Need Help Urgently !!!

badbob_lucylu

Here is my problem !!
My Current PC is : Dell Dimension 4500 2.26 P4 512MB RAM WinXP OS 80GB HD.
I wanted to play BF2 on it but had PNY 5200 which was not suitable and RAM was not sufficent !
So..... I ordered online an extra 512MB ( max 1gb allowed on system ) Ram for £40 stg ( Good Deal !! ) and pushed the boat out and got an ATI X800 RX 256mb PCI Express graphics card !

My problem is.... what happens if my comp dose not support PCI Express?

Im not too sure of the specs on my comp ( ie slots etc ) as im a comp NOOB but would apreciate anyones help in this matter.

I know how to install and upgrade, its just hardware issues im crap at !!

A little help please ?

Endurance Man

How long ago did you buy the pc? I may be wrong but im more sure im right - it probably doesnt have a PCI-x slot .

steveland?

Go to www.dell.ie and put in the service tag of your system.

It should be printed on the side on a sticker or something.

If you can find your way around the site it should be able to tell you the original hardware in your PC.

Check the specs for the motherboard (should tell you the model) and see if it supports PCI-Ex (it probably doesn't)

CyberGhost

Cancel your graphics card order

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_video&message.id=132329

your dell is AGP, not PCI-E

and if you want to run a powerful card, you'd probably need a powerful PSU
this guys make Dell compatible ones
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/home/

TempestSabre

I ran a ATI x800Pro(AGP) on a Dell 4600 no problem. PSU issues are way over stated, especially on Dells. But that Dell 4500 doesn't have PCI-E (PCI-X is for servers). Theres more than one type of 4500 and some of the 4500 don't have AGP either. So best to check with your tag number.

TerrorFirmer

He definately doesn't have pci-e, and he may not even have agp - you can get the 5200 in PCI....

Dell PSU's are under rated anyway, and some pci-e cards aren't even powered from the psu, but if its agp the psu of a 4500 might not be good enough to support later cards, seeing as its probably fairly old at this stage.

who wants to take odds on that having spent so much money on something he doesn't know the first thing about, the RAM is also incompatiable?

Gurgle

MobileInfantry wrote:

who wants to take odds on that having spent so much money on something he doesn't know the first thing about, the RAM is also incompatiable?

You're just being mean!
(put me down for €5 against)

Lump

Gurgle wrote:

You're just being mean!
(put me down for €5 against)

No, he's being honest.

John

CyberGhost

man that'll sucks

....I'm in for a fiver


Anyways, Bob, with 2.26ghz processor, your graphics card will be held back in many games,

you really have to ask yourself is it worth buy all this new parts? would it not be better to sell this computer add a little and build a new decent one? or order one from Dell if you don't want to build?

TempestSabre

CyberGhost wrote:

....Anyways, Bob, with 2.26ghz processor, your graphics card will be held back in many games....

Most games these day simply need a good gfx card. I can play most things with a €50 9700Pro. Not at max hiRes or detail, but 1280x1024. Just finished HL2 and when I used to have x800pro AGP I played BF2 no problem aswell. Sure its looks nicer with a better machine but not everyone has the funds to buy a new machine. 2nd hand gear is worth nothing.

jor el

badbob_lucylu wrote:

So..... I ordered online an extra 512MB ( max 1gb allowed on system ) Ram for £40 stg ( Good Deal !! ) and pushed the boat out and got an ATI X800 RX 256mb PCI Express graphics card !

If the supplier has already posted the card then you may be able to return it. If they haven't posted it then cancel the order immediatly as it appears your board doesn't have a PCI-E slot.

You should also check the RAM and make sure it's compatable. £40 for 512MB isn't that great a deal, you can get 512MB from komplett for €50 now, though it depends of the type of RAM and manufacturer. Also check that if your current memory is in 2x256M DIMMs that you have a third slot available. If it's only two slots and they're both full then you'll loose 256M in your upgrade.