What's Gonna be ok for my PC

[Rapier]

Son's PC
Dell 4550
Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.53GHz with 533MHz system bus/ 512K L2 Cache
Memory 128MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz
plus 512 crucial for 640 $70
Keyboard Dell® Quietkey® Keyboard
Monitors No monitor 17" flat crt almost price less

Video Cards 32MB ATI® Rage™ Ultra Graphics Card
Hard Drive 60GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Floppy Drive No Floppy Drive

Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Mouse Dell® 2-button scroll mouse
Network Interface Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet
Modem No Modem free modem BB
CD or DVD Drive 48x Max CD-ROM Drive

Sound Card Integrated Audio
Speakers No Speaker

Software Bundles
WordPerfect® Productivity Pack with Quicken New User
Virus Protection Norton AntiVirus™ 2002,
Digital Music Dell Jukebox powered by MusicMatch
Digital Photography Dell Picture Studio, Image Expert Standard

Son complained about the graphics for games. He never complained about them using my P3 500 256 meg with original video 53 Graphics Inc. Savage 4

Are there any tuning adjustments required for graphics in a new PC?

If I have to upgrade the video card, I don't want to go beyond my PC and waste money.
Is there a discernable difference between the 64's and 128's.

Any recommendations? One brand more reliable?

Final question. As you seeI have a sound card but no speakers. Can the 4550 Dell produce sound without connecting speakers?

Thanks

Mike

[kissfan]

That vid card is a little low specced for most of todays games (IMO).

If money is tight, look for A GeForce 440mx or it's ATI equivelant, with at least 64mb ram onboard.

Better still, search the forum and you will find definative lists of what to get AND what NOT to get.

I think that the dell will play sounds through the system speaker, but this will be extremly limited, speakers are cheap enough, you should be a able to pick up a 2.1 set of Creative or Altec Lansing for about £30.00 ($US50.00).

[TimPoet]

Yeah, good advice there from kissfan. If games are played, then that card is definitely too weak.

[glc]

Logitech Z-340's are $36 plus $10 shipping from Newegg. The Rage Ultra is not a good gaming card by today's standards, but to get a card that will work well with everything else and not fall on its face with new games will cost you $150+, something like a Radeon 9500 will be needed.

[Alienware_Dude]

I know for a fact that the Logitech Z-340s that glc suggested are terrific speakers; my father got them for his system, and I was really astounded by how well they sounded, considering the price.

[kissfan]

Just checked out those logi's live.

Super for what they are.

[Rapier]

Thanks to everyone for all their help. I think the video is the greyest area on a PC. har har

I'm wondering if I should pick up a used "64?"

My impression is that many of you upgrade your video card too often to put serious wear and tear on your so called "old video card."

Thanks again

Mike

[Xayd]

Actually I've still got an 8 meg ATI Rage Pro in my mail server.

Not that I ever had a monitor plugged into it so I have no idea how well or even if it works, but you just can't get around having to have a video card to boot the machine .

For gaming purposes, the best bang for the buck right now on the ATI side of things is the 9500 Pro.