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Because my boyfriend is finding it harder to resist buying a Mac computer that he can't afford, we decided to spruce up his desktop so he doesn't feel such a strong need to replace it.
We've cleaned all the dust out of the interior and picked out new memory cards (2x1GB) which he'll getting next week after he gets paid.
We also want to get a new video card so he can play some games. Guitar Hero, Lego Star Wars, and maybe a few others.
He needs a card for a PCI-slot but since I have a laptop, upgrading hasn't been anything I've bothered with. So I have no idea where to begin. I don't know what the most reliable brands are or what other compatibility issues we should be looking at. He doesn't need the most expensive card. Preferably something mid-level that won't be obsolete next year.
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How old is his computer? Guitar Hero for the PC requires surprisingly sophisticated hardware.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
If it's regular PCI, a mid-range card isn't actually possible. The only cards available for a PCI slot anymore are 4-5 year old technology.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I read online that getting a new motherboard is an option but that its near impossible to fit one in the case we already have? I don't think we want to get too complicated.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Yes. Chuck it out the window. It's old enough that the only things you'd be able to reuse -- floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, etc. -- are either no longer useful or have themselves been improved immeasurably.
I'd actually consider an XBox360.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I would be careful and take a very good look at the power connector from the PSU to the motherboard. I'm not 100% sure, but sometimes these pre-built machines use non-standard power connectors which may prevent you from installing a new standard motherboard.
Another problem that may come up is that the PSU unit that comes with that case is only 250W. That may prevent you from being able to support a modern video card anyways.
So .... it may be worth just getting a new case and PSU combination if you're getting a new motherboard... which pretty much means a new computer.
At this juncture, I would suggest actually just getting a Wii or an X-Box 360. Those will play the two games that you want with a lot less hassle.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
What are the rest of the specs on the machine? If it's that old and obsolete, then 2 GB of RAM will probably be a waste.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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