Hi,
I need some help choosing a Video Card for my old PC. It's an HP d1000y (all specs
listed below), that I ordered from Comp. in early 2005. I had always meant to upgrade the Video card, but never could get to it till now. When I went into the market I was hit with so many different kinds of cards, I am lost. And to complicate things, it appears that all the card connections (buses, ports?) have been changed. Most everything now is something called "PCI-E", and I am not sure what I have. I think my old video card is connected to an AGP port, and the rest are PCI's after comparing pics on the web.
I'm fairly good at using a computer, but pretty much an illiterate when it comes to the tech side and how they work. Anyway, I have linked to some pics of the inside of my PC if it could be of any help:
1. The inside:
a) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/3174435475_3cd0b61e96_b.jpg
b) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/3174433217_b03663450f_b.jpg
c) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3174432421_0808b3bfe4_b.jpg
2. The back:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3174432669_819e515453_b.jpg
3. Close up of where the port where the video card is connected. AGP?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/3174433603_d4fd88d069_b.jpg
4. Close up of the other type of ports in the machine:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3175269442_c6d6b1a095_b.jpg
5. Close up of the power box:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/3174434791_3dee04f30d_b.jpg
I am looking to upgrade so that I can run high end photo editing graphics software like
Adobe Photoshop Extended CS4 / Flash, a 26-28 inch flat screen monitor, and also play
high end games like COD4, Half Life 2, World In Conflict, Crysis.
If my video port is AGP, I found the following card that reviewers seem to like, but I don't
know if it's compatible or enough power for my needs. In the description it says that it is a 'GDDR3 memory interface' and in my Specs it says I have a '3 GB DDR2-400 RAM / PC2
3200 (2 DIMM)' if that means anything:
ATI Radeon X1600 Pro 512 MB AGP
http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-X1600-Pro-512/dp/B000E5VQOU/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UT
F8&coliid=I3EK86F6P7RP0X&colid=3PS5P3QJJJMY3
Also my power out put is 400w, I think. Is this enough, or should I upgrade that also. If so,
what would be a good choice?
Looking through this site, you guys know your stuff, so any help would be greatly
appreciated, and I thank you very much in advance.
System OS = Windows XP Pro SP3
System Make = HP Pavilion 061
System Model = PU031AV-ABA D1000Y
Purchase Date = 2, 2005
Main Board Make = ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Main Board Model = Puffer2
Main Board Version = 1.xx
Main Board BIOS = American Megatrends Inc. BIOS Date: 01/23/06 20:09:06 Ver:
08.00.10 A M I - 1000623 20060123
Processor Description = Intel Pentium 4 w/ HT Technology, 3.4 GHz
Number of Processors = 1
Processor Clock Speed = 3400 Mhz
Performance = 320 GB RAID 0 (2 x 160GB SATA HDDs)
Graphics Description = 256MB ATI RADEON X600PRO w/TV-Out & DVI
Memory Installed = 3072 MBs
3 GB DDR2-400 RAM / PC2 3200 (2 DIMM)
Memory Slots = 4 slots
Memory Configuration = 512+1024+512+1024;DIMM Synchronous
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Drive Name (C) = HP_PAVILION
Drive Size (C) = 298983 MBs
Drive Format (C) = NTFS
Drive Name (D) = HP_RECOVERY
Drive Size (D) = 6169 MBs
Drive Format (D) = FAT32
DVD-RW Model = HP DVD Writer 640b
DVD-RW Read Speed = 7056 KB/sec (40X)
DVD-RW Write Speed = 7056 KB/sec (40X)
DISPLAY = ATI Technologies Inc. RADEON X600/X550 Series
DISPLAY = ATI Technologies Inc. RADEON X600/X550 Series Secondary
I need some help choosing a Video Card for my old PC. It's an HP d1000y (all specs
listed below), that I ordered from Comp. in early 2005. I had always meant to upgrade the Video card, but never could get to it till now. When I went into the market I was hit with so many different kinds of cards, I am lost. And to complicate things, it appears that all the card connections (buses, ports?) have been changed. Most everything now is something called "PCI-E", and I am not sure what I have. I think my old video card is connected to an AGP port, and the rest are PCI's after comparing pics on the web.
I'm fairly good at using a computer, but pretty much an illiterate when it comes to the tech side and how they work. Anyway, I have linked to some pics of the inside of my PC if it could be of any help:
1. The inside:
a) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/3174435475_3cd0b61e96_b.jpg
b) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/3174433217_b03663450f_b.jpg
c) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3174432421_0808b3bfe4_b.jpg
2. The back:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3174432669_819e515453_b.jpg
3. Close up of where the port where the video card is connected. AGP?
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/3174433603_d4fd88d069_b.jpg
4. Close up of the other type of ports in the machine:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3175269442_c6d6b1a095_b.jpg
5. Close up of the power box:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/3174434791_3dee04f30d_b.jpg
I am looking to upgrade so that I can run high end photo editing graphics software like
Adobe Photoshop Extended CS4 / Flash, a 26-28 inch flat screen monitor, and also play
high end games like COD4, Half Life 2, World In Conflict, Crysis.
If my video port is AGP, I found the following card that reviewers seem to like, but I don't
know if it's compatible or enough power for my needs. In the description it says that it is a 'GDDR3 memory interface' and in my Specs it says I have a '3 GB DDR2-400 RAM / PC2
3200 (2 DIMM)' if that means anything:
ATI Radeon X1600 Pro 512 MB AGP
http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-X1600-Pro-512/dp/B000E5VQOU/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UT
F8&coliid=I3EK86F6P7RP0X&colid=3PS5P3QJJJMY3
Also my power out put is 400w, I think. Is this enough, or should I upgrade that also. If so,
what would be a good choice?
Looking through this site, you guys know your stuff, so any help would be greatly
appreciated, and I thank you very much in advance.
System OS = Windows XP Pro SP3
System Make = HP Pavilion 061
System Model = PU031AV-ABA D1000Y
Purchase Date = 2, 2005
Main Board Make = ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Main Board Model = Puffer2
Main Board Version = 1.xx
Main Board BIOS = American Megatrends Inc. BIOS Date: 01/23/06 20:09:06 Ver:
08.00.10 A M I - 1000623 20060123
Processor Description = Intel Pentium 4 w/ HT Technology, 3.4 GHz
Number of Processors = 1
Processor Clock Speed = 3400 Mhz
Performance = 320 GB RAID 0 (2 x 160GB SATA HDDs)
Graphics Description = 256MB ATI RADEON X600PRO w/TV-Out & DVI
Memory Installed = 3072 MBs
3 GB DDR2-400 RAM / PC2 3200 (2 DIMM)
Memory Slots = 4 slots
Memory Configuration = 512+1024+512+1024;DIMM Synchronous
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Drive Name (C) = HP_PAVILION
Drive Size (C) = 298983 MBs
Drive Format (C) = NTFS
Drive Name (D) = HP_RECOVERY
Drive Size (D) = 6169 MBs
Drive Format (D) = FAT32
DVD-RW Model = HP DVD Writer 640b
DVD-RW Read Speed = 7056 KB/sec (40X)
DVD-RW Write Speed = 7056 KB/sec (40X)
DISPLAY = ATI Technologies Inc. RADEON X600/X550 Series
DISPLAY = ATI Technologies Inc. RADEON X600/X550 Series Secondary