Ok- I consider myself quite computer savvy.
However, I've never messed with upgrading graphics cards before, and I'm a bit lost.
Though I'm a proud Apple fan, the 'family" desktop is currently my wife's Windows Vista machine (yuck. )
And while I'd eventually like to convince her to make the switch to a nice iMac or the like, currently I'm looking at trying to upgrade the graphics card in the PC for better gaming for my kids & other applications.
According to HP tech support, this model has a 128MB PCI-E card. It's "low profile."
Now, I get that if I want to upgrade it, I simply need to go online and buy a PCI-E "low profile" card with more graphics memory.
However, it seems that some of these graphics cards I'm looking at online are "upgradable," meaning that they'll support more memory than they come with stock.
So is that as simple as changing out a RAM card in the actual video card? And if so, can I just do that with the current one I have, how would I find out?
Like I said, I was totally unaware that certain graphics cards could support more video memory, which made me think it may be as simple as like when you add RAM to your computer.
Can someone clarify this for me?
And also, I'd love to hear suggestions on how much memory I should upgrade to. I have small children, so they aren't heavy gamers. Mostly learning games and a few online games. Also, I notice that machine moves a little sluggish when I set my screen resolution to 1400X900, which is what our 17" LCD supports.
So I'm assuming that with a better graphics card, I can keep the higher resolution without suffering from performance issues.
Thanks for the tips!
However, I've never messed with upgrading graphics cards before, and I'm a bit lost.
Though I'm a proud Apple fan, the 'family" desktop is currently my wife's Windows Vista machine (yuck. )
And while I'd eventually like to convince her to make the switch to a nice iMac or the like, currently I'm looking at trying to upgrade the graphics card in the PC for better gaming for my kids & other applications.
According to HP tech support, this model has a 128MB PCI-E card. It's "low profile."
Now, I get that if I want to upgrade it, I simply need to go online and buy a PCI-E "low profile" card with more graphics memory.
However, it seems that some of these graphics cards I'm looking at online are "upgradable," meaning that they'll support more memory than they come with stock.
So is that as simple as changing out a RAM card in the actual video card? And if so, can I just do that with the current one I have, how would I find out?
Like I said, I was totally unaware that certain graphics cards could support more video memory, which made me think it may be as simple as like when you add RAM to your computer.
Can someone clarify this for me?
And also, I'd love to hear suggestions on how much memory I should upgrade to. I have small children, so they aren't heavy gamers. Mostly learning games and a few online games. Also, I notice that machine moves a little sluggish when I set my screen resolution to 1400X900, which is what our 17" LCD supports.
So I'm assuming that with a better graphics card, I can keep the higher resolution without suffering from performance issues.
Thanks for the tips!