At 10:00 PM 01/19/2001 vince price wrote:
>I'm considering the idea of getting a video card for 3-D
>acceleration for games . . . NEC READY 9840 DESKTOP SYSTEM
>(midtower atx case); Pentium 233 MMX; 64 megs sdram; 3
>empty PCI SLOTS...  i have either an Intel 740 or 745 mobo...


Vince:

Intel 740 / 745 are video chipsets, so you probably have onboard
AGP support.  First thing to try is getting better VIDEO DRIVERS
and tweaking the video subsystem.

Also, see if you can add video RAM (open SOJ RAM sockets on
the mobo). Doubling video RAM should help noticeably. 4MB may
cost $20 wholesale, depending on the type of video memory.

If you have an actual AGP slot, you could add an OEM model AGP
video card with a better gamer chipset with 16+ RAM for $50. Make
sure it's compatible with your mobo's AGP mode.

Don't bother putting in any PCI video card. You will be disappointed
at the price / performance ratio and you would be buying into
antiquity.

An ATX mobo with AGP support is probably a super socket 7 mobo so you
may be able to upgrade from the P-233 to an AMD K6/2-450+ if there's
the core voltage support. AMD K6/2-450s sell for $45.

More SDRAM always helps, to the point of the maximum cachable RAM
amount.

Try not to spend more than $100 on parts that cannot migrate to a
current high performance system. Research your motherboard, you may
have other options.

HTH.

John Chin

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