Improving my computer

[Aggeryt]

I have this game (Sins of a solar Empire) that I play on my PC. It usually works fine but the frame rate is total shit sometimes because I have the bare minimum requirements. I wish I could improve my computer to get the game to run better but I don't know how.

This is what I have:
Windows XP
1.8 GHz Single core processor
512 MB RAM
128 MB 3D Video Card
Direct X 9.0c


And this is what I would like to have:
2.2 GHz Dual core Processor or better
1 GB RAM
256 MB 3D Video Card


Would it be possible for me to buy this crap at a store somewhere and install it to make my machine better? BTW, I can't just buy a new computer all together because I don't have the money and the game has that lock BS that only allows it to be installed onto one Computer.

 

[Corny]

Aggeryt, you can pretty easily upgrade your machine by buying more ram and a new 3d card. you can get both pretty cheap if you are not taking the newest 3d card (the totally new models won't benefit you much more because your CPU is still slower). If you want the full package you will also need a new CPU, which will also mean you need a new mainboard, and then things start getting complicated and you probably should have it done in a shop or just buy a new machine. But if you just want to speed up this one slow game (or others that are already running anyway) new ram probably already is enough, new 3d card is some extra.

pupi18, you forgot your processor speed - but your machine seems to be good, what video card do you have? 192MB video ram seems to be a really low number for a vista machine, you should get a 3d card with at least 512 mb. but maybe you got a notebook there? the odd number makes me thing of shared system/video ram (the horror)..

 

[Aggeryt]

Do I have to worry about compatibility or will any brand of ram or 3d card do?

 

[Paws]

There are a few RAM sticks with different technologies. I think the latest is DDR3, there's also DDR2, DDR and SD-RAM.

You can see the difference in the length of the stick and one or two notches. Best would be to take out the one(s) you have inside and take it with you to the shop to compare.

Nowadays, 2GB are standard (sometimes even minimum) for gaming.

 

[andysayshi]

The Graphic card its Ati AMD X1200.
Processor speed 1.7
The ram its really that low.
Yep its a laptop.

Do you recommend me Nvidia graphic cards?

Shared System/Video ram? (please elaborate)

Thanks in advance.

You can't typically upgrade the CPU or display card in a laptop, just the RAM.

Shared-RAM graphics systems use part of the computer's system-RAM for display purposes, rather than having it's own separate RAM. These systems typically have much lower performance specs.

If you're going to Best Buy, you'll need to look at replacement machines. I doubt extra RAM will give your current machine a huge change in performance, as you already have 2GB.

 

[ice444]

And this is what I would like to have:
2.2 GHz Dual core Processor or better
1 GB RAM
256 MB 3D Video Card

Depending on what your budget is you could either:
Upgrade your current computer
Buy another one
Not bother

My current rig is:
8400 3.6ghz dual core
4 gig ram
4850 1gig 3d card
1tb hdd
I can run every game pretty darn well.

I would recommend either upgrading or buying another one.

If your upgrading:

E5300/AMD Athlon II X2 AM3 Dual Core 250 CPU 3.0GHz
2-4gig of ram (get ddr 2, ddr 3 is an unproven technology)
4830/9800 should do you fine
775 motherboard/am3 motherboard
A new psu/case wouldn't go astray either.

All of this would cost between 500-600 depending on where you are and should run this game fine.

Alternatively you could go for a more beefier system, however it would depend on how much you wanted to spend.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

Aggeryt if you know what brand and model number your computer (say something like a Dell Inspiron 500 or a HP pavillion zt1000) that will help us a lot to figure out what you can and can't upgrade to. one computer should support a range or processors, but that generally is only with regard to speed. a single core CPU computer (an older one like mine for example) isn't likely to support dual core processors at all. my computer came with a 2.0 ghz single core, but i was able to upgrade to a 3.0 ghz extreme and it helped a lot. but we've got to the make and model that will help us help you it will help us also tell you what kind of memory will work with your computer.

regarding a video card, you do need to know what kind of "slots" you have inside your computer to know what you can plug in. For example you might have an AGP slot for AGP video cards. Or you might have PCI slots so you could use a PCI video card, or you might have PCI-e (e is short for express) slot. you probably have a few PCI slots and a AGP slot. but again make and model of your computer will help us.

 

[Aggeryt]

Aggeryt if you know what brand and model number your computer (say something like a Dell Inspiron 500 or a HP pavillion zt1000) that will help us a lot to figure out what you can and can't upgrade to. one computer should support a range or processors, but that generally is only with regard to speed. a single core CPU computer (an older one like mine for example) isn't likely to support dual core processors at all. my computer came with a 2.0 ghz single core, but i was able to upgrade to a 3.0 ghz extreme and it helped a lot. but we've got to the make and model that will help us help you it will help us also tell you what kind of memory will work with your computer.

regarding a video card, you do need to know what kind of "slots" you have inside your computer to know what you can plug in. For example you might have an AGP slot for AGP video cards. Or you might have PCI slots so you could use a PCI video card, or you might have PCI-e (e is short for express) slot. you probably have a few PCI slots and a AGP slot. but again make and model of your computer will help us.

Dell Dimension 1100 Desktop/PC
# Maximum Memory Capacity: 2048MB
# Currently Installed Memory: 512MB
# Available Memory Slots: 0
# Total Memory Slots: 2
# Dual Channel Support: Yes
# CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
# CPU Family: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.53GHz Model 4, Stepping 9
# CPU Speed: 2526 MHz

This help?

 

[seven2go]

The best you're going to do is throw out your current ram and drop in two 1 gig sticks.
I'll guarantee it'll seem like a different computer.
Run the Belarc advisor to be sure of the ram type.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html