Dell dimension 2400 problem

yay! my first thread and post!

so .... about 14 months ago i got this game and it worked fine. i played for a few months and then errors started happening to my computer a few months back about my graphics card. I had major diffuculty playing since every time i either open my inventory ( i know that is a classic dell problem) and when i fight monsters for too long. So i thought i had overworked my graphics card and stopped playing for maybe less than a year. Now i have started playing again and its still the same :-(. I do not know the system specs of my Dell dimension 2400, other than that it is that type of PC. Everything is on low now, i'm hoping someone with the same PC i have can shed some light or someone with some experience with computers 2to help fix my problem.

Thanx if anyone helps!

go to run and type in dxdiag, i think thats how you find out the uhhm specs, and word of wise from a friend "dude you got a dell?" i mean seriously, they're not the best, my 300 dollar compaq runs gw better than my friends 700 dollars dell :| as for the problem it might be your graphics card, i suggest stepping up a bit to somthing other then, what i'm assuming you have is integrated still.

Also maybe some ram would help, if you have like 200 or so you shoudl really step that up

I have a 3.2 Ghz processor a 752(or was it 712) Mb of ram and a Ati Radeon 9250 and i run it on the 3rd graphics level with no lag but on places like THE DEEP and URGOZ's WARREN

thats my 2 cents hope i helped :0


EDIT: /doh moment there, i put mhz

I certainly hope you mean 3.2 GHz.

Anyways, run the DirectX tool and tell us what your system specs are. My theory is that you are running an integrated graphics card, which means you need to upgrade.

Also, here is the universal Law of Dells: they suck for gaming.

umm... ok i tried and got (from whta i think) important information. i dunno if any of this is my computers personal information like Ip address or sumthing like that that you could hack :-(.

ANYWAYS...

.................................................. ....................................
BIOS: Phoenix ROM PLUS version 1.10

Processor: intel (R) Celeron (R) (Pl) 2.40 GHz

Memory: 510 MB RAM

Page file: 258 MB used, 989 MB available

DirectX version: DirectX 9.0c
.................................................. ...........................................
THEN...THERES SOME STUFF I THOUGHT WAS ABOUT MY GRAPHICS CARD

Name: Intel(R) 82845G/Gl/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller

Chip Type Intel (R) 828425G Graphics Controller

Total Memory: 64 MB

Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (70 Hz)
.................................................. .........

Ummm.... thats about the important info...(i think) I have a limited understanding of computers (funny thing that i go to a HS that specializes in technology and engineering and my dads a computer engineer :-P)

Well, heres the short version: You are screwed. Integrated video cards(which is what you have) suck for games.

Anyways, you need to upgrade that video card if you want to really be able to do anything in Guild Wars. This means cracking open your PC and finding out what kind of slots you have available on your motherboard for upgrading.

To figure this one out you can first look at your documentation and see if there's anything in there. Video cards can be installed into regular PCI slots, AGP slots, or PCI-X (PCI express) slots. You will need to figure out which of those you have available on your motherboard. If the documentation doesn't help, you need to actually open the case up and look, so just check back after you read the documentation and we'll go from there.

Also, 512mB of RAM is not reccomended, and Celeron processors are generally not top-notch for gaming.

Also, according to your PC config, Id guess you are an AGP config, and a Nvidia GeForce 6800 with 128mB of ram would suit you fine.

first off. no. second off, not the point. I think this might help you solve your problem:

http://support.plaync.com/cgi-bin/pl...& p_topview=1

I hope that helps

btw, if you're about the argue that dell is bad.. I just recently bought a 3.2ghz @ 800FBS dual-core CPU, Radeon x300 series video card, 3GB of 533mhz DDR2 SDRAM, 160GB Harddrive, DVD-ROM, DVD-R-/+W Drives, a 19'' Flat panel display, and a printer/scanner/copier. All that for 1,200$. Good luck finding the same price for the same gear + a warranty incase you trip over your own feet while carrying it.

Oh btw, if you decide you want to upgrade your computer but aren't sure about the specs use this program: http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php
it's free, effective, and easy to use. Good luck

The CPU and RAM are fine for Guild Wars. The choke point is most definitely in the video card, and we have no idea whether or not he has an AGP slot. My guess quite honestly is no, because Dell is rather cheap. Anyways, its a really damn stupid idea to just run out and buy a video card if you don't know for sure.

First off, X300s are poor performers and very cheap - that's where the big cost reduction was for your system. Second, you can still save a ton of money building that yourself, and all the parts will have their own warranties if you need that. Third, Dell hardware itself is lousy. Brand-name PC parts are much more reliable and usually cost less - a quick trip to Newegg.com gave me an estimate of about $900 for your system, but with the better name-brand (not Dell) parts.

Advice For Future Buyers Who Are Seeing This Thread:

The first rule of buying computers is NEVER to buy them from brand name companies, Dell, HP, Acer and such 'will' rip you off. They will sell you expensive yet out of date hardware and load your machine with junk. Find a friend who knows about computers, give them a budget and an idea of what you're going to use it for and let them make one.

Well..... i dunno.... i really shouldn't open up my PC...but i may when i have time. Umm.....I think that i may not be neccesarily screwed because i have been able to play for a little more than hour at a time and right now im up to Thunderhead Keep :-). Personally, I think that it happened when the graphics just became too advanced for my graphics card. This all really happened when i entered places like Bloodstone Fen and all those vines and stuuf must be many megabytes of data. And its really not my inventory looking at that i have problems, but when i try to salvage or identify things, its usually when I have to move stuff around. Also, i don't understand some of those terms and abreviations up there (computer noob :-P) like AGP and PCI.

Also...my computer only cost in the high 200$ :-) so....its not rly that bad...ppl from my school tell me to get an iMac though...dunno if thats any good. But my price range would really be like 300$ max and plus im not really that old...15 :-(..so my dad controls what i can buy. However, being a computer engineer, i think he actually knows a good deal for a computer :-).

Ummm....i have some spare parts at home also, so i think i can see if i can salvage them or not. My dad generally makes my computers by himself anyways, so i should have something that can help me out.

BTW... THANK YOU VERY MUCH DOOMLORD :-)

meh. at best it was a 300-400$ save, and I could always upgrade. The reason I got the Dell for so cheap is because they are/were having a sale (36-38% off) and I took the offer. Could I buy a computer cheaper? yes. Will I bother to save myself 200-300$? no.

now lets stay on topic

PCI and AGP slots are basically plugs in your computer that you can plug new hardware in. PCI slots are used for a lot of things, while AGP and PCI-X are pretty much just for video cards.

As for your theory about the vines in Bloodstone Fen, it is probably correct. The more dense the graphical features, the more stress on your video card, so the Maguuma Jungle might be a problem because of all the different plants and whatnot. However, the most graphically dense part of the game is always going to be combat, because of the visuals from spells and skill usage.

Food for thought - I have a dell dimension 2400 and I play GW fine (even at highest graphics settings across the board!)

The only upgrade Ive given my comp is 1 gig of RAM.

In that case you DEFINITELY do not have an integrated video card.