Upgrading computer

Hello! I come to the forum with a couple questions. I'm upgrading my computer so it will be able to play Guild Wars: Nightfall and I have found a videocard that it's in my budget that I plan on getting... I just am curious as if there are any other users out there with the same videocard and 'their' experiences..

ASUS Extreme N6200TC/TD - graphics adapter - GF 6200 TC supporting 256MB - 64 MB

Its PCI Express x16
Its max resolution (external): 2048 x 1536
With 64 MB installed in it

Anyone using this video card? And how well would it work when running this game?

Note: I'm on a Dell Dimension 2400

GeForce 6200 series cards are meant for office, desktop, home theatre use and such, not gaming. Just forget about it, it will not run any recent game at an acceptable speed.

Perhaps a suggestion as to what card I should go with that would be under $100? A PCI card at that.

PCI and PCI Express are different things and totally incompatible with each other, PCI was used for video cards about 10 years ago, and was obsoleted by AGP, which is now being made obsolete by PCI Express. I don't think they even make any PCI video cards any more, at least any that could run recent games.

If you only have PCI slots (seems incredibly stupid, but Dell is known for cutting corners anywhere they can) it may be time to consider buying a new computer, it may be impossible to upgrade your current one.

The Dell Dimension 2400 has on-board "AGP graphics" but no AGP slot to upgrade. Therefore, you would need a PCI graphics card to upgrade it since it only has PCI slots. However, as Lordpwn pointed out, PCI is NOT the same as PCI-Express. It may be very difficult to find a decent PCI graphics card these days.

I'm afraid that the first step in upgrading your computer involves getting almost a whole new computer. You could try getting a new case, motherboard, power supply, and processor - keeping the old RAM, floppy, and optical drive, but it would be more practical to just get a whole new system. You could keep the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, however.

Hit the nail on the head.

Yep, sadly the only way you're going to get a good gaming experience is to throw the Hell (sorry, meant Dell) away and get a real system. Stay clear of pre-built, mass produced crap like Dell, Alienware and eMachines.

No need to be quite so harsh on Dell, Alienware, etc. Even e-Machines have some newer systems that are, at least, upgradable. Dell and Alienware do make higher end (& higher priced) systems that are good - although upgrading is always an iffy prospect with them.

But, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Bottom end price = bottom end performance.

While I agree that it would be best to get a new computer, I'd just like to point out that PCI cards are still being made. I believe this is the best one available (should be good enough for Guild Wars):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814103031

Why? They're nothing but highway robbers, charging nearly double the price of a decent system for a rubbish rig.

Alienware products are not aimed at normal people, they are a boutique brand aimed at a niche market. The niche market being the wealthy gamer. Just like with Italian sports cars you pay for the badge and the jealousy it brings with it.