Hey,

Right now I am using a Nvidia GeForce2 mx video card with 32MB of memory on it. I'm looking to upgrade to something better than that. Can anyone advise me here? I'm not a big gamer or anything like that. My PC is a 4yr old HP Pavilion6630 500mhz celeron processor running WindowsXP Home Edition with 256MB ram. I also ordered another 265MB SDRAM PC133 from amazon.com in hopes I can get my PC up to 512MB of memory. I was kinda leaning towards a 128MB Graphics card from Nvidia because I heard Longhorn is Graphics intense and you'll need at LEAST that much. But Maybe 64MB is good enogh for what I need 2 accomplish. I basically use this PC for internet e-mailing/chatting, online streaming media, and web surfing. Anyone have any suggestions for me and where I might find cheap deals on it?

While I'm on the subject of hardware.....I wanna upgrade my hard drive too. I'm still using the 10GB drive it came with originally. Any suggestions for this as well?

I also ordered a maddog multimedia entertainer 7.1 DSP sound card and should get it in a few days here. I read its comparable to the Soundblaster Audigy and Audigy2 and has better value for the money. Anyone else use this card and can comment on it? Website is http://www.maddogmultimedia.com.

Thanks for any help here. Normally I know what I'm doing and what I want, but it doesn't hurt to gather a few 2nd opinions 1st.

TCM

Depends on what you wanna spend for that videocard....If you're not into gaming,any basic directx9 compliant card will do just fine,even a Nvidia FX5200.

Confusing subject for many of us. I am not a gamer and recently bought an ATI All in One 9600 for my P4C800-E board. I felt I needed the capture ports, plus I figured the TV tuner was useful. The truth is I don't use the TV tuner, but I do use the video capture ports often. I like the card.

I got a new Geforce FX 5200 128mb which is pretty nice.

I have a Geforce2 in my old/backup system and before I decided to build a newer system I bought the ATI 9600 All-In-Wonder Pro. I used that in my old system until I bought everything to build a new system. Then I moved it into my new system.

I really think you should just order all new parts and build a new system and leave the old system as is. Using it as a internet backup like I do with mine.

My .$02

KC in my opinion is right on target. You can get a much better video card than what you are using now and it will help you as long as you plan on building a new system and putting that one back as a spare.

Just be sure to do alot of research before building one.
Burners..........cdrw & dvdrw
Hard Drives....80 gig the smallest
Processor.......Depends on what you are using it for
Memory..........Top Quality memory ONLY 1gig would be good
Case..............Looks really don't matter as long as it WILL do the job
but why not get a nice one

Don't hurry or you just might regret it. In my opinion building one will be better and have more of a chance to be upgraded or added to. later on.

Thanks
Dudelive

I like ati or nvidia the best. Running a 128 mb fx5700 right now on a new LCD flat panel screen. Seems very adequate