Should just replace the video card or better off with a new tower?

[VampireButterfly]

Hi,

I downloaded the 10 day trial but I got a pop up that said:

"Your 3D accelerator card is not supprted by World Of Warcraft. Please install a 3D accelerator card with dual-TMU support."

So I would like to know if it would be more cost effective to replace the video card and if so which would be a decent one (would a ATI Radeon 9000 Series be any good?) Or is all lost and better off with a new tower?

Please bear with me, I don't know anything about towers. This was all I could get a hold of using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

System Specs:

System;
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
System Manufacturer:VIAK8M
System Model:AWRDACPI
BIOS: Pheonix - AwardBIOS v6. 00pg
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNOW ~2.00GHz
Memory:1022MB Ram
DirectX Version 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Device;
Name:NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT(Microsoft Corporation) TNT2 Series
Manufacturer:NVIDIA
Chip Type: Vanta/Vanta
DAC Type: Intergrated RAMDAC
Approx. Total Memory: 16.0MB

Drivers;
Main Driver: nv4_disp.dll
Version: 6.14.0010.5673
Date:4/13/2008
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
VDD: n/a
DDI Version: 7

And if it helps to know it also has 2 40 GB hard drives.

Also, is the sound card a need to have to play or can I get away with using a Realtek AC97 Audio until I can upgrade? Which would be a decent upgrade?

Thank you

P.S. Please let me know if I left something out. Also, I would like to work with what I have but if need be would this be any better?

Dell Dimension 3000 Pentium
Pentium 4 2.8ghz
1.256gb DDR SDRAM
40gb HDD
Geforce 5500 Fx video Card

That's all the info I have one it.

[Erinion]

Time for a new machine I'm afraid.

Upgrading the first PC would be a very bad idea (basically everything needs replacing). I think it was made around 1999 - 2000, which is way past its DD (destroy date).

In theory you might be able to shoehorn a new graphics card in the second machine but the rest of it is going cause you serious bottlenecks and you'll end up replacing it within a few months after sub-standard performance.

Have you got a budget it mind? Do you need a monitor etc?

We'll help you out with a decent PC purchase.

[Clavina]

Erinion is right. You *could* upgrade the 2nd machine to get wow running but it would offer pretty poor performance. You would be better off getting a new machine, check out the recommended hardware stickies on the forum and post us some specs to check for you.

[VampireButterfly]

Time for a new machine I'm afraid.

Upgrading the first PC would be a very bad idea (basically everything needs replacing). I think it was made around 1999 - 2000, which is way past its DD (destroy date).

In theory you might be able to shoehorn a new graphics card in the second machine but the rest of it is going cause you serious bottlenecks and you'll end up replacing it within a few months after sub-standard performance.

Have you got a budget it mind? Do you need a monitor etc?

We'll help you out with a decent PC purchase.

Well, the thing is that I don't have a steady income and a year's worth of wow was going to be given to me as a gift, that is, if I liked WoW. So what I have to work with at the moment is $200. Keep in mind, this is actually my first time with a computer of my own. So I really don't know if that kind of budget could even come close to getting me a decent wow computer.

I also don't know if craigslist would be any good for finding a computer, but I'm hoping it is. Also, that second tower I mentioned is one that is being sold at the moment and they said that:

"It handles WoW pretty good. I lvled from 70-80 on it and raided Naxx and all northrend content on it before i got a new computer."

They also said that they had gotten it a year ago and used it mainly for school and wow.

So if $200 gets me a decent computer that would be cool if not then I would be willing to just save up and get something good that will last so I wouldn't have to end up replacing it in the long run because of other malfunctions.

[Erinion]

$200 will barely get you a decent graphics card...let alone a new pc.

I think you're gonna have to save up a little....

The second PC on list is the bare minimum I would consider for WoW. It doesn't meet the recommended specs.

[VampireButterfly]

$200 will barely get you a decent graphics card...let alone a new pc.

I think you're gonna have to save up a little....

The second PC on list is the bare minimum I would consider for WoW. It doesn't meet the recommended specs.

So around how much would I be looking at? Also, If I buy a new PC from the store which PC would be good to go just based off the specs it already has built in?

[Erinion]

Have a look at the recommended specs sticky.... as I'm from the UK I'm not familiar with US prices (I assume you're in the US)... maybe $600?

[VampireButterfly]

Alright. Thank you for the advice.

Final thing I would like to ask if these are any good?

DELL XPS DESKTOP


3.0 GIG INTEL P4 ( HT )
1 GIG RAM
1 DVD ROM DRIVE ( OPTICAL )
1 DVD+RW/CD+RW DRIVE ( OPTICAL )
120 GIG SATA HDD
UPGRADED GAMING VIDEOCARD ( BFG )
ETHERNET
USB PORTS
XP PRO W/SP2

OR

Dell XPS Gen 2 Tower 3.2ghz HT
1 gig of RAM
ATI Radeon graphics card 256 meg with TV out
120 gig SATA

If not then I'll save up for one and that's that.

[Kalos]

Both of those have antique Pentium 4 processors in. I certainly wouldn't buy anything with a Pentium 4 in four years ago, let alone today.

Though your first rig is newer than perhaps is realised. the Athlon 64 series only launched in 2003, that appears to be a 2004 model. However it is underpowered for today's gaming, I used to WoW on one of those myself but I was feeling pain in some games due to the processor simply being obsolete, so I junked it last year. With a better graphics card it could do much better that it does now, as the TNT series pretty much sucked (made the FX look great by comparison), but it won't be much cop either for a large amount of games or for the busy parts of WoW like the cities or raiding.

You'd be better off saving up and getting something with a Core 2 in the middle of it, or maybe a Phenom, not a Pentium 4 rig.

[Erinion]

"Upgraded gaming videocard" sounds like a nasty piece of kit and "ATI Radeon graphics card 256meg with TV out" could be anything. You're probable just best getting a new PC... at least you know where you're at :)

[VampireButterfly]

Ok then I'll save up for one. I think I know what to look for now but if anything I'll be sure to run it by you guys so I don't buy the wrong PC by mistake.

Thank you so much for all your quick suggestions and help.