I am looking to upgrade my video card. The PC repair guy I went to is telling me that my system only supports a PCI Video Card. When I seen the Intel Express it made me wonder if I can support a PCI-Express video card instead of just a plain PCI. Could someone help me out with understanding which my system can deal with. I really don't want to find out later down the line that the pc repair guy is wrong and I can get something a little stronger then a 256MB video card without having to purchase a newer pc. Any help would be appreciated.



OS Information:
Property Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 3065
Description x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label BANK0
Capacity 268435456

Bank Label BANK2
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 503MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model ST3200822AS
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 200046551040 (~186 GB)
Number of Partitions 2

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model ST3320820A
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 320070320640 (~298 GB)
Number of Partitions 1

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB CF Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB MS Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB SD Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB SM Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Fax
Port Name SHRFAX:
Default True
Driver Name Microsoft Shared Fax Driver


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product Goldfish3
Serial Number X312345678
Version 1.xx


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name BIOS Date: 02/16/05 16:07:13 Ver: 08.00.10
Release Date 20050216000000.000000+000
Version A M I - 2000516


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 600
Screen Width 800


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description HP PS2 Keyboard (2K - 3)


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer (Standard system devices)
Name USB Human Interface Device

Manufacturer Microsoft
Name Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer Realtek
Description Realtek High Definition Audio
Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0880&SUBSYS_08800000& REV_0905\4&48A8F12&0&0001


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility Intel Corporation
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Installed Display Drivers ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.3943
Driver Date 11/2/2004 4:27:20 PM
Video Mode Description 800 x 600 x 65536 colors


DirectX Installation:
Property Value


Modem:
Property Value
Model Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem
Name Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem


Network Adapters:
Property Value
Description Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description 1394 Net Adapter

External Ports:
Property Value
External Reference Designator PS2Mouse
External Reference Designator Keyboard
External Reference Designator USB1
External Reference Designator USB2
External Reference Designator USB3
External Reference Designator USB4
External Reference Designator USB5
External Reference Designator USB6
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator

Expansion Slots:
Property Value
Slot Designation PCIEX16
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3/PCIEX1

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That scan does show a PCI_E X16 slot but it is also very strangely configured.

Please download CPU_Z and post back what is listed under Mainboard > Manufacturer & Model

An HP/Compaq "Goldfish" indeed shows only PCI slots. Not even AGP.

But anyway post back the CPU_Z result.

ok I hope this helps out and gives a better idea



CPU-Z 1.43 report file

Processor(s)

Number of processors 1
Number of cores 1 per processor
Number of threads 1 per processor
Name Intel Pentium 4 519
Code Name Prescott
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz
Package Socket 775 LGA
Family/Model/Stepping F.4.1
Extended Family/Model F.4
Core Stepping E0
Technology 90 nm
Core Speed 3065.5 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed 23.0 x 133.3 MHz
Rated Bus speed 533.1 MHz
Stock frequency 3066 MHz
Instruction sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
L1 Data cache (per processor) 16 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache (per processor) 12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache (per processor) 1024 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge Intel i915P/i915G rev. B1
Southbridge Intel 82801FB (ICH6) rev. 03
Memory Type
Memory Size 512 MBytes
Memory Frequency 133.3 MHz (1:1)

System

System Manufacturer HP Pavilion 061
System Name PS583AA-ABA a1020n
System S/N CNH5110JV0 NA520
Mainboard Vendor ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Mainboard Model Goldfish3
BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Version 3.18
BIOS Date 02/16/2005

Memory SPD

Module 1 DDR2, PC2-3200 (200 MHz), 256 MBytes, Hyundai Electronics
Module 2 DDR2, PC2-3200 (200 MHz), 256 MBytes, Hyundai Electronics

Software

Windows Version Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
DirectX Version 9.0c

This appears to be the motherboard:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00361570

So there are only PCI slots.

hmmm ok

So best option besides going with a 256MB video card is to either upgrade the motherboard itself or get a new pc then yes?

If that is the case just out of curiosity which would be the best option. I play some games that require a good amount of 3D action. My friend is doing ok with one game on his PCI 256MB but I'm more looking toward to what games are going to now with the graphics and such. I really hate to have to dish out fully for a new PC however if thats probably the more cheaper wise solution then thats the road I'll take.

Thanks by the way for looking into this for me. I always like to get second opinions on things like this as I have no idea what is what.

Is this the computer?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&lang=en&cc=us

Yes that is the PC

My opinion:

New build. That motherboard is micro-ATX which is somewhat limited just due to size. (small).

Replacing the motherboard most likely will require a new operating system as well. I doubt your HP recovery will install on a retail motherboard.

You could try a PCI card. Newegg lists some decent models actually:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...09642&name=PCI

Otherwise I would start from scratch and build a gaming machine.

I do have a Windows XP Pro option (non recovery disc)

looking at the options I have ....what type of motherboard is best option if I was to go with a new.

I'm not really worried about any warrantys and such as this PC was given to me by a family member when they updated. Which is a step up from my original PC from the processor standpoint and such. Much newer.

Right now I was told I need to replace my heat sink fan on the board and the video card since its only a 128MB.....I'm currently leaning toward the

Visiontek Radeon X1550 Video Card - 256MB DDR2, PCI, DVI, VGA, HDTV, Low Profile, Video Card

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...1644&CatId=319

unless there is a better preference out....