Computer help

[pho]

tried playing starcraft online a little while back, and i lagged

i thought to myself WTF? starcraft is an old game, so it doesnt need much to make it run fine, but yet my computer lagged while playing online

my computer ran fast, i always kepted it clean, my net was fast, i have a dsl connection, so i wanted to know why it lagged, i noticed there was a performance icon thing in my control panel so i clicked on it

and this is what it tolded me
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/103/screenshotyb5.jpg
click here for bigger pic
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/103/screenshotyb5.th.jpg (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotyb5.jpg)

MY computer scored a 1 in gaming graphics, WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
everything else seem to be running fine

IM a noob when it comes to computer hardware, so i was woundering if anyone knew how to fix this?

or maybe recommend and kind of graphic card or something like that? if that is what i need, then can someone tell me or show me tips for what kind of specs i need to look for when im shopping for one?

or do i need a video card or something? (i have no clue what im talking about)

if this helps any, i think this is a newer version of my computer
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8022766&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050069&id=1156607399506

here are some specs
Type: General Purpose, Value
Processor Family: Intel 5 Series (Pentium 4)
RAM: 512 MB
Storage Capacity: 160 GB
RAID: No
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 GM

The a1120n is another inexpensive Media Center from HP without a TV tuner: If you can live without TV, the Pavilion a1120n is a good PC for students and home users toting iPods and digicams.

http://www.pcmag.com/images/pcm_exec_sum_pros.gif
Media Center Edition OS in a sub-$1,000 package. Seamless integration between HP?s mul-timedia apps and MCE. Nice 17-inch LCD.

http://www.pcmag.com/images/pcm_exec_sum_cons.gif
No PCIe or AGP expansion slot. Ball mouse.

i knew i should of bought a dell, thanks for any help:D

[Mr_Mischif]

If you have integrated graphics, that's why.

[pho]

If you have integrated graphics, that's why.

what does that mean?

[imbosile]

looks like you need to buy a video/graphics card, (video and graphics card = the same thing)

[pho]

looks like you need to buy a video/graphics card, (video and graphics card = the same thing)

alright, any kind of specs do i need to look out for in a good one, before i buy a peice of crap

[pho]

is this any good?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7634795&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01151&id=1130987444322

[imbosile]

is this any good?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7634795&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01151&id=1130987444322



Yea that one doesnt look bad, you need to check your computer an make sure you have a PCI-express card slot on your mother board. I have a ATi X700 Pro and I can play BF2, CSS, and other games all on high. I'm not sure what they go for now but i think they are pretty cheap.

[imbosile]

Looking at that link you posted about the kind of computer you have, I don't think it has a PCI-express slot. You may have to get a regular PCI card.

[pho]

Yea that one doesnt look bad, you need to check your computer an make sure you have a PCI-express card slot on your mother board. I have a ATi X700 Pro and I can play BF2, CSS, and other games all on high. I'm not sure what they go for now but i think they are pretty cheap.

huh, how do i do that? do i just open up my computer?

[imbosile]

huh, how do i do that? do i just open up my computer?


umm, do you know the model of your computer, then you could go on the manufacturers website and look it up

just post the manufacturer and model and i'll try and find it

[pho]

umm, do you know the model of your computer, then you could go on the manufacturers website and look it up

just post the manufacturer and model and i'll try and find it

hp Pavillion a1120n

[pho]

more specs on the computer

Type: General Purpose, Value
Processor Family: Intel 5 Series (Pentium 4)
RAM: 512 MB
Storage Capacity: 160 GB
RAID: No
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 GM

The a1120n is another inexpensive Media Center from HP without a TV tuner: If you can live without TV, the Pavilion a1120n is a good PC for students and home users toting iPods and digicams.

http://www.pcmag.com/images/pcm_exec_sum_pros.gif
Media Center Edition OS in a sub-$1,000 package. Seamless integration between HP?s mul-timedia apps and MCE. Nice 17-inch LCD.

http://www.pcmag.com/images/pcm_exec_sum_cons.gif
No PCIe or AGP expansion slot. Ball mouse.

[imbosile]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00361570&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=472139&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN#


check this page out, you have 3 PCI slots. You don't have any AGP or PCI-e slots. So when shopping for a graphics card find one that is PCI only.

[pho]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00361570&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=472139&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN#


check this page out, you have 3 PCI slots. You don't have any AGP or PCI-e slots. So when shopping for a graphics card find one that is PCI only.

alright, sounds good, is it a bad thing not having any AGP or PCI-e slots?

[imbosile]

alright, sounds good, is it a bad thing not having any AGP or PCI-e slots?


Well sort of, PCI-e is faster than AGP, which is faster than PCI. PCI-e>AGP>PCI, I'm pretty sure that's right. I wouldn't worry to much you can still get really fast cards for any setup.

[pho]

Well sort of, PCI-e is faster than AGP, which is faster than PCI. PCI-e>AGP>PCI, I'm pretty sure that's right. I wouldn't worry to much you can still get really fast cards for any setup.

alright, thanks for your help now i have some idea what to do about this

[imbosile]

I would take a look at a few of these, and figure out how much you want to spend.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=38&N=2010380048+1069609642+4017&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=48

[pho]

how about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATI-RADEON-X1600-PRO-512MB-PCI-Video-Graphics-Card_W0QQitemZ320053690649QQihZ011QQcategoryZ40158 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or this

http://cgi.ebay.com/NVidia-GeForce-6600V-512-mb-PCI-Express-Graphics-Card_W0QQitemZ250053918824QQihZ015QQcategoryZ40161 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[imbosile]

how about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATI-RADEON-X1600-PRO-512MB-PCI-Video-Graphics-Card_W0QQitemZ320053690649QQihZ011QQcategoryZ40158 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or this

http://cgi.ebay.com/NVidia-GeForce-6600V-512-mb-PCI-Express-Graphics-Card_W0QQitemZ250053918824QQihZ015QQcategoryZ40161 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



You don't have a PCI-express slot on your computer so that won't work.

[pho]

You don't have a PCI-express slot on your computer so that won't work.

oh, PCI - express is the same as PCI-e, shit i guess im gonna have to do more research on my own,

aight later, thanks for all the help, ill come back here if i have any more questions

+1

[imbosile]

oh, PCI - express is the same as PCI-e, shit i guess im gonna have to do more research on my own,

aight later, thanks for all the help, ill come back here if i have any more questions

+1


yea no problem, you need a PCI only card. No PCI-express/PCI-e, and no AGP.

[unkn0wndj]

Maybe you running Windows Vista (which is a next-gen Operating System) has a bit to do with it ;)

[changaroo]

probably an illegal version of vista :P

also, i heard starcraft wouldnt run on vista. something about it being an 8bit game.

[unkn0wndj]

probably an illegal version of vista :P

also, i heard starcraft wouldnt run on vista. something about it being an 8bit game.

Doubt it. Vista was publicly released in Beta form for awhile. Product Keys were valid.

Most games will run on Vista it's not much of a change in the kernel and not only that there is a compatibility wizard ;)