Video Card Upgrade options?

Question

what video card updates can i make to my desktop? i have a dell optiplex 170L
Specs:
CPU:
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz

CPU Speed:
You Have: 3.19 GHz

RAM:
510.0 MB

OS:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Build Service Pack 32600)

Video Card:
Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller

Directx version:
9.0c

Free Disk Space:
33.0 GB

DVD ROM:
HL-DT-ST CD-ROM GCR-8480B

What i want updates for:
I want to upgrade my RAM to atleast 1GB
and i want to upgrade my video card to a GeForce or Nvida

(i really want the computer to be able to run Call of Duty 4)

Answer 1

Unfortunately this computer probably cannot be upgraded to run COD4.



The Optiplex 170L has no dedicated video expansion slot (either AGP or PCI-Express) so it can only use older, slower PCI cards. In addition, the slimline model can only use half-height cards.



There aren't any good gaming cards available in PCI. You could install a GeForce 8400GS (certainly an improvement over the integrated graphics) but that's only good for low-intensity games like the Sims, World of Warcraft, etc- it's not really powerful enough for Call of Duty 4.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133245



To play modern fps games, you'll need a new computer.

Answer 2

Here's upgrade options for RAM on your Dell Optiplex 170L:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=OptiPlex%20170L%20Series



Your 512MB you have currently might be in one 256MB card or two 128MB cards - you'll need to open your computer and find out which. If you only have one card in there, you could add either a 512MB or a 1GB card in the second slot. If you have two 128MB cards, you could remove them both and install two 512MB cards.



A dell optiplex 170L does not support either PCI-Express or AGP graphics card technology, so it's very important you find a graphics card that is a PCI card. Unfortunately, those types of cards aren't as good as PCI-E or AGP, but it's all your computer has the slots for. So when searching for a video card, make sure you only look at PCI cards, and NOT PCI-E (PCI-Express) or AGP cards.



However, from everything I've read on the Internet, Call of Duty 4 will not work with a PCI graphics card. You could give it a shot anyway, but Call of Duty 4 requires a card that's at least a GeForce 6600, and they don't make them that high for PCI.

Answer 3

go and get a 8600gt but it will not good for new and modern games.9600gt is a good card and it can run the modern games on medium and low settings in modern world.You should get atleast 2gb ram to play games very good.9800gt is another card having blast performance and i am also sheduling to buy it.Remember to upgrade ur power supply first to atleast 450w

Thanx