Here is the specs of my low-end computer model: Name/Brand: Compaq Presario SR1800NX CPU: Intel Celeron D 3.06 GHz Video Card: Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200 RAM: 2 GB I recently upgraded the RAM from 512 MB to 2 GB, but I still can't run some programs. Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 and After Effects CS3 keep crashing after I boot the up for example. Even games such as Counter Strike 1.6 or the original Half Life have trouble running on my computer with the lowest graphics setting. My computer geek friend said that since my video card is integrated with my motherboard, it is significantly lowering the processing speed. He told me to buy a new video card, install it on one of the extra slots, and disable the integrated one. I scan for viruses every day, I do disk cleanups/ defragments once a week or every two weeks. I do not have any fancy settings on my computer right now. Anyways, so is what my friend said true? Or should I get a new computer? Or something else?
I think a decent video card would help and be much less $$ then new computer. Is it just programs with high graphics that are crashing or are other things crashing/hanging ? You may have some bad sectors on HDD. There are programs to check your HDD. I would test HDD for problems before adding video cards, etc. Even if computer needs a HDD, they are pretty cheap. Besides, it is much more satisfing fixing up your old computer and having run better than buying a new one.
You do need to get a seperate video card, even a lowend (under 60.00) video card will improve your computer. I have the ati x1650 pro (paid 59.00) and that plays halflife2/Quake enemy territory with no problems and runs cs3 and every video editing program I have etc without crashing. A midrange card to look at is the ati 3850 (about 110.00) that one will play every game currently available. The onboard video card are not design for gaming purpose. Just make sure that you get the correct type of video card that fit's your motherboard (either agp or PCI-e). If you get a midrange or above you might need to increase your power supply also. Your cpu is plenty fast to run games and you have enough ram. With games it's always about the video card. Even a quadcore will have problems playing games if it has to use an integrated video card.
Thanks, well I'll be sure to purchase a new video card and check to see if my harddrive has any bad sectors or what not. I might consider buying a bigger hard drive since the one I have right now is only 100 GB (the actual size is only around 86.4 GB or so)
