I need to upgrade the GPU on my mom's computer. Need help.

[MarkS]

My mother has a rather old Dell with Intel integrated graphics. There are some things I cannot upgrade, like the Pentium 4 processor, but I can add memory and an AGP card.

The problem is that NewEgg's selection of APG cards leaves me scratching my head. I know that Intel integrated graphics suck, but these cards are so old that I cannot be entirely sure which, if any, would be better.

Even thought she just uses this to surf the web and write letters, the GPU is a major issue. She had the resolution set to one that was not supported by the monitor and the slow down was dramatic. I fixed that, but I figure that I could get some performance boost with an actual GPU. She is running XP Pro with 512 MB RAM, no viruses or spyware and hardly anything installed.

 

[ratbuddy]

A GPU won't really help with that stuff unless you are sure the 2D performance is much better than integrated, which often isn't the case. For what you'll pay for a decent AGP card, you are probably better off grabbing her an older C2D or X2 system from the classies here. You can probably get a CPU/mobo/RAM for $100 or so.

 

[Soverntear]

upgrading tech that old has seriously diminishing returns. better off just doing a rebuild. on my local kijiji there are loads of pc's that would blow the water off that p4 for around $150

 

[grumperfish]

The most I'd suggest is upgrading the RAM, but the CPU (and probably the HDD) are slow enough that you'd be better off just picking up something newer.

 

[woboy]

Visit the EVGA Store > B STOCK > 6200 refurbished, or newegg Sparkle 256 MB 128 BIT for about $40
Going to 1 GB by adding another 512 mb will hep, i gb cards are still a bit high priced.
That said if it wasn't for the oem Operating System I would slide an h61, Celeron g520/540 [Sandy Bridge snd 2x2 gb ram in there.