Upgrading my computer what do I need?

[Postman]

OK, I have a basic Dell Dimension 1100 Desktop with XP under a fresh reboot(only have AH and Sim City 4 installed). I'm looking at upgrading it so I get better Frame Rates(right now between 3-20 depending on area of battle). In game my "display info" says i have visual memory of 64.xx MB and am using anywhere between 30-55 of it depending on if I'm near the battle or some wheres else. I have another computer that I believe the video cards are good in(HD or MB died) and was wondering if I could just plug those in an use them or is there something else I need to do? I'm computer savvy but when it comes to hardware and what not I'm not so good.

[ebfd11]

Wow Looking at the tech spec's of your system I am surprised you can get on AH

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim1100/en/SM/specs.htm#wp1076752

Best thing to do is post a dxdiag here and we can help you out as to what you may need.

LawnDart

[Postman]

Would you need the whole thing or just parts of it Ebfd11? Oh and its dimension 2400 not 1100, sorry

[The Fugitive]

The first third of the Dxdiag, up to and including the <Sound devices> is best

[The Fugitive]

Looking at the specs http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm I'd say it's a pretty weak machine with not a lot of room to upgrade.

What settings are you using in the game, texture size, eye candy and so on.

[Postman]

Yeah, its a pretty weak machine, but you have to start some wheres right? Right now the basic minimum, When I'm in a large battle I lag pretty bag just from the graphics aspect. I have a friend who has a NVidia card he might let me have since he owes me some money. But anyways here's the DXdiag

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/9/2011, 22:55:30
       Machine name: G-D79FFD267A7C4
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
       System Model: Dimension 2400               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
          Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz
             Memory: 510MB RAM
          Page File: 253MB used, 995MB 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.
          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: Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
     Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
        Chip type: Intel(R) 82845G Graphics Controller
         DAC type: Internal
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2562&SUBSYS_01601028&REV_01
   Display Memory: 64.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4342 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/19/2005 08:59:12, 38016 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/19/2005 08:59:12, 807998 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6622-11CF-6E63-6A21A0C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x8086
        Device ID: 0x2562
        SubSys ID: 0x01601028
      Revision ID: 0x0001
      Revision ID: 0x0001
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_01601028&REV_01
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: smwdm.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.7000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/22/2005 11:08:40, 260224 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Analog Devices
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

[The Fugitive]

Ya, it is weak. The problem is you have to bump up almost everything to get the help you need, and if you go maxed out on everything on your computer it STILL would be a weak computer.

Your power supply is 200-250 watts. average today is 450-500, new ones are in the 700 watt range.

You have 510 MB of ram, the max your computer can take is 2 gig, the average in most is 4 gig these days.

You have onboard Intel video, I can't find anything to say which type of interface your Dell has but my guess would be an AGP if any. That old tech and most video cards are PCI express today.

The money you would throw at that computer to make it "marginal" would be more than half the money you need to get a "good" computer strait up. With Xmas around the corner their will be plenty of good deals around....if you have the money. If not, the best you could do would be to drop everything down to minimum in the game and make sure you have nothing else running on your computer. With XP you should be able to get the "processes" running down into the teens (cntrl,alt,delete, click on processes tab check number in lower left corner of window. Smaller is better)

[Bizman]

There's two bad bottlenecks in your computer: Only 510Mb of RAM and the Intel integrated video card. RAM can be added up to 2 gigs, but the video card isn't intended for gaming at all. The specs on Dell documentation only say it has 3 PCI expansion slots, not mentioning any PCI express or even AGP slots. In that case finding any video card would be very difficult. If you look inside the machine, is there a line of solder spots to show the place where a graphic card slot should be? If so, then any money invested for your computer gaming wise would be a waste.

[Debrody]

Postman,
you wont be able to upgrade that computer. That was weak, even back in 2005.
Also the platform (socket 478) is way outdated.
-DDR1 ram became very rare since it isnt in production for like 5 years.
-Pentium4 CPUs are dirt cheap, but no newer cpu can fit in your motherboard.
-AGP video cards arent in production for 5 years.
-also you need a decent PSU badly
The best you can do is to buy a new one. From 700-750 you can get a very decent, upgradable machine.
<S>

[Bizman]

Just began to wonder, what specs the other, broken computer has. If they are about the same age, you might be able to give the Dell some extra RAM, making it at least a better typewriter. Or, if the other one were more capable for running AH, fixing it would help you even more.

But if you are willing to spend several hundreds, Debrody's suggestion is the best.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Yeah, its a pretty weak machine, but you have to start some wheres right?

That's the spirit. Now start by dumping that computer to your wife / kid / dumpster and get a new one.  For a few hundred bucks you'll get a box that will wipe the floor with that Dell. As others mentioned already, your computer has no upgrade path - it's a lost cause.

[Tigger29]

Any money you put into that system will be a waste.  Might as well be flushing money down the toilet.

Instead start saving for a new system.  You can save a lot of money building one yourself.  If you can use a screwdriver you can build a computer.  The hardest part is selecting the components and we can definitely help you with that.

You can also save a little money by reusing some parts from your current computer.  The CDROM/DVD drive and hard drive can be reused if need be and that can save you $80 or so.  You can also reuse your peripherals - keyboard/mouse/monitor/etc.

Give us a budget and we'll help you out with getting the most bang for your buck!

[Postman]

Ok thanks guys, I'll take suggestions. I have Best Buy near by that usually keeps a pretty good stock pile of computers, and also have a Wally World close as well that I could "Site to Store". My budget will be pretty much anything $500-1K

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Ok thanks guys, I'll take suggestions. I have Best Buy near by that usually keeps a pretty good stock pile of computers, and also have a Wally World close as well that I could "Site to Store". My budget will be pretty much anything $500-1K

For around 800 bucks you should be able to home build a decent AH computer. So you should be good.

Basically you need to slap an el-cheapo AMD motherboard, some el-cheapo (but rated to work on the motherboard, check compatability chart from mobo homepage) ram, mainstream level AMD CPU and a graphics card starting from 100 bucks upwards, check pointers from http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3085-3.html and a 500-600W power supply. Reuse hard drive, keyboard, monitor etc. from the old computer unless someone wants to continue using it.

In fact you might be able to push it even below 800 if you play only AH2 mainly. Whatever you do, do _not_ plunge to any ready made brand boxes you will find at the stores. If you're afraid of building yourself, ask a friend that has experience (I hope you have someone).

[ebfd11]

Instead of buying a pre-built computer might I suggest this one it is in your budget and fully upgradeable. Plus you will have fun knowing you built it yourself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.770953&cm_sp=DIY_PC_Combos-_-770953-_-Combo

Then you can recycle you mouse keyboard and monitor to this and save a little. If you have any problems someone can help you out here.

LawnDart