Can a graphics card slow a computer?

[Beaver]

Ok, I have a Dell 8200 with RDRAM. I have added more memory over the last couple years. The computer is starting to slow down when 3-4 applications are running, but I don't think it is lack of memory. It will freeze when opening applications or when browsing sites with video/moving advertisements or graphics. Could my graphics card be the problem? It is Nvidia something, I want to say GForce and 8 years old. Also would I even find a card that is compatible to my old computer? Thanks.

 

[Ryanwb]

Have you updated the drivers for the card?

I'm assuming it's an AGP card. You can get them on EBAY for dirt cheap

 

[Beaver]

Haven't updated the drivers. I'll probably mess around with it this weekend. I should probably get the specs on what I actually have too.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

If you've added more RAM lately, then it's probably you CPU that's creating the bottleneck.

Post your specs, and it will become more clear...

 

[Beaver]

CPU is P4 1.8 Ghz and the graphics card is Nvidia GeForce2 mx/mx 400. I updated my driver and it seems to be running more smoothly. My version was 56 something and the new one was in the 90s!

I added more memory a couple years ago, but I still only have 512 MB. Thought I had more for some reason. Probably because it was so expensive. I can buy 1 GB off ebay for only $60, I'll probably do that to see. The price of RDRAM has gone down.

 

[Sandan]

I would seriously consider alternative before dumping more cash into an old PC

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

I would seriously consider alternative before dumping more cash into an old PC

Indeed. PC's are not like cars...fixing it won't make it run well enough to stay on the road...if you get my drift.

 

[Beaver]

I have a new laptop that is used around the house. The desktop is mine only and I have it set up just the way I like it. After the memory upgrade I'll ride it as long as I can!

 

[Darth Llama]

Does your computer have onboard graphics? Or is it an actual AGP or PCI-E Card? I beleive the set up you are running is an integrated graphics solution. If that's the case then you definitely need more ram since the system takes Graphics memory from your system RAM.

If your use of the computer is everyday tasks such as web browsing, office applications, email, etc then I really see no need for a serious upgrade. You can get a budget graphics card and a 1GB stick of RAM for far less then you would spend replacing the computer. In the end it's all about your needs. Computer specs are a little out of whack now a days, the cheepest model Dell Computers for example have Dual Core CPU's, 2GB+ of Memory and 650 GB+ Hard disks which are far less then the average user needs. You don't need a whole lot of power for general mundane use, and a slight upgrade would probably do the trick in your case.

 

[KloD]

Does your computer have onboard graphics? Or is it an actual AGP or PCI-E Card? I beleive the set up you are running is an integrated graphics solution. If that's the case then you definitely need more ram since the system takes Graphics memory from your system RAM.

If your use of the computer is everyday tasks such as web browsing, office applications, email, etc then I really see no need for a serious upgrade. You can get a budget graphics card and a 1GB stick of RAM for far less then you would spend replacing the computer. In the end it's all about your needs. Computer specs are a little out of whack now a days, the cheepest model Dell Computers for example have Dual Core CPU's, 2GB+ of Memory and 650 GB+ Hard disks which are far less then the average user needs. You don't need a whole lot of power for general mundane use, and a slight upgrade would probably do the trick in your case.

Shut up.

Signed,

Newegg

 

[Covert Rain]

Beaver I would pick up at the very least a cheap newer PC because with most of those you can upgrade them yourself as you go along. You won't run into all the crap you do with trying to keep an older PC alive. It's just not worth it IMO.

Just do your homework. You don't want to buy a crammed PC (micro ATX) machine only to find out later your you can't do as much upgrading as you would like. However, there are some really good deals on some duo core PC's out there that you can do lots with down the road.

 

[conraddobler]

Shut up.

Signed,

Newegg

LOL

I have Dells in my office because of the overall price of all the works you get on them, office is much cheaper for example.

Yes there are problems and yes they tend to be very very proprietary and a pain to upgrade but out of the box you can't beat the horsepower for the money when you factor in the operating system and software.

I bought two earlier this year from Best Buy off the floor for just cheap, no monitor, already had those for like 400$ each with office on them.

That's dual core, like 4 gigs of mem, stupid cheap.