I have 128mb of RAM with 128 more on the way(on order). My Motherboard will handle no more. My O/S is WinMe. I have an emachines(etower 733i). My processor is 733mhz. It has been explained to me that my present graphics card will not support certain games which, unfortunately, I have already purchased. I have priced 256mb graphics cards from $29 to $139. Will my system support a 256mb card, what else, if anything, will I have to alter and what is the difference between the cheap and not-so-cheap cards. Thank you.....Stevo

That board is limited to AGP 2X which is ancient technology.

It would be hard to find a card that would even work.

Also 256 RAM will not support most new games.

Have you checked the games minimum requirements?

etower 733i - Google Search

I have checked the game requirements and, evidently, with the exception of the video card, I am in line with the specs. most of the games will work with win95 and 98....I have WinMe. They are inexpensive, uncomplicated games so I should be able to upgrade the card enough to play....right? I am able to play most of my games but even some "ancient" ones won't play after loading. My 2-128mb sticks arrived this morning...so I was playing the others with only 128mb. How far can I upgrade the card and where can I find it? BTW: The etower google search you posted took me to "Silicon Mountain" which is where I got my RAM upgrade...funny!!....small world!! I really want to be able to access these games. Please help in any way you can. The 733i was built in 2001......ancient? Thank you....Stevo

It is AGP 2X. These cards have RAM values starting at 8MB/16/32/64(maybe)/128(unlikely). The slot voltage is 1.5V which is one reason you cannot use newer/bigger cards.

The last line of AGP were 8X/4X. These will not work. You need 2X although some might be 4X/2X. If it does not specify AGP 2X it will not work.

Newegg lists none.

Here is a Google:

agp 2x cards - Google Search

Again you need AGP 2X.

eTower 733i Support Information
Specifications
Specifications
CPU: Intel® Celeron® Processor 733MHz
Operating System: Genuine Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition

Chipset: Intel® 810 chipset, 66MHz FSB
Memory: 64MB SDRAM (1 DIMM available for upgrade up to 256MB)
Hard Drive: 20GB HDD
Optical Drive: Built-in 48x Max. CD-ROM; 3.5" 1.44MB FDD
Video: Intel® Direct 3D 2x AGP (shared memory)
Sound: Intel® 82801 AC '97 Audio
Modem: 56K ITU v.90 PCI internal Fax/Modem
Peripherals: Keyboard; Mouse; Stereo Speakers
Ports/Other: 2 USB ports (1 on front bezel); 1 Serial; 1 Parallel; Midi/Game, Midi/Game; 2 PS/2

http://www.emachines.com/support/pro...el=eTower_733i

The installed card shares your board RAM but it does not specify how much RAM is on the card.

You cannot upgrade the speed which is set at 2X and yes that is ancient technology verging on the obsolete.

You will have a hard time finding 2X cards and then the only upgrade is if you find one that exceeds your current cards RAM.

Go to start . run and type dxdiag

What is listed under Display > Device?


...

Here is the conversation I had with the game makers tech and attached is a dxdiag file of my computer. I now have 384mb of RAM(it seems to be working ok....even though an emachines tech said that the motherboard was made for 256mb max.) I want to replace the card....but, of course, I want to do it as cheaply as possible(fixed income, here) without compromising the quality.(Does that make any sense? )Again...Thank You. Stevo

Well there are some discrepancies between what you are reporting and what eMachine lists as an eTower 733i.

First off eMachine lists that computer with only one RAM slot (with the 256MB max).

You appear to indicate you have two RAM slots?

Next your current little graphics card is a PCI card (8MB RAM) and DXDIAG shows no AGP support yet eMachine lists an AGP 2X slot as has been noted.

I am not sure how to reconcile these differences.

Anyway PCI graphics are more limited and more ancient than even AGP 2X.

If we are to believe DXDIAG then you should be looking at PCI graphics cards. Do not confuse this with PCI_E (which is the current standard). You are looking at PCI and not PCI_E.

Please try running the DAL hardware scan posted on the top of the main forum page. Post the URL of your result page back here.


...

I can't run any tests on my computer. It is not online. I am using a library computer for online stuff....thus I have I.E. 5.5 and cannot get 6.0 which prohibits me from accessing other (newew) games. Can you give me an example of the card you are suggesting I pursue getting, please. BTW....I do have 2 slots for RAM.

Well if you have 2 RAM slots then you do not have an eTower733i motherboard.

Again according to DXDIAG you have only a PCI slot for graphics.

You can look for yourself. Here is the difference between AGP slots and PCI:




Also here is a detailed page on AGP should you have AGP:

Google Image Result for http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agpslots.gif

If you have PCI only here is a Google for possible cards:

pci graphics card - Google Search

Remember you need PCI and not PCI_E or PCI Express.

I will perform a "Belarc" scan on the machine over the weekend and attach it here on Monday. Thanks so much for your patience on this. Stevo

http:\\belarc.com/free_download.html

I have a Belarc report and an Everest video report if you need them(will try to attach). What IS attached is a description of my motherboard with other info. I don't know if I can attach more than one so I attached what I thought would be relevant. I still cannot tell the difference between pci, isa and agp. I am eager to know what I can do. Oops...see next post...will try attachment again. Thank you. Stevo