Upgrade computer now or wait to buy a new one?

Question

The computer is fairly old; it has a single-core processor and a 8x AGP graphics card slot.

I would like to be able to multitask more and be able to play newer video games on it. This is not absolutely necessary but would be nice. I upgraded the ram six months ago. The only thing left to upgrade is the graphics card; I would just buy a new computer before upgrading the motherboard and CPU.

Anyways, here are my computers specs:

AMD 2400+ processor (2.01 ghz)
3 GB PC-3200 Corsair RAM
120gb 7200rpm Western Digital hard-drive
128mb 8x AGP Geforce TI-4800
GA-7VAXP motherboard

I cannot use PCI-express cards, I am currently running Windows XP Professional SP3, but I am going to be switching to Windows 7. In my computers current state it would be unable to use Windows Aero but can run Windows 7 no problem. Any suggestions?

I have a laptop with a duo core processor but a garbage built in windows graphics cards. The screen is broken..though I could plug it into my monitor and it would work no problem. Can I upgrade the graphics card on the laptop? I assume the newer laptops can have their graphics cards upgraded, but not the older ones?

Thanks for help.

Answer 1

well, it is better if you just leave your PC as is and just use it for normal PC tasks such as web browsing, FB, youtube etc. because I am 100% sure that you're going to get a significantly better performing PC if you build a new one than upgrading such an old system.



Around $700-$800 could give you a build that will be decent enough to let you play all games on mid settings and some on high settings with good FPS.

Answer 2

You need more than video card to make this minimum working machine. I would pull the plug and back in new system. If you would place Windows 7 on this machine, it would be a nightmare and snuggest. The graphic on laptop is build into the motherboard. No upgrade. Look around for good used computer. Stay away from XP machines, if Vista will work Windows 7 machine. The trouble with laptop is small hard drive.

Answer 3

Buy a new one and sell this old chap so it can partly shoulder the expense of a new computer, newer gen graphic cards have different socket types, if your motherboard is too old to be compatible with NVIDIA GTX 200-500 series and 6 & 7 series of AMD RADEON, If I were you, just sell it let your old computer retire once and for all

Answer 4

just buy a new computer, its just not worth it to buy parts for it.