Don't Forget The Video Card !!  It's A Cheap Performance Enhancer !!

By Jeff H. Reynolds

Does your computer have the performance blues?  Are you finding your computer to lag when surfing on the web?  Does it take a few moments to load a page... especially when there are lots of pictures and graphics?  Well... it may be time to upgrade that video card.
Just a few years ago, most all of the mass marketed computer systems included little more than two to eight megabites of memory for video.  That was fine for most all software programs and for the internet. 


Though an older system can still be used to surf most of the web and to run most operating systems, it's overall performance just doesn't measure up with the modern machines.  Of course, that is why a top of the line new machine will likely cost you more than $1,800 at the electronics store. 

If you don't want to spend that money or don't have it in your budget, an easy performance enhancer is generally nothing more than replacing that dated video card with a modern one and installing a bit more ram in your computer.  A decent card can be found on sale at most electronics stores for less than $75.  A top of the line video card may cost more than $200.  And, the prices of general computer memory have come way down... a 256mb stick can be bought for between $25 and $35. 

I generally recommend that a system include no less than 128mb of video memory and that an AGP 8x mode video card be used.  Of course, there are other technologies out there nowadays... PCI-X,  and PCI express just to name a couple.  PCI-X isn't a technology with much of a future.  On the other hand, PCI express is tomorrow's technology... but, most manufacturers have not yet incorporated it into their product lines yet. 

There are two leading manufacturers of video chip sets... ATI and Nvidia.  I am a fan of ATI, though Nvidia is a great company and they produce good solid products. 

You might want to avoid the "special edition" cards, such as ATI's 9250SE.  Unlike with vehicles, "SE" doesn't generally mean higher performance.  Rather, ATI's and Nvidia's special edition chip sets and cards are generally cheaper versions of the respective technology and accordingly have less performance. 

Before you buy anything, be sure to verify what technology your computer system utilizes.  If you are not sure, take the machine with you to the electronics store.  In most instances they will be able to tell you. 

Some machines have integrated video and in many of those instances, the motherboard will include an AGP slot to allow you to upgrade your video performance.  In other instances, the machine will already have either a PCI video card or an AGP video card.  If your system uses a PCI video card, you might just be better off buying a new motherboard with integrated video.  (You can buy a decent motherboard as such for less than $50 in many instances.) 

If your machine has an AGP card, you will need to determine whether the slot will accomodate an AGP 8x card.  You can't put an 8x card in a 4x slot.  The voltages are different etc....   

Be sure to shop around.  Compare prices.  They vary significantly from one place to another. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at sales@jreyports.com .