Should I upgrade my graphics card or get more RAM?

[aimeeandbeatles]

I have an ATI Radeon Xpress 200 series graphic card (integrated), and 992 MB of RAM. I've noticed a lot of my games have choppy graphics if on high quality (or if it's water, it's horrible even on low settings), and the boxes said they don't support integrated graphics cards, although it works.

Would it be better to upgrade my graphics card or get some more RAM? I haven't installed hardware before, but with instructions I could probably figure it out.

I'll provide more information if needed.

thank you.

 

[Zelig]

What do you expect from an upgrade?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

RAM will help in general computing, GPU will help in games. Which one are you looking for more?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

1. I'm expecting the gameplay to be less choppy on high quality.
2. The games. Although it'd be nice if I could get my media encoding to not take so long.

EDIT: My computer is a Prosys Axess from 2006. Finally I figure out the manufacturer!

ANOTHER EDIT: The main thing I have problems with is some water in a game (the game is Horsez 2 for PC, it's a pretty good game actually). It uses DirectX 9, and going into the properties for the game says this:

Standalone player for 3D real time applications developed with Virtools Dev from Virtools SA

I tried reducing the graphics setting but it didn't work. The readme says it has problems with other ATI Radeon Xpress cards, but not mine, but the recommended requirements say "GeForce 6 or equalivant."

 

[Zelig]

1. I'm expecting the gameplay to be less choppy on high quality.
2. The games. Although it'd be nice if I could get my media encoding to not take so long.

EDIT: My computer is a Prosys Axess from 2006. Finally I figure out the manufacturer!

ANOTHER EDIT: The main thing I have problems with is some water in a game (the game is Horsez 2 for PC, it's a pretty good game actually). It uses DirectX 9 and Virtools.

Running new games on high quality is probably beyond the capability of any video card that will work with your power supply. You'll have to open your case and paste in the psu specs, or take a photo, to get some decent recommendations.

Media encoding is probably cpu bound, unless you're running out of memory. Hit up the task manager to see if your memory is being fully used during media encoding.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My memory is fine during encoding, the processor gets used up and I'm leery of overclocking.

I'll open it up after I get my mom's permission (she's convinced I'll electrocute myself).

 

[GoodGame]

You'll only electrocute yourself if you open up the power supply box.

Make sure you turn off the computer before you open it, and try not to touch components without 'grounding' yourself, or you might just damage the parts.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I tried one side off the computer but there weren't any stickers. My mom wouldn't let me open the other side cos "you'll RUIN it!"

I did find on the side of the case a sticker saying "Electrical Input: 116 V, 60 Hz." I tried googling the computer brand to see if they had a standard one but I got nothing.

p.s. sorry took so long to reply, I was at the dentists getting a tooth pulled

 

[Zelig]

We need this sticker:



If you can't get to that sticker, you're not going to be able to install anything in the computer anyway.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My mom won't let me open up the computer. If I did upgrade, my mom would probably make me go to a store to get it professionally done.
I can see through the side of the case, but it's the wrong side, I can see something saying ATI but that's it.

Sorry.

 

[Zelig]

Looks like you'll have to go to a store to get a professional opinion of your upgrade options, in that case.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

thanks. 10chairs

 

[Steve2000]

Installing a new graphics card is one of the easiest things you can do in terms of upgrading your PC. I would not recommend paying someone to do this for you, unless you don't care about the cost (I would guess a computer store would probably charge you at least $50 on top of the cost of the graphics card).

One other thought: Even without checking to be sure, there is an extremely high likelihood that your PC has a PSU of 250W or less. Almost all PCs sold as general personal use have low wattage PSUs. In addition, the fact that your graphics card is a pretty basic integrated GPU supports this even more. This means most modern graphics cards would be

 

[Genocidicbunny]

..out of your reach (to finish Steve2000's sentence there).
You wont get better encoding speeds with memory or GPu unless you get a CUDA gpu and use Badaboom. CUDA GPU's are out of your reach with a PSU of less than 400watts ( approximately ).
Therefore, id suggest upgrading your memory. Itll give you a nice general computing boost, although you wont see much difference in games.

 

[Steve2000]

Thanks stickciv! That is exactly what I had typed originally.

 

[alcal]

My mom won't let me open up the computer. If I did upgrade, my mom would probably make me go to a store to get it professionally done.
I can see through the side of the case, but it's the wrong side, I can see something saying ATI but that's it.

Sorry.

Why don't you open your pc when your mother is not at home?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Because my mother is always home. And she'd find out. She always does.

 

[alcal]

Then open you pc at your friend's home.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It might help if I had friends!

 

[alcal]

Ouch... poor alone child...