What Video Card can I get?

[Nohone]

Hi,

So I am wondering what video would be compatible with the system I have running. I bought this thing in 2008, so I'm not too sure if I'll be able to buy a really good video card.

Either way, I'd like it to be no more than $100. I'd use it to play video games at a higher setting, or to play some video games at all. Skyrim is one game I am playing at the moment, but I'd like to play Fallout:New Vegas. I'd also like to play Team Deathmatch, but for whatever reason I keep bluescreening or crashing when I play it. Ideally I'd like to play these games on at least medium setting.

Currently I am able to play Skyrim on the absolute lowest settings, and I still crash about ever 30 minutes, and I bluescreen sometimes too.

I do get a lot of bluescreens like "PDF_list_corrupt" and "Memory_management" related. I'm not sure if a video card will solve that. Perhaps I need more ram? I'm currently at 2gb.

I'd be also grateful if you could suggest what ram and how much I can use for my motherboard.

Here are my specs, as given to me by the company I bought it from (Alienware )...

I sincerely appreciate the help guys.

Processor(s)
•Processor 1◦Name: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
◦Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD
◦Caption: x64 Family 15 Model 67 Stepping 3
◦Version: Model 3, Stepping 3
◦Processor Id: 178BFBFF00040F33
◦Current Clock Speed: 3200MHz
◦Address Width: 32Bits
◦Data Width: 64Bits
◦Socket Designation: CPU 1

•Verified Hardware Device against Order: CPU-3.20AMDX26400

System Memory
•Memory Module 1◦Capacity: 0MB
◦Bank Label: DIMM #1
◦Mem_Type: DDR2
◦Mem_Frequency: 802.6 MHz

•Memory Module 2◦Capacity: 1024MB
◦Bank Label: Module format Regular UDIMM
◦Mem_Type
◦Mem_Frequency: 802.6 MHz
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: MEM-DDR21GBPC64QME

•Memory Module 3◦Capacity: 0MB
◦Bank Label: DIMM #2
◦Mem_Type: DDR2
◦Mem_Frequency: 802.6 MHz

•Memory Module 4◦Capacity: 1024MB
◦Bank Label: Module format Regular UDIMM
◦Mem_Type
◦Mem_Frequency: 802.6 MHz
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: MEM-DDR21GBPC64QME


BIOS Information
•Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
•Name: BIOS Date: 03/20/08 Ver: 08.00.14
•Version: 1002
•Version: ALWARE - 20080320

Motherboard Information
•Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
•Product: M3A32-MVP DELUXE
•Serial Number: MS1C83B15201397
•Version: Rev 1.xx
•Verified Hardware Device against Order: MB-ASUSM3A32-MVPDLX
•Verify correct motherboard
•Power settings optimized

Video Adapter
•Caption: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
•Adapter RAM: 512MB
•DriverVersion: 7.15.11.7416
•Verified Hardware Device against Order: VID-EVG9600GT512MBOC
•Connect Power Cable
•Test Video Card

Hard Drive(s)
•ST3250410AS ATA Device◦Model: ST3250410AS ATA Device
◦Size: 250GB
◦Total Heads: 255
◦Total Cylinders: 30401
◦Total Tracks: 7752255
◦Tracks Per Cylinder: 255
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: HD-SEA250GBSATA16MB
◦Verify Correct Hard Drive Size


Optical Drives / Other Storage
•HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N ATA Device

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

DirectX Version: 10

Miscellaneous
•High Definition Audio Device◦Device Name: High Definition Audio Device
◦Description: High Definition Audio Device
◦Class: MEDIA
◦Service: HdAudAddService
◦Driver Version: 6.0.6000.16386
◦Driver Date: 6-21-2006
◦Vendor Id: 11D4
◦Device Id: 198B
◦Revision: 1004
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: SND-ASUSM3A32-MVP

•HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N ATA Device◦Device Name: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N ATA Device
◦Description: CD-ROM Drive
◦Class: CDROM
◦Service: cdrom
◦Driver Version: 6.0.6001.18000
◦Driver Date: 6-21-2006
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: STR-LG20XGSAH55NDVD

•Killer NIC Gaming Adapter◦Device Name: Killer NIC Gaming Adapter
◦Description: Killer NIC Gaming Adapter
◦Class: System
◦Service: NBv834x
◦Driver Version: 3.1.3.0
◦Driver Date: 10-6-2007
◦Vendor Id: 1957
◦Device Id: 0086
◦Revision: 0011
◦IRQ Number: 21
◦Verified Hardware Device against Order: NIC-BIGFOOTKILLERRV2


Installed Device Drivers
•AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•High Definition Audio Device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6000.16386
•HID Keyboard Device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•HID-compliant mouse, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•HID-compliant device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•HID-compliant consumer control device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6000.16386
•HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N ATA Device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•ST3250410AS ATA Device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT, 2-19-2008, 7.15.11.7416
•Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller, 5-24-2007, 10.15.4.3
•Marvell 61xx Marvell RAID Controller, 6-14-2007, 1.2.0.46
•AGERE OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•ATA Channel 0, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•ATA Channel 1, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•ATA Channel 0, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•ATA Channel 1, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•Microsoft iSCSI Initiator, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000
•Generic volume shadow copy, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6000.16386
•USB Human Interface Device, 6-21-2006, 6.0.6001.18000

 

[IRONBATMAN]

Your current Geforce 9600 gt is not too bad. It would be a better idea to get more RAM and total up to 4GB , and then get a better CPU + Motherboard.

 

[Nohone]

Alrighty, I'll take your word on that.

Since we're on the subject of RAM though, I am of the impression that motherboards can only take a certain type of RAM?

What can my take? And how many gigs? If it's ok with you, can you explain your answer? That way I can at least learn a bit about hardware.

 

[shadow32]

Alrighty, I'll take your word on that.

Since we're on the subject of RAM though, I am of the impression that motherboards can only take a certain type of RAM?

What can my take? And how many gigs? If it's ok with you, can you explain your answer? That way I can at least learn a bit about hardware.

The motherboard should say what type it takes, any new CPU should be ddr3 ram.

would you like some suggestions on what to buy?

also, you won't need anything over 8GB for gaming

 

[Nohone]

Alrighty, I'll take your word on that.

Since we're on the subject of RAM though, I am of the impression that motherboards can only take a certain type of RAM?

What can my take? And how many gigs? If it's ok with you, can you explain your answer? That way I can at least learn a bit about hardware.

The motherboard should say what type it takes, any new CPU should be ddr3 ram.

would you like some suggestions on what to buy?

also, you won't need anything over 8GB for gaming

So may I assume that you also agree with IRONBATMAN on that I should get more RAM instead?

Yes sir I would like suggestions, that would be excellent. So on the motherboard itself it should tell me what type? Will it also tell me how much memory it will take?

 

[IRONBATMAN]

@Shadow32 covered the RAM part , so you can only get DDR2 RAM. Like I said , upgrade the CPU , MOBO, and RAM first.

 

[IRONBATMAN]

where do you live and what is your budget ?

 

[Nohone]

I live in Southern California, my budget is about $100. So I'd probably upgrade the CPU, MoBo, and RAM altogether then?

 

[IRONBATMAN]

I don't think that's possible if you want to get an upgrade. It's not worth to do small upgrades.

this should be your goal
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($130.96 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-HD3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($75.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($105.50 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($78.59 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $456.02
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-15 22:12 EST-0500)

you can lower the costs by buying 1 stick of 4GB RAM first , then when you have enough money in future , buy another

 

[Nohone]

Ok cool.

I'm thinking of getting the CPU, Motherboard, and RAM first. Do I need that power supply to run those three though?

 

[IRONBATMAN]

I need to know your PSU's specifications. Or at least tell me your PC model name. You should have built your own PC. It gives you more performance per value