The Energon Pub

Okay so my computer is around 3 years old now. A Dell Dimension 3100.

I know for a fact that it has an integrated graphics card which, to my understanding, can't be replaced.

I didn't realise, however, that you can get PCI graphics cards, for which I believe I have one spare slot. I'm wondering though, if I've heard from so many places that with an integrated graphics card, you have no chance of upgrading, does that mean that this procedure might not work?

What I'm basically asking, and it's probably actually a silly question: If I have an integrated graphics card, can I ignore it and slip a PCI graphics card in there and use that instead?

If yes, can anyone recommend a good, cheap card?

Please specify any specifications you need to be specific about your specific answer on this specific query as I don't know what "What are you specs?" is specifically asking for. If you specifically need them.

PS: I have very little idea what I'm talking about so some nice, dumbed down language would be lovely.

Thanks!

If it's only 3 years old it should have an AGP slot on it or possibly even a PCI-Express slot. Any chance you could take a picture of the motherboard?

And integrated graphics can be switched off in the BIOS. Your motherboard will either do it automatically or you can change the setting manually.

According to Dells, gude on the Dimension 3100 it has 2 PCI slots
and one PCI-E slot that can be used, but no AGP slot.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/s ... #wp1079933


PCI and PCI-E are two different things and should not be confused.

What you are after is a PCI-E (PCI Express) video card.

As for cards, if you are not a heavy gamer ( and I don't think you are), any one of these should work for you:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161253
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130378
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814145162
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814134060

However if you want to play the latest greatest of games you may find that these cheaper alternatives aren't quite up to par for running the newest games.

This is the thing. I have a fair idea what a PCI slot is, I've used them before, I definitely have two of those.

I've HEARD that the Dimension 3100 has a PCI-E slot, but I poked about inside earlier and saw virtually no other slots besides the two above. I can take a photo at some point and show you.

A PCI-E is a sort of, flatter, black strip with three strips for the pins, right? Two small strips and one long one in the middle? I couldn't find one of those anywhere in there.

That said, I was looking instead at some PCI slot cards.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0275969873

I'll have a go at taking a photo of the internals for yuz.

Two pictures there. The second is just 90 Degrees to the right.

As you can see, one spare PCI slot to the bottom/bottom left and, unless my eyes need checking, no PCI-E.

Sorry, my mistake I was not paying attention. You have a PCI-E x1 slot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PCIExpress.jpg
The third one from the top. Though yours may have a different color.

EDIT: The tiny brown slot on top of the regular PCI slots is your PCI-E x1 slot.

And while there are video cards for those types of slots they aren't as common.

Here are a few again from Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... rder=PRICE

Wow, that is reallllly sad. Dell is insanely behind the times then. Not that I'm too surprised. Using a mother board with neither the standard from 8 years ago nor the new standard from the last 3 is just lazy and cheap on their part.

I've seen a lot of computer like that. It keeps costs down so they can offer all those $300 and $400 specials you see. "You get what you pay for" I guess.....

****, I can build one for $400 and have it be a quite usable system that includes all the needed new technology.

Ah, I feel so inadequate.

If I had the money, I'd ditch it in a heartbeat.

But I don't.

So I think I'm just gonna grab me a PCI graphics card if someone doesn't decide to fork out the necessary cashes for Christmas.

I would give some thought to what you plan on doing with the computer before upgrading with a pci card.

Currently, I have that pny 6200 installed in one of mine. It serves its purpose as far as playing older games, watching videos, etc. However if you want to do any serious gaming...avoid pci. It's really beginning to show its age(that's actually being very generous-its age was marked years ago). I only picked it up because my card prior to it died and i needed that computer to live long enough for me to build a new one.

As muffin said, you can build a good system for under 500...and I recommend going that route, even if it requires saving up by not upgrading now.

TheMuffin wrote:****, I can build one for $400 and have it be a quite usable system that includes all the needed new technology.

As can I. But can you put a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and warranty with it and then ship it to a store to wait on a shelf for awhile before someone buys it?

But you're definately right (as is Gutter): with a little know-how you can definitely build a respectable system cheap. Especially when you can re-use some of the components or peripherals. Watching for rebates/sales on places like http://www.newegg.com and http://www.pricewatch.com is especially helpful....

Scatterlung,
It would help if we knew why you were upgrading as well. That way we know what benchmark you are shooting for. Or do you just want a 'generic' upgrade so the system performs better while your on the web, word processing, etc? If you're willing to do a little reading around the web I'm sure those of us on the site would be glad to talk you through part swaps and other things.

Iron Prime wrote:Scatterlung,
It would help if we knew why you were upgrading as well. That way we know what benchmark you are shooting for. Or do you just want a 'generic' upgrade so the system performs better while your on the web, word processing, etc? If you're willing to do a little reading around the web I'm sure those of us on the site would be glad to talk you through part swaps and other things.

Hmm. My experience is that I'll often be doing all sorts of things.

I'm probably definitely grabbing the Sims 3 when that comes out in Februrary which as odd specs. I'd love to do 3D modelling perhaps. Along with animating. Video editting in Sony Vegas. Painting in Corel Painter, Photoshop.

I think all that is pretty graphics-card-intensive.

I'm no pro with video editing or photoshop (though I do "dabble" a bit with photoshop). But my understanding is that those types of things are resource intensive in general. Video/graphics cards are more for games,etc - while photoshop require more processing power. So you'll be wanting lots more RAM and maybe more hardrive space if you're really serious about video/photo editing. If you just want to play/dabble like I do you can get by with much less.

What I've seen for speculation on the Sims 3 specs isn't too bad - so a graphics card and some RAM may be all you need....


If you can wait and save a little you'll probably be better off building a new system and just reusing your monitor, speakers, mouse, etc... I'm sure TheMuffin will have more intelligent things to add, but my nice vague comments will hopefully tide you over till he has time to respond...

Eh, you covered it well enough. I'm always available though if you or anyone needs some advice on components or just want to throw an idea you have my way.

Iron Prime wrote:I'm sure TheMuffin will have more intelligent things to add, but my nice vague comments will hopefully tide you over till he has time to respond...

It's christmas. Anything can happen

Anyway yeah, cheers for the tip.

I do like to get quite intensive with video editting and such, that's always been my main obsession anyway (until this computer stopped uploading to YouTube for no reason).

And yeah, looking at the Sims specs I wasn't sure if I'd have to wait for a new PC before buying it or if I could get away with running it on here (still not sure). The point I'm not sure if it'd run is when it comes to processor. Most things, you can tell if they meet a requirement by some numerical value (I have 2GB ram, Sims needs 128MB. Woot.) but when it comes to processor, it seems to involve knowing what these things are. So yeah. Intel Celeron, I'm assuming, doesn't match up to Pentium 4 which the Sims requires, no?

And yeah, I'd already scoured Dell (as if I hadn't learned) for just a tower with all the essentials (no peripherals) and still managed to run into about £400-500.

Celerons are the budget version of Pentiums. It might still work, but at a very limited frames per second. Also, what is your processor speed? If you right click My Computer and go to properties, it'll tell you in the window that pops up.

TheMuffin wrote:Celerons are the budget version of Pentiums. It might still work, but at a very limited frames per second. Also, what is your processor speed? If you right click My Computer and go to properties, it'll tell you in the window that pops up.

I believe it's 2.66GHz

Not too shabby. It's faster than mine..... Well, one of my cores.... Of which there are four.

I think we're gonna have to build up a system for you bud. Even with shipping it all to merry ole England, it's probably cheaper than getting a Dell.

TheMuffin wrote:Not too shabby. It's faster than mine..... Well, one of my cores.... Of which there are four.

I think we're gonna have to build up a system for you bud. Even with shipping it all to merry ole England, it's probably cheaper than getting a Dell.

I've not actually used any other sites than Dell.

Point me in the right direction.

Scatterlung wrote:I've not actually used any other sites than Dell.

Point me in the right direction.

*points at TheMuffin*

Iron Prime wrote:

Scatterlung wrote:I've not actually used any other sites than Dell.

Point me in the right direction.

*points at TheMuffin*

*goes to TheMuffin*

Computer plz

I would have said newegg.com but they don't ship internationally. Hmm. Might have to go through TigerDirect.com

You'll have to contact them first though at 800-800-8300

Or you could have someone in the US create an order and then have them ship it from their house to you. Though you'd have to pay for both shipping. I don't know of any places in the UK that deal in computer parts that are reliable.

Not to mention that you guys use a different outlet and voltage standard than the US right? So I'm not even sure things are compatible.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN A PLACE I DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY WISE!?

TheMuffin wrote:I would have said newegg.com but they don't ship internationally. Hmm. Might have to go through TigerDirect.com

You'll have to contact them first though at 800-800-8300

Or you could have someone in the US create an order and then have them ship it from their house to you. Though you'd have to pay for both shipping. I don't know of any places in the UK that deal in computer parts that are reliable.

Not to mention that you guys use a different outlet and voltage standard than the US right? So I'm not even sure things are compatible.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN A PLACE I DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY WISE!?

Haha, yeah, its true, things are very different.

Besides, I don't have money anyway.

But how about you guys recommend me some parts, some figures they should have, and ill be sure to look out for em whenever i get round to actually buying something up?

What kind of graphics card? what kind of processor? etc etc