time for a upgrade!

[PJ]

I'm look to upgrade my computer. I need to kno what i should get for it.

-Graphics card (duh)

but is there anything else i should get?

thanks

[XoR]

Why don't you go ahead and post what your system specs are, and we'll make suggestions for ya.

I can tell you right now RAM RAM and more RAM. Get a hundred Googleplex of RAM if you can.

[PJ]

ya well i cant paly everquest on nthis bad boy...and i want to get it up to snuff for guild wars...

lemme see what my ram is...

well i have a GeForce4 MX 440 (with drivers)

ok this is what my thingy says....

Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40Ghz
2.39 GHz, 512 MB of RAM

is that all you need?

[DenKirson]

For Guild Wars, very yes. You have more than enough for the recommended specs of Guild Wars. Still, most games in the future outside of Guild Wars will require at least 1024 RAM for smooth gameplay and short loading times. Know any vendors with which to purchase some 512s or a gig of RAM for a relatively cheap price, XoR?

[PJ]

ooo
well howcome i couldn't play everquest?
Guildwars looks like its got a lot better graphics

and how much dose it cost for ram?

is it like software or do i have to install it with my own to hands?
should i get a store to do it if i have no idea what im doing?

[DenKirson]

EverQuest is crap. Guild Wars uses much less and does much more with what you have. My specs are nearly the same as yours (cept I have an ATI 9600), and I've run Guild Wars betas at the absolute highest graphical settings and get no slowdown at all.

RAM are modules/sticks, hardware you stick into your computer, you can take out the old RAM and put in the bigger RAM, it isn't much more difficult than that. I have two 256s, there are such RAM sticks up to four gigs, though those are currently like $600. I've looked about somewhat and found 512MB RAM sticks ranging from $40 to $230.

[PJ]

what about if i went to stables or somthing?

[DenKirson]

Hm, stables. I doubt a horse has 512 DDR RAM. I doubt you could even fit a horse in your PC, or that it would not be a fire hazard.

Staples isn't much of a PC place as it is a computer office stuff place. If you have a CompUSA or whatever kind of computer-centric store nearby, they'd have a better selection of memory acessories, at better prices, too. Best Buy also deals with PC acessories, probably at cheaper prices than either afformentioned, though not as large a selection as CompUSA.

'Course, you could always order online.

[PJ]

I'll check it out....but you guys are telling me i just need to get another 512mb of ram...
is that all?
if it is thanks!

[XoR]

Your graphics card is showing age too. You'll run games, but you have no idea how much nicer and smoother things are with (for example) a 6600GT card. Like comparing a Ferrari to a dump truck. I've seen a Geforce4 MX 440 and they are a drag. But then again, you may not be nearly as picky as I am, where I cannot tolerate <60fps, texture thrashing or "the chugs". I also like to max out settings in games.

1 gig of RAM is perfect for todays games. If you can get 2 gigs, you'll notice a big difference as well.

Just make sure you get the correct RAM. Judging by your specs, you may have RDRAM (unlikely however). Otherwise you have DDR RAM.

Since you may get into trouble snapping in RAM with no experience yet, you may want to watch someone do it first before you try. There's thousands of undocumented stories of non-techies going for the gold and applying herculean force on the RAM backwards and snapping the thing in two, slamming their fists into the motherboard causing chain lightning bolts to wildly arc their dog and pet birds. Unconscious and violently shaking like nobody's business, their molten body sets the whole house on fire. Don't be one of those guys.

[DenKirson]

I knew one of those guys. I got a thousand dollars on a Funniest Home Videos show. Its only funny until someone gets hurt, then it becomes hilarious.

Bah on the unecessary particle effects and pointless bump mapping on your character's pocket watch. I run most games on the near lowest (except in cases where higher gives a further view range to aid in skill in gameplay, like in BF'Nam, or when I know one level of detail higher will make no difference in multiplayer, like using high detail in COD). Unless you have a necessity of making everything as pretty-looking as possible, that card should hold you for another year of games, but upgrading can't hurt (or can it!? Ominous!).

I should definitely get a gig o'RAM before BF2 gets out. Hell, with two gigs of RAM, you'd probably be set for games and everything else in the next seven years.

[PJ]

ya getting a graphics card prob would help...

also Xor i did notcie some "chuggyness" in CoD and what not...i prob will be surpised at what a new game card can do, I'll look into some game cards also. Nvidia seems to be the way to go.

Anyway possible to tell which type of ram i have?
and is the dance dance revolution ram better?

[Lt._Taz]

PJ I had that same graphics card as you and when i changed it out OMG what a diff and that was with COD. For memory I went to 4allmemory.com they had the cheapest mem for my comp which im using the RDRAM, at the time one of the more expensive ones got it for just under 200.00 for 2 512sticks

[Archangelus]

PJ - is your system a stock system (i.e. Dell, HP, Compaq, etc....)?

[PJ]

yes sir it is....it is a Sony-Viao PCV-RZ22G

Of course now i kno that stock systems arnt that great..but this is my computer and eventually i want to make it so the only thing viao is the case!

O and i went to that site and this is the info they gave me:

"You have a Sony VAIO PCV-RZ22G
System Details:

Computer Manufacturer & Model: Sony VAIO PCV-RZ22G
Currently Installed Memory: 3 slots: 512 MB, empty, empty
Maximum Memory Capacity: 1.0 GB
Total Number of Memory Slots: 3


Memory Slot 1: 512 MB
Memory Slot 2: Slot is empty – Ready to accept memory upgrade
Memory Slot 3: Slot is empty – Ready to accept memory upgrade"

they recomended the 512ram DDR and gave me some smaller ram options (like 128mb and 256mb). I'll prob get the 256 becasue I'm short on money and need a graphics card 2. One question about the Ram, because they recommend the DDR dose that mean thats the type of Ram i have?

Thanks