323634175&sr=1-4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/VTX3D-Radeon-Graphics-DirectX-Support/dp/B005N5KKHU/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1323634175&sr=1-4)
and the CPU will not power up when the card is inserted into the machine.

many thanks in advance... please help me to stop tearing my hair out  :laugh:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: DubFan on 12 December 2011, 12:47
If it's slimline you're gonna have problems finding a card to fit, unless it mounts them horizontally in the case.
The other problem is obviously the fact it's only PCI and that Windows 7 is unlikely to be able to use a PCI card very well.

Personally I would run Windows XP on a PC like that and then you could get a decent PCI card off ebay for peanuts.

Have a look at these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATI-Sapphire-Radeon-9250-128Mb-PCI-Video-Card-/110792615328?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item19cbc125a0 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATI-Sapphire-Radeon-9250-128Mb-PCI-Video-Card-/110792615328?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item19cbc125a0)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nVIDIA-GeForce-FX-5700-FX5700-256-MB-PCI-3D-Video-Card-/270757329364?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3f0a64f9d4 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/nVIDIA-GeForce-FX-5700-FX5700-256-MB-PCI-3D-Video-Card-/270757329364?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3f0a64f9d4)
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Jay on 12 December 2011, 20:53
Well that sucks, is Aero absolutely needed? It'll open the search / availability a bit more if it's not 100% needed.
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 12 December 2011, 21:15
i'd prefer to have aero... and the minimum spec for sims 3 is i understand this...

http://gb.thesims3.com/game/systemreq (http://gb.thesims3.com/game/systemreq)

dubfan - thanks for your response..

The PCI fitment is a full size card as the mount is horizontal as you state :)

i upgraded to win7 after someone suggested it to me   :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Jay on 12 December 2011, 22:20
It's a worthwhile upgrade though, once you learn all the niceties of Win7, it's fan-dabi-dosi  :cool:

Bugger, found a 'suitable' card and drivers for Win7 32 bit - then reread the Sims3 specs at the bottom listing the compatible graphics card (missed that the first time) and although the other tech specs match, the card (fx5500) wasn't a listed supported card  :sad:

I think those may only be PCI-Express cards or have too much memory for your CPU :sad:

Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 13 December 2011, 10:39
so whats the most I could get away with that my CPU will like?

PCI (full size)
amazon purchase (as that is where i will refund the other one)

tia  :smiley:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 13 December 2011, 11:34
I think this one will be supported - if only I could find it as a PCI (not PCI-E) card somewhere, pref amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ATI-Radeon-HD3450-Videocard-PCI-Express/dp/B00465TYU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323775964&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/ATI-Radeon-HD3450-Videocard-PCI-Express/dp/B00465TYU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323775964&sr=8-1)
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 14 December 2011, 17:52
rang up dell... asked them what was compatible for my machine

they put me through to a company which took my service tag, then they told me what would work... 100% in their words.

then they told me the price

so i ordered the same thing elsewhere... fingers crossed!!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 16 December 2011, 14:31
i've only gone and got it working!!  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Jay on 16 December 2011, 20:10
Sims3?
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 16 December 2011, 20:34
Sims3?

Find out on Sunday  :grin:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Jay on 16 December 2011, 20:37
 :grin:

wait till Sunday before celebrating  :laugh:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 18 December 2011, 15:16
:grin:

wait till Sunday before celebrating  :laugh:

Sims3 installed and updated and working a treat.. That's one small person out of the way over Christmas!!

Thanks all for your help :afro:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: JC on 18 December 2011, 20:09
Oh I only it was that simple frankers . You have soooooo much to learn  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: bobbarley on 18 December 2011, 20:11
Just need to get BF3 working now  :grin:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 19 December 2011, 08:42
Just need to get BF3 working now  :grin:

doubt i'll be doing any gaming on it myself  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 19 December 2011, 08:43
Oh I only it was that simple frankers . You have soooooo much to learn  :lipsrsealed:

well apart from some tears when she couldn't do some of the stupid sh!t that she wanted to on there... like buy stuff  :rolleyes:... it all seems to be ok

she's on there at the moment and there is an odd peace and quiet in the house - it won't last!  :grin:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: JC on 19 December 2011, 10:25
No it won't  :grin:
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: justalex81 on 20 December 2011, 11:40
you do realise there's about 10 bolt on packs for sims. you've either shot yourself in the foot or solved xmas and birthday present issues for a while!
Title: Re: Graphics Cards...
Post by: Guy on 20 December 2011, 12:02
you do realise there's about 10 bolt on packs for sims. you've either shot yourself in the foot or solved xmas and birthday present issues for a while!

nothing to do with me!!  :grin:

i am steering well clear of it... she wanted it, it was bought for her by a friend of ours, i just made sure that she could run the bloody thing!


i think there are also 'purchases' that you can make online for extras... ain't my card details going on there!!  :grin: