Graphics card for WoW

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Dec 23, 2010
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Im looking to buy a new graphics card and some more memory for a computer that was given to me and I want it to be able to run WoW pretty well with better graphics. My budget is around 200 dollars.

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System Information
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Time of this report: 12/23/2010, 14:43:21
Machine name: N-40CA2B6D3EA84
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_qfe.100427-1650)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
System Model: DN120A-ABA A365C
BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/06/03 21:39:25 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 496MB RAM
Page File: 446MB used, 711MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
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DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

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DirectX Debug Levels
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Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

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Display Devices
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Card name: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2572&SUBSYS_80A51043&REV_02
Display Memory: 96.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.3889 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/20/2004 16:11:36, 37951 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/20/2004 16:26:00, 737874 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6632-11CF-C27C-AFA0A3C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2572
SubSys ID: 0x80A51043
Revision ID: 0x0002
Revision ID: 0x0002
 
First off, at least quadruple your RAM... or more. 2GB is a bare minimum these days. 512mb(496?) is just... .... yeah...

1024x768 monitor resolution is also very very tiny. A 5770 would be more than enough. A 5750 would be enough. Or from Nvidia a GTS 430/450. You don't need a beast.

I'd recommend a 5750 and a 2GB RAM upgrade (throw out the 512mb RAM)
 
Your RAM might be limited to two sticks of 512MB for a total of 1GB.

Two CPU's?? That seems odd to me.

I know that an AMD X2-4800+ can support NO MORE than an HD4770 graphics card. I'd imagine you can't support even that.

I don't know what to tell you. Honestly, I'd do one of three things with that money:
1) Put it towards a newer computer
2) buy an XBox or XBox games
3) other device like Boxee Box

WOW is quite scalable. Even 1GB of RAM and an HD3850 would be doable. However, I just don't think the CPU is that powerful not only for CPU power for the game but also to support a good enough graphics card.

If you still want to try the only card I can recommend for that system is the HD5670 1GB. I suspect you can't use all the graphics power but it's only about $110.
 
If this was my PC and i needed to do the upgrade for WoW i'd get 2x1 GB of DDR RAM for the XP operating system and the mid priced HD4650 AGP graphic card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226082

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102851

Total price about $150. It will give you no better then decent performance at 1440x900 or lower resolution with most setting at low or medium.
Make sure that the following link is your HP PC. Second link has photo and schem of motherboard.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00022505&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=376088&lang=en

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00022505&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=376088&lang=en

If it's at all possible, you'd be better off saving some more money and getting a new PC, it takes about $500 or so for a new, but decent system.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-pc-build-a-pc-overclock,2739.html

Another good link for WoW performance.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793.html
 
^ +1 to dirtmountain

That PC does indeed show an 8x AGP slot for graphics. And DDR1 is pretty slow compared to the DDR2/DDR3 used in much more modern systems. Not to mention that's an early Pentium 4 dual-core CPU (and or a single core with HT). Either way, it's going to create a bottleneck in and of itself, let alone the old DDR1 memory.

If you can afford it, a whole new budget gaming PC would absolutely blow away the current computer, even if you put a great video card in it. Any video card you put in this old PC is going to be limited performance wise because the system is so old.