upgrade

[noman]

Want to upgrade my graphics card but dont know if machine will handle it. I have all detail turned off in game and getting anywhere from 18-35 fps depending on whats going on.
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System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/1/2009, 21:37:57
       Machine name: Mike
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.               
       System Model: Dimension 8400               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2814MB RAM
          Page File: 1082MB used, 3107MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: Radeon X1300 Series
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x7146)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7146&SUBSYS_19001545&REV_00
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6599 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 1/24/2006 22:52:48, 255488 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 1/24/2006 22:52:30, 1478656 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-3206-11CF-326F-0A39A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x7146
        SubSys ID: 0x19001545
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[Scratchman]

Unfortunately Dell sells/installs proprietary parts, so any upgrades will most likely have to come through them. Your best bet is to call them and find out how much you can upgrade your system.

[Chalenge]

You can upgrade to faster  video cards unfortunately because the system depends so much on proprietary design you may have to stick to a dell power supply and your power supply (PSU) will most likely have to be upgraded to handle any upgraded video card you move into.

Your system can easily handle a GeForce 7950 (Im more familiar with the GeForce line and in my opinion they are better suited for flight simulations) but most likely you will have trouble finding anything that old. More likely you will find an 8800 or 9800 card which will still work on your video slot but will require more power from the PSU. Anything more than a 7950 will be bottlenecked by your processor but your system is five years old now (give or take) and eventually you will have to buy something newer and why buy an older video card when (a) 8800s and 9800s are cheap now and (b) any new computer you buy will be way beyond the 7950 already.

I have a 7950 system (SLI) and moved away from it two years ago because it was losing the ability to run AH at 60fps even before this latest update. If I was updating it today (from older 6800s) I would purchase 8800s and plan on moving into another PC (motherboard CPU and RAM) sometime in the next six months or so. But remember you will probably have to buy the video card and a PSU also.

[Denholm]

You could probably install a 8600, 8700, 9600, or even a 9700 from NVIDIA after upgrading the PSU. PC P&C makes a Dell Upgrade PSU which should fit the case. The only problem is finding room for the wires.

[Fulmar]

Edit Later...

[Chalenge]

He has an AGP slot.

Are you sure? Everything I found indicated PCIe?!?

[Fulmar]

Are you sure? Everything I found indicated PCIe?!?

You're right.  I'm wrong.

[Anodizer]

Unfortunately Dell sells/installs proprietary parts, so any upgrades will most likely have to come through them. Your best bet is to call them and find out how much you can upgrade your system.

 

What?  Hardly anything from Dell is proprietary anymore..  You can put a standard P4 power supply in any P4 Dell..  A small case modification may be necessary, but that's about it..
Otherwise, everything else is just like any other PC..  Dell hasn't made anything proprietary in the ATX flavor for a long time..  Their SlimeLine models are something else, though..

[Anodizer]

You could probably install a 8600, 8700, 9600, or even a 9700 from NVIDIA after upgrading the PSU. PC P&C makes a Dell Upgrade PSU which should fit the case. The only problem is finding room for the wires.

8700 and 9700 series cards are for laptops and notebooks only.. 

[Anodizer]

Let NO ONE tell you that you cannot upgrade that system..  You're a prime candidate for an upgrade..  I think it's socket 775, so you CAN upgrade the processor..  You also DO IN FACT have PCI/e, so video card is absolutely upgradable as well..  Even if you had AGP, you would still upgrade..  Your power supply may be a little skimpy though..  I would assume it's probably a 350 watt..  Maybe 400..  Not sure..  Anyway for you to look?  Your Dell will not require a proprietary power supply..  You may have to do a little case modification because the hole for the power plug on the case may not match were it is on the power supply.. Otherwise, they are wired exactly like standard power supplies..  For your video card: depends on what you want to spend, really.. 

[Chalenge]

I believe noman is a machinist and can work out the case mods. 

[Anodizer]

I believe noman is a machinist and can work out the case mods. 

Never implied otherwise..  It would be advisable to remove the motherboard out of the case unless you can somehow insulate the motherboard from any metal shavings..
I took a chance and had someone hold a vacuum cleaner hose as close as possible to where I was cutting with my Dremel and luckily everything was ok..
I know guys who've tried case mods and smoked systems because they didn't take any preventative measures to try and keep the metal filings off the motherboard..

[noman]

I have already upgraded the vidoe card once but that was 4 years ago and just bought a card that was in my price range. Looked at the old card but cant find what it is. As far as a motheboard and psu. I dont have any clue about what to even start looking at. I will check out dell's website and see what i can find. I did install the other card when i bought it and it seemed to have plenty of room it has the on-board fan which the first did not have and there was plenty of room. The video card i put in is a pci-express and i do have an agp slot as well. Thanks for the help guys.

[TilDeath]

PC Power and Cooling makes "Dell" replacement and upgraded PSU's check there first to see what is available then you have your options of what limits on the graphics card you can use.  Check my site before a purchase I may be less or have rebates available.

TD

[noman]

Seeing as how the economy is in the tank . Going on the low end will the pc power silencer 500w dell psu help me at all Tildeath? And if so will i have to modify the case to get it to fit? And is it something a know nothing about computers can do? I did try to find what the power supply is but evidently don't know where to look. Thanks for the help