Is an upgrade possible?

rothlsbrgrfn · 09-03-2006, 01:08 PM

My computer has an Intel 845 chipset and I was wondering if it is possible to upgrade this with a video card?

dai · 09-03-2006, 01:19 PM

does your m/b have an agp slot or spare pci slot

Clifford · 09-03-2006, 01:19 PM

By what I am guessing, your motherboard has an AGP slot, right? It should be able to be upgraded with an AGP graphics card. You can find decent prices on AGP video cards at newegg.com

rothlsbrgrfn · 09-03-2006, 08:32 PM

I have no idea if it has any slots...i'll have to open it up later and check it out...and what exactly would i be looking for? I'm not sure if i exactly know what the slot looks like and where it would be located

**Cellus** · 09-03-2006, 09:22 PM

Before you start cracking open the case, try looking up your motherboard's specs to see what slot it comes with.

As for inside the case you can somewhat easily tell if you have an AGP slot or not. With the row of slots you see where expansion cards are attached that have connections that face, the uppermost one is for your video card.

If the slot is indented into the motherboard in comparison to the other slots and is the colour brown/maroon it is an AGP slot as show from the picture below:

Here is another picture that shows size comparisons to also help indicate what slot you have:

Clifford · 09-03-2006, 09:33 PM

I know the 845 chipset supports AGP and PCI. So, when you find out the specs you will want to hopefully find an AGP slot. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) was designed for graphics cards. PCI on the otherhand can handle a multitude of expansion cards. Point being AGP is better. If you still cannot tell, leave us a post of what motherboard you have. I am sure we can help you find the type of slot you have and what graphics card would be best for you.

**Cellus** · 09-03-2006, 10:05 PM

Some of the newest video cards are still made with AGP versions fortunately, so there should still be a wide range of cards for you to choose from. Many computer stores may only have PCIe (PCI-Express) in stock, but it's usually not difficult to order the AGP version through them.

**MunkyPhil** · 09-04-2006, 08:33 AM

The i845 chipset only supports 4X AGP so you're bottlenecked here, look for 4X AGP cards specifically if you want a cheap upgrade, otherwise, most AGP cards are 8X and 4X.

rothlsbrgrfn · 09-05-2006, 07:15 PM

Ok, I opened up my comp today and I have only one extra slot, a PCI

dai · 09-06-2006, 10:53 AM

then you are limited to a pci video card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...0&sku=B52-1022

rothlsbrgrfn · 09-06-2006, 12:55 PM

Alright, thanks everybody for the help:-)

rothlsbrgrfn · 09-06-2006, 08:17 PM

Hey guys, I need your opinion...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2148789&CatId=319
...what do you think of this one? or would you suggest a different one? and keep in mind I don't wanna spend a whole ton of money

**bruiser** · 09-07-2006, 07:05 AM

If you go to crucial.com, the memory people, they have a free scanner which also determines if a video card upgrade is available. Try it out.

dai · 09-07-2006, 10:38 AM

i put one of those in the daughters comp and it has always been good

09-03-2006, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
rothlsbrgrfn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Is an upgrade possible? My computer has an Intel 845 chipset and I was wondering if it is possible to upgrade this with a video card?

09-03-2006, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,637 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	does your m/b have an agp slot or spare pci slot __________________

09-03-2006, 09:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Before you start cracking open the case, try looking up your motherboard's specs to see what slot it comes with. As for inside the case you can somewhat easily tell if you have an AGP slot or not. With the row of slots you see where expansion cards are attached that have connections that face, the uppermost one is for your video card. If the slot is indented into the motherboard in comparison to the other slots and is the colour brown/maroon it is an AGP slot as show from the picture below: Here is another picture that shows size comparisons to also help indicate what slot you have: __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

09-03-2006, 10:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Some of the newest video cards are still made with AGP versions fortunately, so there should still be a wide range of cards for you to choose from. Many computer stores may only have PCIe (PCI-Express) in stock, but it's usually not difficult to order the AGP version through them. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

09-04-2006, 08:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
MunkyPhil TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 1,140 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System	The i845 chipset only supports 4X AGP so you're bottlenecked here, look for 4X AGP cards specifically if you want a cheap upgrade, otherwise, most AGP cards are 8X and 4X. __________________ "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." - J. Robert Oppenheimer, July 16th 1945. CPU-z -- Memtest -- Speedfan -- Prime95 -- SandraLite Important Power Supply Info -- Applying Thermal Paste -- Posting System Specs

09-03-2006, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Clifford Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 125 OS: Windows XP My System	By what I am guessing, your motherboard has an AGP slot, right? It should be able to be upgraded with an AGP graphics card. You can find decent prices on AGP video cards at newegg.com

09-03-2006, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
rothlsbrgrfn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	I have no idea if it has any slots...i'll have to open it up later and check it out...and what exactly would i be looking for? I'm not sure if i exactly know what the slot looks like and where it would be located

09-03-2006, 09:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Clifford Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 125 OS: Windows XP My System	I know the 845 chipset supports AGP and PCI. So, when you find out the specs you will want to hopefully find an AGP slot. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) was designed for graphics cards. PCI on the otherhand can handle a multitude of expansion cards. Point being AGP is better. If you still cannot tell, leave us a post of what motherboard you have. I am sure we can help you find the type of slot you have and what graphics card would be best for you.

09-05-2006, 07:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
rothlsbrgrfn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Ok, I opened up my comp today and I have only one extra slot, a PCI

09-06-2006, 10:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,637 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	then you are limited to a pci video card http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...0&sku=B52-1022 __________________

09-06-2006, 12:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
rothlsbrgrfn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Alright, thanks everybody for the help:-)

09-06-2006, 08:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
rothlsbrgrfn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Hey guys, I need your opinion... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2148789&CatId=319 ...what do you think of this one? or would you suggest a different one? and keep in mind I don't wanna spend a whole ton of money

09-07-2006, 07:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,973 OS: xp	If you go to crucial.com, the memory people, they have a free scanner which also determines if a video card upgrade is available. Try it out.

09-07-2006, 10:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,637 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	i put one of those in the daughters comp and it has always been good __________________