What video cards can I use?

Question

I have an IBM ThinkCentre S50 model 8183. It has a Pentium 4 2.4 GHZ processor, 768 mb RAM, 80 gig hard drive and runs XP Pro. I recently bought a game, SimCity Societies, for cheap. I didn't realize that my onboard video chipset would not work until I loaded the game and it would not run.

I am not a computer whiz, although I have added internal components myself. Please try to keep it simple if you can.

The game package says I need a video adapter with at least 128 mb memory and either a ATI Radeon 9600 or greater, or a NVIDIA FX 5900 or greater.

Am I limited to these video cards, or can I use something else? I have been looking on ebay for these cards, and I have noticed that I need one with the correct interface. What does that mean, and what do I have?

Thanks for any and all answers.

Beetle in a Box · Accepted Answer

I don't think you can.  That computer basically is as small as case as they could possibly cram the minimum into, and it doesn't look like you have an AGP slot (the older video slot) and definitely does not have a PCI-E slot (the modern video slot).  It does appear to have two free PCI slots, which are used now for things like network cards, but were used for video before AGP--very very slow.  Unfortunately I think it would be a waste of money to buy a Radeon 9600+ in PCI for that system (assuming you could find a video card scaled down to fit a small case), and since the power supply is only 200 W you'd probably need a new one too (and good luck finding that to fit).  I'm afraid the best thing to do is put Simcity Societies on the shelf for a few months until you save up money to buy a new system.

Edit:  Hang on to the game, you can pull it out when you do decide to get a new computer.  ;-)

Anonymous · Answer

without understanding extra approximately your laptop it particularly is impossible to assert what the terrific improve course could be. A video card and pix card are purely distinctive names for an identical ingredient. Getting one will improve the overall performance of pix on the laptop yet no longer basic overall performance. in case you laptop is as a rule very sluggish, then it particularly is totally probable you want extra RAM. Getting extra RAM will in all probability furnish a larger develop than a pix card besides the undeniable fact that it particularly is stressful to assert without understanding your modern-day laptop specs.

Dayan G · Answer

Based on what this diagrams shows...

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/51357_8418_parts.gif

I doubt you'll be able to fit any modern PCI-e x16 graphic cards in there.

Honestly, however, you can use any nVidia or ATI Radeon graphics cards made after 2004. Fitting it in to your case would be hard. 

If i were you, i'd just get a new computer with a real ATX case or i'd take everything out of your current one and lay it out on a desk and play without a case.

violator1200 · Answer

Man that's a small case.
idk if it can handle an upgrade even if your able to fit a card in there it looks to me like your gonna need a new power supply too..Sorry

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What video cards can I use?

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