Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Need to upgrde video card But what can my system take

Jul 23, 2005 8:19AM PDT

I currently have a Dell Dimension 4100 and want to transfer VHS video to my computer to edit and burn to DVD. I bought Pinnacle systems software for this. they recomend you have 800 MHz processer, 1.5GHz better. My computer has a pentium 3 at 1 Ghz, 256MB @ 133 MHz, and a 32MB Navida M64 APG graphic card, and 40GB hard drive. Does anybody know if a Navida G force2 card will fit my computer and can I upgrade to DirectX 9?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
you could get
Jul 23, 2005 9:03AM PDT

a 6600 or a 5200. any agp card should work, but watch your power supply!

konny

- Collapse -
he is right
Jul 23, 2005 2:00PM PDT

and as far as DirectX 9
as long as your not using Windows95 or NT 4.0
you can update to DirectX 9
but not all of the features will work unless you have a graphics card which can handle all of them (DX 9 games will play at reduced levels with a Geforce2 (if it can even play them at all))

i'd suggest a GeForce FX 5200 or a GeForce 6200
both will fully support DirectX 9.0 and all of it's features
the 6200 will be faster and cost a little more

- Collapse -
transfer VHS video to my computer
Jul 26, 2005 7:04AM PDT

For video editing you don't need a high powered video card. The one you have will be fine, for gaming NO. You didn't say which OS you have???
BUT you do need a video capture card, more memory and a bigger HD since captured video files are very large.
More help in the multi-media fourm. John