xps videocard

[flattius_maximus]

my brother just bought a dell xps 200 desktop and wants to get a video card for it. i saw on the dell website that the slots are half-height...what does this mean? do they make half-height videocards.. or what should i do?

[glc]

He bought the wrong computer if he wants a video card. That is one of the new Micro BTX form factor computers which is designed to have everything onboard.

The only half height PCI-Express video card I can find is a Radeon X300SE, which is no better than the onboard Intel 945G graphics. Half height means it has a backplate half the height of a standard card. There is no guarantee that there will be stronger half height cards available any time soon, and the power supply probably couldn't handle one anyway.

If he wants to game, send the thing back before the 30 days are up and buy a more appropriate computer like an XPS 400 or an E510.

[flattius_maximus]

thats ironic because when my parents bought it for him they told him that dell said it was designed with gaming in mind. bummer!

[glc]

Sure - the 945G is the best Intel onboard video yet - it's still not suitable for heavy gaming.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/15/are_intel/

Thats a 7 buck graphics chip.

The XPS 400 and the B510 also have the 945G, but they have full height PCI-E slots.