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Currently, I run SC2 on 10 FPS. It's ridiculous. So I decided to make an investment into a new video card, because not only would it improve my SC2 performance, but my video editing programs as well.
So I found this card:
EVGA Nvidia Geforce 210 512mb PCI-EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
Looks pretty good for such a cheap price ($20 after rebate!). Currently I have Geforce 6 series, so pretty much anything out there is better than my PoS.
I was just wondering if there were any compatibility issues I had to address concerned with installing my video card. I don't want to buy a card and realize that it doesn't work.
My computer is about 3 or 4 years old
AMD 64 x2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ 2.10 GHz
2 GB Ram
64-bit OS (Windows 7)
EDIT: To be specific, I have a GF 6150 LE.
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hmm idk about your question but i never heard of a 210 before. I always thought the ones below 50 were reserved for mobile gpus.
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As long as your motherboard supports PCI-Express, it should be fine. If its a last run AGP you'd be stuck, though if its running a Dual Core chipset it should be PCI-E.
So yea, just check that and it will be fine. ^-^
Edit: Mesa makes a good point, leme check a sec.
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On May 16 2010 06:25 krY wrote:
As long as your motherboard supports PCI-Express, it should be fine. If its a last run AGP you'd be stuck, though if its running a Dual Core chipset it should be PCI-E.
So yea, just check that and it will be fine. ^-^
Edit: Mesa makes a good point, leme check a sec.
Thanks for the reply!
How do I go about checking if it's PCI-E?
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Ok yea, its a standard ATXmobo fitting card. Its really not a fantastic card, but it is worlds ahead of your GF6.
Should be fine.
Edit: uhh, depends on your technical knowledge. I'm really not familiar with Win7 yet to check it through your OS. But if you goto your GeForce control panel (where you set up specific graphics settings for your card - if you right click on the desktop, the NVidia icon, or on your taskbar tray) it should list information about your video card that is in use, if it says PCI-E somewhere in there, thats the info you need to just go ahead. If it just gives a simple model number, copy that model info and shove it into google and goto the manufacturer page for it, it should be somewhere on there.
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Live2Win
United States6657 Posts
I don't think that card is good enough. I've been looking for a good CPU to run SC2, so I've looked up a lot of specs. Here are the minimum requirements:
PC Minimum Requirements:
• Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1/Windows 7
• 2.2 Ghz Pentium IV or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
• 1 GB system RAM/1.5 GB for Vista and Windows 7
• 128 MB NVidia GeForce 6600 GT/ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card
• 1024x768 minimum display resolution
• 4 GB free hard space (Beta)
• Broadband connection
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_US&articleId=26242&parentCategoryId&pageNumber=1&categoryId=3633
The 6600 is the MINIMUM requirement, and according this hierarchy website (linked by Blizzard teches themselves) this graphics card you're looking at is below the 6600, meaning it may not exactly run.
EDIT: Actually scratch that. After looking at other's replies I decided to check a different source. The 210 has better performance ratings than the 6600 according to this one http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php , so I guess your graphics card may run fine (probably on low settings, since it's not a fantastic card)
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To be specific, I have a GF 6150 LE.
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ah... your graphics is onboard.. hmm.
Are you able to get your motherboard model name/number at all?
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Live2Win
United States6657 Posts
yea... I have a 6150 too, which is integrated graphics card, meaning you have to open up and get access to your motherboard to switch it out. Apparently it can be a pain to do that.
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Ooh... shit. How would I go about gaining access to my motherboard?
Also, I checked my NVidia control panel and it says "Bus: FPCI", if that means anything??
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I sent you a link to some software that will scan your hardware info in a PM (cause I'm not sure on the rules of external links on TL). Run that up and post back your mobo information when you're done ^-^.
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Don't worry about switching out your current video card. If it's integrated, just leave it there and put in the new one. By the looks of that Geforce 210, all you need is a PCI-Express x16 slot on your motherboard. In case krY's suggestion doesn't work, find your computer model number and google it, then looks for a specifications page to see if you have one. Or open up your computer and look at your motherboard, but that would require you to know what a PCI-E x16 slot looks like.
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Yah, incase that thing doesn't have your motherboard in its database, grab the Dell model number which should be on a sticker somewhere on your case, or with your original paperwork/boxing from when you got the computer and google that away.
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(From the Dell website for my Dimension E521)
PCI: 2 Slots
PCIe x1: 1 Slot
PCIe x16 (Graphics): 1 Slots
![[image loading]](http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7923/mobols.jpg)
Lol, so what does this mean.
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It told you this specifically about your board? "PCIe x16 (Graphics): 1 Slots"
If so then that's what you need eh! Your long journey has ended lol, aren't computers fun? =_=
Also I googled the model, and yep it does have what you need. You're set if you buy that card, now you just gotta find someone or out how to shove it in your computer once you get it. ^-^ Again, aren't computers fun?
Lol if you want to do it yourself, it really isn't that hard, just find a tutorial on the internet, and make sure that you are definitely grounded when you deal with the inside of your computer.
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I think I can help you out. Pop out the side of your dell's case. And take a look at your motherboard. Now see if you have any sockets that look like the ones below.
![[image loading]](http://www.yourdictionary.com/images/computer/_PCIXSAT.JPG)
Now the 3 white ones are PCI, whilst the 2 pale green ones are PCI-E (longer).
You need a PCI-E to run any decent graphics card (including the geforce 210).
However, I would strongly recommend NOT getting the geforce 210, as I doubt it will be able to run SC2 on max. If you are looking to upgrade, you might as well spend a little more so that you can enjoy SC2 on max, and not have to regret a cheap half upgrade.
I would strongly recommend getting this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448&cm_re=5750-_-14-150-448-_-Product
This card is extremely new, and supports DX 11 (next gen api), which windows 7 supports. It is also extremely cheap, and should be able to run SC2 max with around 40-50 fps.
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_______________READ MY POST_______________________
DONT GET The 210!! IM SPEAKING from REAL WORLD eXPERIENCE!!!
I JUST yesterday !! built a systems to play sc2 from old parts!!
MOBO:Asus P5N 32 sli deluxe
CPU:I threw in a Intel core 2 duo (e6300) its a piece of shit but fine for sc2
RAM: 2gb Corsair plat
Video Card: Now this is the part i was worried about too. i threw in an ATI 5450 and a stock oem 210 i got with a pre built system (around 50$ cards) and IT CHUGGED i mean 15 FPS in battles on medium-low threw that shit away!!
took an old 9400gt i had lying around from an old media center pc and it workes great
doesnt dip under 50 on medium-low. not too shabby
anyways hope this helps. since i just built it yesterday purposely for sc2 and left 4 dead
good luck
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=9400gt&x=0&y=0
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Ah yea, but if he gets anything much higher, he will also have to replace his powersupply. The reason that this card will work with his current system is that it doesn't require additional power from the power supply (standard PCI-E 6pin connector). Most other or higher spec video cards will definitely require this, which will mean more expenses for the card and to replace the powersupply. This is inclusive of the older model cards too, they have more output than the 210 yes for sure.
If you're willing to spend the money, or have the money to spend, it is worth getting something with more umph.
Like I said, that 210 is not a fantastic card, and by no means will it be a good idea to run SC2 on full spec, but he should still hopefully get a boost from the performance atm.
Crisis, if you are looking to spend more money, you get more options naturally, it just requires that much more.
I do also personally recommend getting a better card, the 210 really is kinda blah, but that's all upto your wallet in the end.
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The thing is, I'm on a budget and I'm not willing to spend anything too far out of the range of 40 dollars.
Which is the main reason why this deal appealed so much to me.
I don't want to run SC2 on medium/high settings, just... playable settings lol
It looks like the 9400GT has the best performance for my price range, but I'm not sure. Any other suggestions?
EDIT: And yes, I would prefer not to replace anything else besides my video card, because of my budget lol
I found this other card on newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127469
GF 9500 GT, what do you guys think?
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Yah, it would be far higher performance, and if you can do it then do it. But you will need to replace your power supply too.
As an exert from the lowdown of your machine says:
Expansion is easy in this system with only one exception. The Dell E521 provides a full x16 PCI-Express slot for graphics expansion to a discrete solution, but the power supply lacks the PCI-Express graphics power connector for high-end graphics cards. Unless you upgrade the power supply (it is a standard ATX size and format)
http://www.ktechpc.com/delle521/e521.htm
Edit: hahahh.. sorry bout that, actually neither of those 9x series cards require additional power either, so it should be fine too. Silly me not noticing.
But you wanna keep that in mind if you ever look to upgrade your computer much more in the future ^^;
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On May 16 2010 07:29 krY wrote:Yah, it would be far higher performance, and if you can do it then do it. But you will need to replace your power supply too. As an exert from the lowdown of your machine says: Show nested quote +Expansion is easy in this system with only one exception. The Dell E521 provides a full x16 PCI-Express slot for graphics expansion to a discrete solution, but the power supply lacks the PCI-Express graphics power connector for high-end graphics cards. Unless you upgrade the power supply (it is a standard ATX size and format) http://www.ktechpc.com/delle521/e521.htm Edit: hahahh.. sorry bout that, actually neither of those 9x series cards require additional power either, so it should be fine too. Silly me not noticing. But you wanna keep that in mind if you ever look to upgrade your computer much more in the future ^^;
Lol, how could you tell if they required additional power or not?
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The photos of the cards themselves. If there was a required power to be shoved into them, there'd be like a little black box looking thing attached to the non-metal end of the card (next to or attached to the fan), where you would plug something into, sticking out abit from the card.
I could check the technical specs for them too, but as long as the photos are accurate (which they will be), then there is no need to.
Lol so yea, I think I ended up in a typing mood abit too much there sorry. They should do the trick, and do it decently ^^.
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Alright, thanks so much for helping me out.
I'm going to go buy that 9500 GT!
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No problem, kindness always accepted in the form of beta key P: lol.
Hope it works out for yah ^-^!
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8421/motherboardx.jpg)
