We'd like to upgrade our graphics card. Is there some way I can find out what my PC is capable of upgrading to? And if we can upgrade what are good cards etc?

Hey Angela!

First we'd need to know what motherboard you have (to find out what is compatable), and then what graphics card you currently have.

If you download the program 'Belarc Advisor', here:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

This program can give you that information. If you post it here then we can take a look at yer options

Thanks, hope this is enough info, let me know if not - I didn't want to just post the whole page.

Operating System

Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Main Circuit Board

Board: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-6570

Bus Clock: 166 megahertz

BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 02/14/2003

Display

NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 [Display adapter]

Considering what you have, here are my suggestions. I've linked to the website I usualy buy these things from, but you could look for the same models anywhere ya like (Although PC world add about £30 to each price!). Probably worth getting a 2nd opinion too.. I wonder if anyone on the board has used any of these below?

Budget:

Nvidia 7300GT: Here

Mid Range

Ati X1650 Pro: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/118281

NVidia 7600 GS: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/...nx7600gs-td512z

N.B. These last two may require some kind of extra power source, if you're interested in these expensive ones I can try and find out more about that for you

Considering what you have, here are my suggestions. I've linked to the website I usualy buy these things from, but you could look for the same models anywhere ya like (Although PC world add about £30 to each price!). Probably worth getting a 2nd opinion too.. I wonder if anyone on the board has used any of these below?

~Removed links to avoid confusion. Raek ~

N.B. These last two may require some kind of extra power source, if you're interested in these expensive ones I can try and find out more about that for you

those are 256MB video cards and 2 of them are DDR and DDR3

will that motherboard really be able to support DDR and DDR3?

also, does she has the speed and the Ram for it?

Thanks Raek that's a great help - I was thinking about the mid-range ones.

My son wants the Elder Scrolls Oblivion for criggy and our current graphics card isn't recommended.

elder scrolls - system requirements

Fiiirstly I just noticed some of my links are wrong!! I linked to the wrong section! Please check my post again for the new links, otherwise the graphics card wont fit and your son will lynch me Sorry about that!

Thanks Raek that's a great help - I was thinking about the mid-range ones.

My son wants the Elder Scrolls Oblivion for criggy and our current graphics card isn't recommended.

elder scrolls - system requirements

Looking at those.. Both the mid range cards I listed will work, although I noticed the game seems particulaly designed for ATi Cards like the X1650pro listed in my post. maybe that's your best bet. My Current card is an Ati card (older model), It's lasted me several years and still holds up pretty well.

And in answer to your points j7, yes - AGP Graphics cards are backwards compatible so even if you put them in an older motherboard, they still work (just sometimes can't maximise their potential)

Have you thought of trying the 6600GT range it has a 128ram or 256ram and maybe cheaper and do the same job have a look on the web for it