OK thanks. Is that: there's unlikely to ever be a PCI-X graphics card or is it: there isn't one yet?

Looks like I was wrong about my computer. It's actually got the following slots:

2 x 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X (Supports 3.3v or Universal cards)

2 x 64-bit/66MHz PCI (Supports 3.3v or Universal cards)

2 x 32-bit/33MHz PCI (Supports legacy 5v or Universal cards)

(full spec here: http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/pedge_1600sc?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&~tab=specstab#tabtop)

Does this make any difference? I'm a bit confused about the difference between the 64-bit PCI and the PCI-x slots.

I think I'm right in saying that PCI-X isn't the same as PCI express? But would I be able to get a better graphics card for a PCI-X slot than a PCI one?

Don't Rub it in
Cheers for all the help

Hi

I found a XFX GeForce FX5200 256MB PCI on ebuyer:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=1931470950&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=66312

Is this better/worse than the one you recommended? I'm only asking because I was thinking 256Mb would make it better than the 128Mb - but are there other factors?

thanks again

Great - thanks

Hi

My old computer has died and I've come by a dell server PC (2.4Ghz, 512 RAM) - the idea being it's rock solid so I can't kill it!

Unfortunately it doesn't have an AGP slot at all so I'm going to be restricted to a PCI Graphics Card.

What do people reckon is the best PCI graphics card to get? I guess price isn't going to be too much of an issue seeing they'll all be out of date but I wouldn't want to spend more than, say,  £150. Will the card be able to support the most recent games (doom 3?)?

cheers!

right thanks

I was under the impression that an AGP 8x card would not be compatibable with my 2x slot. Is that not correct?

Sorry not sure if the link worked.

It's a Hightech ATI Radeon 9200 128MB PCI TV-Out DVI Retail Box from ebuyer for £60.

The ebuyer description is:

"Powered by ATI RADEON 9200, the Excalibur RADEON 9200 enables end users to experience the most realistic, life-like images, and visual effects on the next generation 3D games or multimedia application. With advanced graphics architecture, Excalibur RADEON 9200 provides best-of-class performance to accelerate all popular 3D applications. Among other high-end features, Excalibur RADEON 9200 is Micosoft DirectX 9 compatible for faster gaming, SMARTSHADER technology for more complex and realistic lighting effects and SMOOTHVISION technology for smoother-looking images. Excalibur RADEON 9200 also features VIDEO IMMERSION II and FULLSTREAM technologies for unprecedented video quality."

woo - lots of advice

would this card be suitable?

<http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=55273>

thanks again everyone

Cheers everyone for the advice.

I've updated my profile - I'm from the UK.

I was looking to spend between £50-£100 ideally (i.e. roughly $75-£150), but I guess I could go higher if really necessary.

So is the general consensus to go for a 8500 or higher Radeon card (will have to be PCI I guess)?

OK thanks for the advice.

What card would you recommend me buying?

I have a 2x AGP slot and a free PCI slot.

My System specs are AMD 1.2GHz, 256 MB RAM, running Microsoft XP if that's any help.

Would a GeForce2 MX400 64MB DDR PCI be able to run the latest games (e.g. Max Payne 2, Deus Ex Invisible War)?

Woud this be true of all PCI graphics cards?

thanks

thanks for the advice. Sorry got more questions though:

1. How do I tell what version of AGP If have (i.e. 2, 4, 8?)

2. I've now got a copy of max payne II. When I start the game it loads up fine, goes through the intro credits and gets to the point at which I'd expect a menu to appear. At this point everything goes black and nothing comes back. The music is still in the background. Random pressing have buttons seems to have started a new game - got lots of voice overs etc. but no visual. Any idea what's wrong.

3. Lastly (and not really relevantly) I was talking to a guy who works in maplin who was saying that if I was to get a card with DDR memory I would need to have DDR RAM on my computer for it to work. This doesn't sound right to me (but what do I know). Is it true?

thanks for all the help

yeah sorry I put it in "Video cards" first before realising that wasn't the right place - so came here (I'm not always the brightess spark!)

I'm using Microsoft XP (version 2002). System specs are AMD 1.2GHz, 256 MB RAM if that's any help.

Shame about Deus Ex but not to worry. Cheers for the help!