Are there minimum requirements for video cards

Alright, now this is a question I have been asking myself for awhile, I am planning on getting a new computer this summer but I plan to be sticking with my current one until the end of summer and I was just wondering are there any minimum requirements for video cards.
Here are my specs:
800MHz processer
Nvidia GeForce4 MMX440 with AGP8X
384Mb of ram(soon to upgrade to 512mb)
Now I was wondering if my computer can handle a 128mb graphics card such as a 9600XT or something along those lines. Now I dont want to know if its worth it just tell me if it can. Thanks for the help

I was also wondering, now I am not a noob at computers or anything but can you upgrade your processing speed when I first knew stuff I didnt know you could but now I have gone on sites and seen that kind of stuff so could somebody clear me up on this one because I might just upgrade that also.

Yes your computer can handle a 9600XT w/ 128mMB of RAM. Yes you can upgrade your processor but it depends entirely on what your motherboard can handle and varries greatly from motherboard to motherboard.

-Virt

ok for a motherboard I have if I am right, its the model number? A Dell Dimension 4100. I think that is how they are judged right, if thats true can you tell me what I can upgrade to? thanks

Wow. Punctuation? Anyway, yes you can upgrade your processor. The specifics of that will depend on your motherboard. Try googling for the model and see what you can dig up. Upgrading may require a BIOS flash, and despite your claims of not "noob at computers or anything" I am guessing that might be a risky proposition based on the caliber of your question. A bad BIOS flash can turn your computer into a temporary boat anchor, especially on older boards.

now that you told me about the graphics card thing I found this on best buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1093468042109
ATI card
256mb of ram only like $119 and my birthday is coming right up.

The problem with Dells and going by the model number is that they will keep the model number consistant while changing the internals of the system. If you have any documentation detailing the motherboard's chipset we could probably tell you more about the CPU. In terms of video card, you should be able to take any AGP card (I am assuming you have an AGP port). Since your CPU is going to be a bottleneck, you will start seeing dimishing returns with progressively faster cards. Anything faster than that 9600xt would probably be overkill.

so I'm guessing the 256mb would be bad or what and also how do I find the other stuff out

That card is substantially slower than a 9600. More video card memory does not equal better performance. You would be better off with this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1093468058401

or this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099392657795

at the same pricepoints.

Can you tell me which is the best I can get at the cheapest price thanks.

If you are looking to save money and aren't afraid to buy online, you can save a lot of $ with something like this:

http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/produc...tem=14-127-154

I might do it if my dad lets me but I was just wondering like I asked on other post is this card really worth the money or is it a rip off.

Its a very good card for the price. There are MUCH better cards out there, but you have to pay for them. In that price segment, thats about as good as you can get, and it is comparable to those other cards listed above, but for half the cost. You should see a pretty good performance boost over your mx440.

Edit: Here is a thread discussing that card:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...y&keyword1=agp

There is also a link with instructions to flash it to a 9600 in the first post but don't do it unless you are comfortable voiding your warranty.

I'll ask my dad tonight maybe as an early birthday present, also what about the whole processor upgrade is it worth it, if so tell me what I need to do, or should I just wait till my job this summer and buy a new computer at the end of summer.

ZennZero is there another way I can talk to you like via AIM or Ventrilo?

I am guessing you have a socket based p3 or celeron. If you have a 133mhz bus, you might be able to upgrade to a p3 > 1gz, but they can be pricey for being as old as they are. You are probably better off saving up for a new system, if you can afford it (and for the love of all that is holy don't buy Dell unless its one of their enthusiast systems -- and I personally wouldn't do it then either). If you want to learn a thing or three try building your own. Its really not that hard and there are tons of resources online to help you out.

do the minimum to let it play now and get the new pc with warranty and much better performance

just my opinion but i have built mine from the mid 1990`s

EDIT

you meet the minimum specs as it is

try it before spending money you could apply to the new pc if you go that way

an extra 100 dollars then would equal a much better video card with the system

a PM is fine - I am not on AIM often enough to reliably get hold of me and I don't use ventrillo.

I guess I should scratch the whole upgrade processer and just go for that cheap graphics card for now. I have been planning on a new computer for a long time, and I cant decide over the service and awesomeness of alienware or the cheaper better maingear. In other words I customized both of their Gaming computers and came out with the main gear being a bit cheaper and better graphics card and the ability for 2gig of ram or the bit more expensive alienware with only 1gig maximum and a 128mb of ram instead of the 256mb default with main gear. So I'm kind of stuck right about know of course I have the whole summer working to make that decision.

one note on your choice

check out the track record of both companies

alienware has a reputation to maintain and i havent heard of the other one