Which graphics card??!

[utrythinkinof1]

Finding the right graphics card is so hard!!! So I'm asking the experts this question........
What is the best graphics card that isn't too expensive and can run games like The Sims 2, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, and Simcity 4 SMOOTHLY without gliches. I have already found a good memory card from Crucial Technology (512 MB x2), so I have 1 GB of RAM. My computer is a Dell Dimension 8300. Thanks in advance!

[Dragokatzov]

the games you are running, atleast for the most part, are not overly resource intensive, I'd look into something like a Geforce 7600 or an Radeon x1600.

[utrythinkinof1]

Is this what you are talking about: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5VQOU/sr=8-1/qid=1152287032/refd_bbs_1/102-2590794-8755319?ie=UTF8

or is it this...? :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5RJJ6/sr=8-2/qid=1152287032/refd_bbs_2/102-2590794-8755319?ie=UTF8

AGP or PCI Express? What are those anyway?

[Aristotle13]

Okay, first off, give me your specs of your computer, then, give me your budget.

I just built my wife a gaming rig. and for her graphics card, she's got a 6600gt BFG OC in PciExpress16. I haven't even messed with OCing it and it plays Sims 2, the only other game she plays, very very well.

her cpu specs:
Asus A8LE
AMD3500
1gb Corsair VS
6600gt OC BFG
160gb WD

[Dragokatzov]

Originally Posted by utrythinkinof1

Is this what you are talking about: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5VQOU/sr=8-1/qid=1152287032/refd_bbs_1/102-2590794-8755319?ie=UTF8

or is it this...? :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E5RJJ6/sr=8-2/qid=1152287032/refd_bbs_2/102-2590794-8755319?ie=UTF8

both are good. i was thinking the 256 MB verson would be more suted for you, 512 MB is still over kill, unless you are playing FEAR or Doom 3 on absolutly maxed out settings

AGP or PCI Express? What are those anyway?

Its the interface the graphics card uses to communicate with the rest of your computer.

If i recall correctly, the Dell Deminsion 8300 has an AGP slot. I'd call dell to make sure if i were you. Dell has a funny habbit of saing you have whatever super duper video card you have, but will omit weather or not its AGP or PCI Express, so I have noticed

[utrythinkinof1]

Originally Posted by Aristotle13

Okay, first off, give me your specs of your computer, then, give me your budget.

I am going to buy two 512 MB memory sticks so my computer will have 1 gig... I don't really know what else you want me to tell you other than that and I want a graphics card that will run Sims 2, RCT 3, and Simcity 4 smoothly.

Concerning the AGP and the PCI Express....

I decided not to call Dell because big companies like Dell make it take forever for you to talk to a human, so I looked in the manual. I found a section called "Adding or Replacing the AGP Card" so I guess that confirms that I have a AGP slot.

[Aristotle13]

Okay, next question. What do you beleive is "not too expensive" cause I can tell you from me to you that will vary quite a bit. Less than $200? Less than $500? Somewhere in between?

[*The.Doctor]

Originally Posted by utrythinkinof1

I found a section called "Adding or Replacing the AGP Card" so I guess that confirms that I have a AGP slot.

Yes, A Dell Dimension 8300 has a AGP slot, trust me, i used to have one.

[Steakboy]

I found a section called "Adding or Replacing the AGP Card" so I guess that confirms that I have a AGP slot.

Yeah, and in this case it's correct, but be careful when looking at manuals for things of that nature; my manual has a section on how to run and burn your dvds, but my computer doesn't even have a dvd player . . . they tend to just throw things like that into the manual for an entire line of computers, not just the one specific model that it was designed for.

[utrythinkinof1]

Thanks StaticX and thanks Steakboy for the warning. Aristotle:
TOO expensive would be $250, but something cheaper like less than $100-150 might be TOO cheap... I am not sure. But I am sure that I don't want to spend more than $250, maybe not even more than $200.