finding out my computer's hardware spec

[hippy fascist]

possibly incredibly stupid question but I've just bought a game and have no idea what kind of graphics card I have. Where can I find this info?

 

[black_dust]

Do the following

Start
run
type in dxdiag
click no if a pop up comes up
click the display tab
thats your info


OR

Start
My computer
view system information (left had side where it says system tasks)
A screen will come up saying your processor speed and memory
on the tabs click hardware
Click device manager
thats a list of everything your pc has
click on + next to display adapters
that is what graphics card you have, for instance mine says ATI radeon 9800 pro

 

[hippy fascist]

thanks

 

[black_dust]

Sorted? what game is it?

 

[hippy fascist]

Sorted? what game is it?

city of heroes, my processors only 1.5 but on the site ti says it will run with an 800 so I reckon I might be ok. Ordered it five minutes ago t:

 

[Manic]

Do the following

Start
run
type in dxdiag
click no if a pop up comes up
click the display tab
thats your info


OR

Start
My computer
view system information (left had side where it says system tasks)
A screen will come up saying your processor speed and memory
on the tabs click hardware
Click device manager
thats a list of everything your pc has
click on + next to display adapters
that is what graphics card you have, for instance mine says ATI radeon 9800 pro

*follows steps*

Um... in purchasing a new graphics card, are there any compatibility issues I should be aware of? Because I'm apparently using an Intel 82845G Graphics Controller, which, according to Intel's website, is s***. That probably explains why City of Heroes looks bland when I play it.

 

[black_dust]

*follows steps*

Um... in purchasing a new graphics card, are there any compatibility issues I should be aware of? Because I'm apparently using an Intel 82845G Graphics Controller, which, according to Intel's website, is s***. That probably explains why City of Heroes looks bland when I play it.

Yes, on the first way to find out, going to run.... when you click on display it will say "Chip type" its either going to be AGP or PCI-E (E stands for express) this is the type of socket that the card goes in on your motherboard, older ones normally had AGP and newer motherboard now come out with PCI-E only because they are doing away with AGP.

So if you are thinking of buying a new card you really need to find out which your motherboard can take AGP or PCI-E (note: you cannot put a PCI-E graphics card into a normal PCI socket its has to be PCI-E)

If it doesnt say AGP or PCI-E which im thinking yours might not because it looks like its built into the motherboard, just crack open the case and have alook (with the power off when ever you mess inside)

The AGP socket is normally chocolate brown and sits atop of the PCI ones (white ones)

Those are what the PCI-E ones look like

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Do the following

Start
run
type in dxdiag
click no if a pop up comes up
click the display tab
thats your info


OR

Start
My computer
view system information (left had side where it says system tasks)
A screen will come up saying your processor speed and memory
on the tabs click hardware
Click device manager
thats a list of everything your pc has
click on + next to display adapters
that is what graphics card you have, for instance mine says ATI radeon 9800 pro

Neat. Now I'll know if the Spidey game will work for me.

 

[Manic]

Crap. It just says "Intel 84845G Graphics Controller" under Chip Type.

Looks like I'm cracking open this baby.

 

[black_dust]

Crap. It just says "Intel 84845G Graphics Controller" under Chip Type.

Looks like I'm cracking open this baby.

Yeah i suspect you wont have the hardware in any of the slots just have it built into the motherboard. Once you find out if you have a AGP or PCI-E you can just install one of them and it will take it over