I'm sure there's already 1000 topics on this, but the search function isn't working for me and I'm getting a headache going through all of the threads...
I am wanting to upgrade my computer so that I can play some higher-end games, most likely BF2 because it is now $19.99. I also wouldn't mind playing F.E.A.R. and any other FPS that are already out. I currently play some CS:S and mostly Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, and both run fine. I get about 70-90 FPS on both.
My specs (this is from memory, I'm at work): Dell (3 years old) with 2.8 GHz P4 (HT with 800 MHz front side bus), 512 MB DDR RAM (I believe it runs at 333 MHz, could be wrong), and an nVidia GeForce4 MX 64 MB AGP video card... I think that's most of the relevant specs. I have one PCI slot open, as well as my AGP slot if I replace my card. I figure I would have to get a higher-end video card for sure, possibly add some more RAM (it wouldn't hurt to have 1GB anyways). I figured I would start by spending around $100 on a new vid card, and if I need to add RAM I will add it. I would like some suggestions for an AGP graphics card ($100, maybe as high as $130 but that'd be a stretch) that will hold me over for the next year or so (mainly I want to catch up to games that are currently on the shelves, hopefully get a new comp after a year or so). Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Edit: Oh yeah, I am running it to a 17" Dell CRT monitor, but I'm hoping to upgrade to a 19" widescreen or a 22" widescreen here by XMas... I don't know if that makes a difference?
I am wanting to upgrade my computer so that I can play some higher-end games, most likely BF2 because it is now $19.99. I also wouldn't mind playing F.E.A.R. and any other FPS that are already out. I currently play some CS:S and mostly Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, and both run fine. I get about 70-90 FPS on both.
My specs (this is from memory, I'm at work): Dell (3 years old) with 2.8 GHz P4 (HT with 800 MHz front side bus), 512 MB DDR RAM (I believe it runs at 333 MHz, could be wrong), and an nVidia GeForce4 MX 64 MB AGP video card... I think that's most of the relevant specs. I have one PCI slot open, as well as my AGP slot if I replace my card. I figure I would have to get a higher-end video card for sure, possibly add some more RAM (it wouldn't hurt to have 1GB anyways). I figured I would start by spending around $100 on a new vid card, and if I need to add RAM I will add it. I would like some suggestions for an AGP graphics card ($100, maybe as high as $130 but that'd be a stretch) that will hold me over for the next year or so (mainly I want to catch up to games that are currently on the shelves, hopefully get a new comp after a year or so). Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Edit: Oh yeah, I am running it to a 17" Dell CRT monitor, but I'm hoping to upgrade to a 19" widescreen or a 22" widescreen here by XMas... I don't know if that makes a difference?