Graphic card or RAM?

[Jacques]

My system specs are Intel 2.8 GHz Core Duo processor, 445 MB RAM, 160 GB hard disk and ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 graphic adapter. Many games run slow on my computer including some older ones like Splinter Cell 2. When I check whether my system can run a game on www.systemrequirementslab.com, I usually get the error on my RAM and/or my graphic card. I am thinking about either increasing the RAM or buying a new graphic card. What should I do TSM? Also please recommend me a card which can run most of the games comfortably while not being extremely expensive.

[AntiLeaf33]

Increase the RAM, first off. If your a gamer then your going to want at least 1 GB and ideally, 2 or 3 GB of RAM

[ZGangsta]

If I'm not mistaken that's an integrated chipset video card, so getting a new video card would free up RAM since the XPRESS is using system RAM as its own too. I might be wrong about that card though.

 

But yeah, you need more RAM and a new card for gaming. I'd definitely go with RAM first since you can crank down details for the time being.

 

As for a new video card, what's your price range?

[Jacques]

You are correct. It is an integrated chipset video card. That's why I guess my RAM shows up as 448 MB even though I installed a 512 MB RAM. As for the price, I'd say about 100 dollars.

[Mike wanna be]

With some careful spending you can probably get both for $100. You won't be top-of-the-line and it depends a lot on your motherboard (DDR vs DDR2, AGP vs PCI-E are the two main splits) but I was able to get a decent Radeon and 1GB DDR2 for about that much.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski]

I'm 99% sure that Core Duo motherboards use the PCI Express bus. Check your computer's manual and see if you can upgrade the card.

[muzz]

Both really need to be upgraded ASAP. I got a 8600GTS PCI-E pretty cheap, and if you look around the RAM should be fairly cheap as well.

 

But yeah, they need to match your processor which is pretty good.