Okay I have a Compaq S4100NX here that they want the video upgraded on...so I know how to install stuff but I don't know anything about the techy side of this.  This computer has shared video memory, which means that the factory video device is run off the motherboard, and it used the computer's RAM to function...instead of it all being a separate piece.

This computer has 512mb DDR SDRAM and it runs okay, but they want it to play WOW...and it lags even with the texture and detail turned all the way down.  I was thinking to just stick another 512mb stick of SDRAM in it and see if it'll work better, but I'm not holding my breath.  It really needs, I think, a better video driver.  Can I just buy a dedicated PCI video card, stick it in there, and bypass the shared video memory thing?

YES YOU CAN. IM ASSUMING ITS EITHER PCI OR AGP. if its agp get teh best you can ( or can afford). ir put 2gb of ram in it, if at all possible. btw why world of warcrap?

yeah vid is agp  try this card http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?cat=2234&keywords=agp%20video%20card&mnf= ( look at number 5  ) might have to upgrade power supply tho 



pc specs:http://www3.shopping.com/xPF-Hewlett-Packard-Compaq-Presario-S4100NX-DF214AR-ABA

Looking at the requirements for wow, you don't need the best video card to play it. In fact i don't see why it would be lagging with an on board video- they are usually min 32 mb and thats all that wow needs none the less my advice is get a middle line graphics card and get more ram 

you can always try setting the wow process(exe) to above normal priority but not real time caz that messes up everything 

It may be all it needs...but that's minimum requirements running the lowest graphics settings.  When it comes around to time for me to do this to mine (same PC) I want everything to flow smoothly at max levels.

These only handle a max of 1gb of ram, but there's two slots...dual channel?  Would it be better to go with a single 1 gig stick or two 512's?

They just like WOW.  I want to be able to play it because my fiancee plays it and it gives us something to do together.

Just remember as was stated previously on board video shares system memory which causes the slow down.  If you do install a separate card be sure to go into the BIOS and disable the on board video or you will continue to lose that system memory to the on board video.

As for the ram, if you have two slots and it will only support up to 1gig then you will HAVE to use two sticks.

DLW

Why not a single 1 gig stick?  It only have a single 512mb stick now...I'm under the impression it would be better with two 512 sticks anyway, but I'd like to know if there is a difference.

And is there anyway to find out how much memory is dedicated to the video?  Is there a way to change it?

Ram is hugly important ,basicly ,it writes infomation to it ,then deletes it when its been done ,or not in use

i built a pc about 4 years ago started with

256 mg
then 512
then 1gb
and the differance was amazing! it just makes the whole thing run quicker , even turning on ur pc it makes it so much faster
also getting a second or External harddrive makes a world of difference, i have two in this laptop , two 60 gb's  i downloaded a ton of films , then it slowed down a bit , then moved all the films to the second harddrive that isnt used for system processes , and it worked perfect

With video cards it does matter bout the processor, but with say a 64mb or 128mb from a 32 , it can be done simply ,most these days are plug and play , u just run the correct driver and it should be fine

Yeah I know more RAM is better...I'm just curious if there'd be a difference between two 512mb sticks or a single 1 gig stick?

I found a decent 256mb vid card I'm going to run with...hard to beat free haha.

512MB X 2 VS. 1GB... No real difference you might be able to benefit from running 512MB in dual channel.

Watch out what card you get... Some 128MB cards are better than some 256MB cards, it depends on RAM frequency, pipes, etc. So watch what you get. Mind you, just about any new card on the market will run WoW at a pretty decent frame rate.

Also, if you have on board video now... Chances are the PC manufacturer stuck you with a real low watt (250W probably) power supply... If you upgrade your video card, you should also pick up at 400+W power supply to get full performance... and don't get a no-name powersupply, you'll be asking for trouble. Antec, Mushkin, OCZ are all good brands.

Anyway, that's just my .2c... take it for what it's worth.

Cheers,
J

Thanks Groff.  Do you have any suggestions for cheaper vid cards currently available?

I searched "Compaq S4100NX" on google and it doesn't look like your board has an AGP expansion slot and the power supply is 200W.

http://www.epinions.com/pr-Hewlett_Packard_Compaq_Presario_S4100NX_DF214AR_ABA_PC_Desktop/display_~full_specs

So this changes the score, you'd need a new Power Supply and Motherboard, just to get a Video Card in there ... So basically a new unit all together

You can try to put another piece of 512MB ram in there (this machine tops out at 1Gig) and see if that improves your WoW game.

The ram you need is 184pin DDR266/PC2100 nonECC DIMM. If this is German to you, take this to any PC part supplier and they'll know what it means.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
J

it sais "Video Output Interface     AGP" in the specs  best way to know is to open it up and find out. agp slot will be further back and usualy brown. If he doesnt have an agp slot he can always buy a PCI card.

Good eye, CndnMax... I was looking at Expansion Slots: PCI x 3 and you're right, it does seem to state AGP. It appears I completely nixed the possibility of PCI cards even existing...

+1 on opening the case for a visual.


Edit: Here's a link to some PCI cards http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?minorcatid=108&subminorcatid=50

Cheers,
J

yeah it has three PCI expansion slots...I already knew I was going to have to go with a PCI card...I was just looking for a few suggestions concerning decent, but cheaper, cards.  They don't have a lot of money to spend on this.