Confused...graphics cards

[sam]

I just bought myself a new desktop, mainly to run The Sims 3 when it's released. Being a bit of a dunce with the technical stuff, I thought I was getting a good deal and it meets the minimum specs. Except it doesn't. Here's the specs of the desktop I just bought;

 

Inspiron 530:Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 (2.5GHz, 800MHz, 2MB)

Memeory Dual Channel 2GB (2x1024MB) 800Mhz DDR2

19-in-1 Media Card Reader

Hard Drive 320GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm)

Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100

Operating System: English Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (32Bit OS) with Recovery DVD

 

Now here's a link to minimum specs needed for the game;

 

About The Sims 3 - Feature 6

 

 

Ok, so I've been told I have integrated graphics which are rubbish apparently. I need a spanking new graphics cards with its own memory... I think?

 

If I'm right, the next question is which graphics card do I need to get and is it possible to fit it into my new Dell?

 

Any advice will be gratefully received.

 

Thanks!

[Tootech]

Hi,

 

Have you tried running it? If you look at the spec, below the ATI cards specs, is this

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA)

GMA 3-Series, GMA 4-Series

 

Which is what you have, GMA3100.

 

Something like this will give you much better performance.

 

Sapphire HD 3650 512MB DDR2 Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

To be sure, if you post your Dell Service Tag I can check out the spec.

[sam]

Ehh, service tag?

Where can I find that?

[RandyL]

Hi sam;

What is a Service Tag and How Do I Locate It?

[sam]

Hi, thanks for the link.

 

Service tag number : BXWH94J

[sam]

Still don't know what to do. If anyone could help by checking out the service tag number and making any comments I'd be so grateful. I'm looking to buy the Sapphire card that was recommended above.

Thanks.

[Tootech]

Just checked your system - its a standard tower, has a PCI-E x16 slot, so any up to date video card will work ok.

 

The Sapphire card will fit and work in your system.

 

Your PSU is 300W, which is minimum requirements for that card - thats ok too.

 

Just remember to uninstall your old video drivers, shutdown your PC, switch it off at the wall, fit the new card, fire it up again and install the drivers. Do it in that order and it should all go ok.

[sam]

Ah! Fantastic :D

Thanks so much!!

[Cobra]

I realize this is an older thread, but more important than the wattage rating of a PSU is the current (amps) available on the +12 volt rail or rails. A cheap PSU can have a high output on the (say) +3.3 volt and/or +5 volt rails and a low outout on the +12 volt rail, and still have a 300 watt or more overall rating.

 

The moral of this story is don't rely solely on a PSU's watt rating; check the +12 volt current availability in amps. All of the GPU manufacturers worth their salt will state their card's requirements by referencing the associated PSU's wattage AND +12 volt current requirement.

[zinglebarb]

you missed out efficiency also you need 80% plus efficiency if your running a powerful card

 

My ex wife has a integrated intel chipset in her laptop and it does play it