Wierd mobo..and hard time finding a video card.

power_drain · Mar 7, 2008, 03:29 AM

A long time ago i bought a custom computer off of my brother. It has kind of a crappy motherboard but it gets the job done.
so far its hardware is as follows:

Processor: amd Duron Processor, 1.3Ghz

Video Card: SiS integrated graphics, 32mb

Ram: 512mb

So my motherboard only has PCI and PCI express x1, which is the least used of them all! Its really hard to find a good video card that can support the kind of games i want to play, and that fit in my price range. I am only 14 years old so money doesn't come easy.. Do you guys have any good suggestions?

**temeteus82** · Mar 7, 2008, 09:25 AM

Hi there and welcome to DriverHeaven!

It looks like you would need to start saving money for better system. What games you like to play?

And I moved the thread to better part of the forums.

Matth · Mar 7, 2008, 02:39 PM

Are you sure? PCI-Express x1 on an AMD Duron 1.3 (got to be Socket A), Sis chipset, seems a very odd mix, can't think of any PCI-E implementations that go back to Socket A - AMD64 (S754/S939) was the transitioning from AGP to PCI-E.

Are you sure the small slot isn't something else, like an audio/modem riser.

Judas · Mar 7, 2008, 03:22 PM

It's likely a AMR slit of some kind....(like a modem slot or something)

Definitely only option is a pci card....

this is very limited in selection..

probably the best options are that of ati's x1300 or nvidia's geforce 6xxx series that are pci.

power_drain · Mar 8, 2008, 07:35 AM

wow.. not a very wide selection indeed

i was hoping to play some americas army, or probably some street fighter 3rd strike on the new mame emulator, assuming they dont need THAT good of a video card.. But i am almost positive that one slot is pci express x1

**temeteus82** · Mar 8, 2008, 09:05 AM

it is AMR [audio modem riser] slot. I'm 100% sure about that, since the PCI-E standard was still on paper when that motherboard was made.

To play those games you would need a bit better cpu and gfx card. So as I said earlier it's time to start saving money.

Asmoday · Mar 8, 2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

it is AMR [audio modem riser] slot. I'm 100% sure about that, since the PCI-E standard was still on paper when that motherboard was made.

To play those games you would need a bit better cpu and gfx card. So as I said earlies it's time to start saving money.

Yup, I agree with Teme and Judas it is an AMR slot...I also agree about the "time to upgrade" part, the Duron 1300 is way to weak to power anything newer. It would severley bottleneck just about any graphics card out there today, sorry mate..

Matth · Mar 8, 2008, 06:02 PM

A cheap core 2 (Pentium E2xxx or Celeron E1xxx series), on a cheap motherboard, some DDR2 RAM and a PCI-E card....

Whatever you might be thinking of spending on a PCI card, consider putting it towards a cheap current generation build that can be upgraded as you are able.

If you want a good card in PCI, you will be paying way over the odds - might be worth looking out for something on ebay, but any good PCI cards tend to get bidded up quickly, leaving things like a Geforce 4MX / MX4000 (really only a souped up Geforce 2) - also beware of getting confused, as mis-categorizing is common.

PS. Taking "America's Army" as an example:

2. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WINDOWS 2.8.3 VERSION?

Answer:
The minimum system requirements for the game are:
3-D graphics card with 128mb memory and support for hardware
transformation and lighting
* Relics like Geforce 2MX & Geforce 4 MX ARE supported, though many PCI ones only seem to have 64MB - may be possible to work in low detail

2.4 GHz processor or equivalent
* A lot more than a 1.3 Duron

English version of Windows(r) 2000/XP/Vista Operating System with all updates
* I'm guessing the old clunker runs Win98 ?

512mb RAM
* And might not have this much RAM

The phrase "polishing a turd" sadly applies, you could maybe get some improvement cheaply, but it's questionable if it would be enough.

**Mousey** · Mar 8, 2008, 10:38 PM

PCI-E 1x

AMR

Mar 7, 2008, 03:29 AM	#1
power_drain DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 27 Rep Power: 25	Wierd mobo..and hard time finding a video card. A long time ago i bought a custom computer off of my brother. It has kind of a crappy motherboard but it gets the job done. so far its hardware is as follows: Processor: amd Duron Processor, 1.3Ghz Video Card: SiS integrated graphics, 32mb Ram: 512mb So my motherboard only has PCI and PCI express x1, which is the least used of them all! Its really hard to find a good video card that can support the kind of games i want to play, and that fit in my price range. I am only 14 years old so money doesn't come easy.. Do you guys have any good suggestions?

Mar 7, 2008, 02:39 PM	#3
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,410 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Are you sure? PCI-Express x1 on an AMD Duron 1.3 (got to be Socket A), Sis chipset, seems a very odd mix, can't think of any PCI-E implementations that go back to Socket A - AMD64 (S754/S939) was the transitioning from AGP to PCI-E. Are you sure the small slot isn't something else, like an audio/modem riser. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Mar 8, 2008, 06:02 PM	#8
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,410 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	A cheap core 2 (Pentium E2xxx or Celeron E1xxx series), on a cheap motherboard, some DDR2 RAM and a PCI-E card.... Whatever you might be thinking of spending on a PCI card, consider putting it towards a cheap current generation build that can be upgraded as you are able. If you want a good card in PCI, you will be paying way over the odds - might be worth looking out for something on ebay, but any good PCI cards tend to get bidded up quickly, leaving things like a Geforce 4MX / MX4000 (really only a souped up Geforce 2) - also beware of getting confused, as mis-categorizing is common. PS. Taking "America's Army" as an example: 2. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WINDOWS 2.8.3 VERSION? Answer: The minimum system requirements for the game are: 3-D graphics card with 128mb memory and support for hardware transformation and lighting * Relics like Geforce 2MX & Geforce 4 MX ARE supported, though many PCI ones only seem to have 64MB - may be possible to work in low detail 2.4 GHz processor or equivalent * A lot more than a 1.3 Duron English version of Windows(r) 2000/XP/Vista Operating System with all updates * I'm guessing the old clunker runs Win98 ? 512mb RAM * And might not have this much RAM The phrase "polishing a turd" sadly applies, you could maybe get some improvement cheaply, but it's questionable if it would be enough. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Mar 8, 2008, 10:38 PM	#9
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,156 Rep Power: 243 System Specs	PCI-E 1x AMR __________________

Mar 8, 2008, 07:35 AM	Thread Starter #5
power_drain DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 27 Rep Power: 25	wow.. not a very wide selection indeed i was hoping to play some americas army, or probably some street fighter 3rd strike on the new mame emulator, assuming they dont need THAT good of a video card.. But i am almost positive that one slot is pci express x1