I've totally lost touch with computer hardware

[Sylvus]

I bought my current system from Dell in September of 2005. That's the longest I've ever gone without any major upgrades. I did buy a laptop sometime in there, but that doesn't help with my gaming rig.

That said, I hardly game on PC anymore, and I can't even remember what the specs are for that computer. Given the following hardware on it, do you think I could get by with just upgrading the video card? (I only have the Dell part #s from their website right now, looking up what they refer to)

Dell W8400 3.0GHz Prescott P4, 630, 800FSB, 2MB, Socket-T

4x Dell F6761 DIMM, 512MB, DDR2, 533M, 64X64, 8, 240, 1RX8,

Dell K9341 nVidia, GeForce 6800 PCI-E x16, 256MB, With DVI-VGA-TV Outs


Basically I'm debating trying out Age of Conan, and I'd like to make it run (if possible) on this machine, with the least amount of upgrades possible. That video card embarrasses me to some degree, so I definitely want to upgrade, probably to an 8800GT (unless there's a better value card out now). Should an 8800GT work in that system? Does it matter if my old card was probably PCI-E 1.x and I'm guessing an 8800 might be PCI-E 2.0? Is there a version of the 8800GT that is better or worse than others?

Thanks!

[Chidoro]

I can't help you with your question however I commiserate with you regarding the lack of system upgrades I to have been dealing with. It too is largely because I don't play on the PC as much any longer and when I do, it's usually WoW or Go on the IGS server.

Sad really, I've only replaced a burnt out video card (a ati 7800 for a ati x700) and bumped from 512K to 1 gig. The computer will be 6 in October. it's just sad really

[Fash]

The minimum requirements for Age of Conan were posted in that thread, and you meet them. Your video card is slightly better than the minimum reqs, so I'd take the chance and see if it's playable without spending any $.

[Aslanna]

Sad really, I've only replaced a burnt out video card (a ati 7800 for a ati x700) and bumped from 512K to 1 gig. The computer will be 6 in October. it's just sad really

Not realy sure why it would be sad not to have spent money on upgrades you didn't really need other than to upgrade simply for the sake of upgrading.