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HP Slimline s3123w Desktop PC

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited February 2010 in Graphical and Sound Issues
I nee to know what is the best graphics card for this PC so I can play STO on full detail. Can anyone help me?
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    being a slimline your choices are very limited. Your going to have to find a lowprofile card and one that is narrower than standard vide cards. Unless you want to leave the side of your unit off. Also, depending on the location of your sata connectors you may not even be able to install an off the shelf GPU.

    I know both ATI and nVidia make these types of cards its just going to be a matter of finding one that will fot your tower....

    After that then you will have to worry about heat generation and a power supply.

    I know you wanted specific cards but I can't remember any off the top of my head
    sorry..
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    thats okay, juat send me the ones when u remember
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I don't think you're going to find a graphics card that will fit into that machine that'll allow you to run at full detail. As Taywin said, you've got a serious space issue, coupled with a low spec CPU and, if I'm reading the spec sheet correctly, far too little RAM to run STO smoothly. I also expect you've got a 200-250w PSU - which won't be enough for any card capable of the detail you want, even if you could cram it into the case.

    If you want to play STO on full detail, I'm afraid a new PC looks to be the only answer.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Splyce wrote: »
    I don't think you're going to find a graphics card that will fit into that machine that'll allow you to run at full detail. As Taywin said, you've got a serious space issue, coupled with a low spec CPU and, if I'm reading the spec sheet correctly, far too little RAM to run STO smoothly. I also expect you've got a 200-250w PSU - which won't be enough for any card capable of the detail you want, even if you could cram it into the case.

    If you want to play STO on full detail, I'm afraid a new PC looks to be the only answer.

    I have enough RAM, I bought 2GB for it and installed it...so you ae telling me that the slimline is a lost cause? I mean there is not a small enough card to put in that thing? And what if I get a new PSU to have enogh wattage, am I still scewed? What about this PC http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-320-GB-a4313w-b/13339234 or this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/eMachines-750-GB-ET1331G-05w/13352323
    maybe this one? http://www.walmart.com/ip/eMachines-320-GB-EL1333G-01w/13352324 or this one? http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-320-GB-HP-CQ5300F/13377119
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    You're PC has 2Gb of RAM? I would say thats a minimum requirement for STO.

    None of the PC's you've listed will play STO anywhere near max settings. They all have crappy integrated graphics options (not one single graphics card amongst them) and low end CPU's.

    You're going to need to spend a lot more money - try the $1000 mark and you'll be getting there.

    And don't buy a PC from Walmart.... ever.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    To emiluskalile, I suggest http://www.tigerdirect.com .They have Brand name rigs,which I despise for their BLOTED CRANKY software and almost non-functional BIOS firmware.Or barebones in all degrees of parts,and a lot of parts for just about everything. You can also have them modify anything you buy that is pre-made or pre-built.They have 24/7 phone,internet or mail support for ordering and/or help.And most stuff you can extend the warranty if you want. I get parts the next day,ALWAYS,depending how close to ILLINOIS you are from warehouse.They have given me exemplerary service. I also check http://www.pricewatch.com for odd parts or just to check prices. Tiger will take back ANYTHING just about, NO PROBLEM. Depending on what you got in parts in the one you have,you might canabilize parts from it,minus your VID or sell your rig. They will help you with anything.
    I made this rig about 4 or 5 years ago and since they did the last few patches I play farely well. I know I'm going to catch heat for this, but it is a ASUS A7V880 M/B,AMD XP 3200+ BARTON core,4 each CORSAIR cmx512-3200XLPRO 400Mhz Dual channel 2-2-2-5 timings matched set mem,SWIFTECH proc cooller, and hers' the kicker, an AGP 8X HIS RADEON HD 4670 1GB video card. If I can run that on a old single core non-overclocked rig,you can build one too.Just make sure you pay attention to static this time of year and get some good ARTIC silver thermal paste for the proc.Don't use the tape.
    I hope this helps.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i bought a geforce 8400 beacuse it would fit inside my case, now i need a new power supply to run it....will i at leats get medium qulity out of this crad?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i bought a geforce 8400 beacuse it would fit inside my case, now i need a new power supply to run it....will i at leats get medium qulity out of this crad?

    Prob not. It's an old low-range card that was released in 2007. It wasn't a powerful card then - so by now it's hitting the very low end of the market.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i bought a geforce 8400 beacuse it would fit inside my case, now i need a new power supply to run it....will i at leats get medium qulity out of this crad?


    A tip, go to NVidias site and follow the link Products, http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/geforce_family_uk.html

    Cards to stay away from, this is the current cards that are for sale, any numbers below these that some company might still have in their stock you should avoid aswell.

    GeForce 8600 GTS
    GeForce 8600 GT
    GeForce 9600 GT
    GeForce 9600 GSO
    GeForce 9500 GT
    GeForce 9400 GT
    GeForce 9400 mGPU
    GeForce 9300 mGPU
    GeForce GT 130
    GeForce GT 120
    GeForce G100
    GeForce GTS 250
    GeForce GT 240
    GeForce GT 230
    GeForce GT 220
    GeForce 210
    GeForce 205
    GeForce GT 340
    GeForce GT 330
    GeForce GT 320
    GeForce 315
    GeForce 310
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i am saving some money up to get an alienwere M11x laptop and it has a 1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M™ Graphics Card this is a good one for STO right?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i can get a Alienwere Laptop for about $100 less.....is all that worth the money....but i still need the money.....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i can get a Alienwere Laptop for about $100 less.....is all that worth the money....but i still need the money.....

    I have the same setup but with a core2quad and I run the game with everything maxed. But your right the money is important....you may be able to run it on the ATi 4350 that comes with the tower but it won't be maxed settings.....

    the other thing is that these prices are canadian and if your in the states the parts will be cheaper...especially if you hit a Fry's or other big electronics wholesaler..
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    check this alienwere laptop out and see is this will allow me to play maxed out?
    http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/alienware-m11x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    idk man. The graphics are decent, and as long as you got the four gigs ram you would be able to run it. But, not at full specs...
    The Core2Solo processors are for high end net books not really gaming machines. Its really got an under powered processor for gaming...

    Sorry man....

    If you check out last months MaximumPC they have a rig you can build for $650 that will run the game at damn near full spec....

    And I'm not sure if I read that right but if its only 11.6 inches then in my opinion the screens too small.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    there are others on the site you can check out....i can get a desktop for about $1100 or so but i dont really have that much money as of right mow but my current laptop runs the game better than my desktop....i can play it at around medium for a while then it slows uo for a lil bit....but then the quality goes down.....my laptop has a Nvidia Geforce 8200M G and my desktop has a geforce 6500 or something......
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Yeah the 8200M is a bit better than the 6500...

    Have you looked for better drivers on www.laptopvideo2go.com by chance?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    not yet.....but the video card on the M11x Alienwere laptop is good right? and i will check out that website/....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Yeah its pretty good and should be able to run the game at full specs provided that there is a good processor (Core2duo or better) to back it up...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Intel® Pentium™ SU4100 1.3GHz (2MB Cache) that is what it has.... or O could put an Intel® Core™2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz (3MB Cache) for an extra $100
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
    CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+
    Memory: 1GB RAM
    Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics
    Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
    DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
    HDD: 10GB Free Disk Space
    Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
    Disc: 6X DVD-ROM

    These are the minimum requirements....

    Basically what you need to run the game on the lowest settings...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i know that......i want to run it on highest, is that alienwere laptop gonna help me play on highest settings....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    To give you an idea of what is needed, and I obviously don't have the best setup in the forums...

    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    AMD Phenom II x4 955BE @3.71ghz
    8gb DDR2 1000 RAM
    ATI Radeon 4870 1gb @ 1920x1200 w/ 27.5" Hanspree LCD
    Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtremegamer
    2TB of HD space

    I can max out all of the details, AA and AF settings, view distances, etc and having a playable framerate around 45-60fps.

    You build a cheap comp you get cheap and lacking performance. I think it's been reiterated a few times already. Secondly, any serious gamer would never look to buying a laptop to play anything. Alienware has a few high end models that would handle most games with ease, but they cost a premium.

    In short, a sub $500 laptop, let alone a sub-$1000 laptop will never be sufficient to max out the details in this game. An E-machine or any other bargain model is not going to let you max settings on this or any other more recent game.

    Most serious gamers either spend alot on a prebuilt, or build their own comps. There is no easy way around this, sorry.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    what about an alienwere desktop, will that be better than an alienwere laptop?

    check these out and tell me what you think..... http://www.alienware.com/microsite/M11x/m11x.aspx?tab=featured
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