Upgrading my SYSTEM...Help needed

[cast128dreams]

Hi all and thank you for viewing my message.I want to upgrade my PC.Well its an old one but i want to keep it to play some games.I want to know some things before buying.I dont want to waste my money.

Here is my system:Albatron K8T800 with a 754 socket equiped with an AMD64 2800+ running at 1,8G.This Motherboard supports AGP 8x and DDR Ram.I recently upgraded the RAM units by placing 2,256 Giga Ram.The current Video card is an ASUS A9250.Adapter Ram 128 mb and internal DAC 400Mhz.A very POOR card in nowadys.I cant play games.I tried to play TOMB RAIDER Anniversary and i got Blank screens.

Searching and asking people suggested me this Card:
[url]http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=168&grp=2 (All details and SPECS!!!!)

Ok here are the the guestions and 'Blanks' i have.
Is this Card the Best AGP card?Worth Buying?Will be able to play games like DOOM 3 at hight Details and full resorousions?

My Power Supply has 380watt.Would be enough for this graphic card?Do i need to change my Power supply in order to place this card?

If not this Graphic Card then please suggest me.Should i buy AGP cards which supports DirectX 10?Is it worth?

Thats all.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech.

The Radeon X1950Pro is a great choice for a card. But most of them recommend a beefier power supply, 450w minimum. It would be a smart idea to replace the PSU as well. Do you have a link to the unit you have now?

You should also look into more RAM. It will improve the entire computing experience, not just games. Go for 1GB at least, 2GB if you afford it.

No need for DX10, you'd have to upgrade to Vista.

You might also consider saving up for a new system. A new PSU, card and RAM would run about $300-350.

[cast128dreams]

Hi again.Thank you for your interest.I search the net but i couldnt find any techical information about my Power Suply Unit so i decided to take some photos from my Pc.

This is My power Supply Specs:
http://forum.pcmech.com/attachment.p...1&d=1191198389
http://forum.pcmech.com/attachment.p...1&d=1191198622

The only thing that i can understand is that its a MACRON POWER model that its capable for 350 watt.
Not enough for the the Ati radeon1950 pro card right?

Also as i wrote in my first Message my Motherboard is using three RAMs.Two of them are ONE(1)giga and one 256 MegaBytes.
So an Overall:2,256 Giga
Here is the Photo:http://forum.pcmech.com/attachment.p...1&d=1191199329 (words are in Greek)
Also my Motherboard cant hold more than 3 giga Ram.Buying one more RAM 1 giga taking to 3giga RAM would be right?

So what do you Suggest me?
Upgrading to Vista and Running games with Direct X 10?
Replacing a Stronger Power Supply and getting Ati radeon 1950 Pro?
Which upgrading will be Better with more Powerfull graphics?

[Alaron]

You would certainly have to upgrade your power supply to run the Radeon X1950Pro. Where are you located? (So we can look up a good unit to purchase). Take a look at this thread for some information on brands: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

I misread your post. I had thought you meant two 256meg sticks. With 2GB, you're all set with RAM.

I'd say that with a video card upgrade, you'll be much better prepared for gaming. I wouldn't worry about Vista right now.

Keep in mind however that since your video card is AGP, you wouldn't be able to carry it into a new build in the future. It's up to you if you want to spend a few hundred now for modest gains or start to save up for a whole new machine.

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by cast128dreams Hi all and thank you for viewing my message.I want to upgrade my PC.Well its an old one but i want to keep it to play some games.I want to know some things before buying.I dont want to waste my money. Here is my system:Albatron K8T800 with a 754 socket equiped with an AMD64 2800+ running at 1,8G.This Motherboard supports AGP 8x and DDR Ram.I recently upgraded the RAM units by placing 2,256 Giga Ram.The current Video card is an ASUS A9250.Adapter Ram 128 mb and internal DAC 400Mhz.A very POOR card in nowadys.I cant play games.I tried to play TOMB RAIDER Anniversary and i got Blank screens. Searching and asking people suggested me this Card: [url]http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=168&grp=2 (All details and SPECS!!!!) Ok here are the the guestions and 'Blanks' i have. Is this Card the Best AGP card?Worth Buying?Will be able to play games like DOOM 3 at hight Details and full resorousions? My Power Supply has 380watt.Would be enough for this graphic card?Do i need to change my Power supply in order to place this card? If not this Graphic Card then please suggest me.Should i buy AGP cards which supports DirectX 10?Is it worth? Thats all.

The easiest way out for a graphics upgrade is the X1950Pro, or any AGP model of 7900GT/GS.

Radeons 2600/2900XT are on the way for AGP support too, so you can grab one of them if you want.

Else, if you think you want to buy yourself more time for a better one in the meantime, try to do a system-wide upgrade - processor, board and RAM. You can try selling away old components in the auction sites and still that'll help you to acquire better system.

[cast128dreams]

Hmmmm.....
I live in Greece.I checked the online shop for Pc parts where i buy from and i found this Power Supply:
http://www.plaisio.gr/product.aspx?c...=extendedSpecs
The site is Greek but the Specs are all in English
This Power Supply is capable for 500 watt and if you read the technical infromations its writing "6 pin PCI Express power".

I have AGP.Do i have a problem with compability?

Enough for the Ati Radeon 1950 Pro?

I know that my Pc cant hold in time.Pci-express units and Dual proccessors are tommorows gaming.But since i had never played game in this computer i want to do it now.

Spending about 260 Euro and not hundrend i think would be a "WORTH" upgrade since the Ati radeon 1950 pro is one of the best AGP cards in the market.

In future i would sell my pc parts for sure.Actions sites(ebay-amazon) are my plans.

[glc]

That's a decent quality power supply and it is compatible with your system.

[cast128dreams]

Do you recomend me this power suply?

Also my motherboard is writing AGP 8X (1,5 v only)
Do you hae any idea what its that?

[Alaron]

Looks like a fine power supply.

AGP 8x is the type of slot you have for a video card. The X1950Pro comes in AGP here: http://www.plaisio.gr/product.aspx?c...8415&tab=specs That would be a good choice.