What's the best RAM & Video Card for my desktop?

Windows XP

I need a 2gb RAM for my pc for running sims 3 & a new video graphics card, how do i know what ones will work and what are the best? Thanks x|||On the ram is going to be hard to help you on that since i don't know which desktop you have but on the graphics card i recommend getting ati radeon hd 4350 i use it myself and it does the job then again yo can go for another card but is completely up to u.....|||Ich, all sorts of answers, going to http://www.crucial.com/ is right, but it is a horrible time to buy RAM, seeing as how DDR2 just had a 100% price hike, the RAM you could have bought for $20 2 months ago is now $40 T.T



Anyways, Yes, Do use the Crucial.



NOW, we must figure out what you computer can fit in it, look at this pic: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/cooldrive…



Now, open up the computer (try to keep it unplugged when you do this) and check near the back for slots that look like the AGP or the PCI-E (should only be 1 of either, most boards didn't have 2)



I am guessing that you have an AGP so I'll start with that.



This is the best AGP card sold: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as…



It uses no 6 pins, so you don't have to check your PSU for that, but it might not be able to the watts it needs still, now go here: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalcul…



Put in your entire system+4670, and compare the number you get out to the number on your PSU's sticker (the large square grey thing in the back, and for watts, not amps or volts)



If the number you got from the calc is less than the number on the PSU, your good, buy the card



Now if it isn't, you have 2 choices, get a new PSU, or cheaper cards=less performance=less watts used



If you want to buy a PSU, good links for it: Tiered List: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/32… "FuD" Faq: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/38…



If you want to just ramp down performance, go here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis…



Now, that is a load of gibberish, right? Well something to make it simpler: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best…



Now, keep going down the hierarchy chart, checking for the GPU on the AGP List, then putting that GPU on the calc with your other things, until you get below the number on your PSU







Now, the same pretty much applies to the PCI-E cards, but with one notable difference, they are half the price usually (YES, I am making you read the part above)



One of the big differences however is the availability of the GT240, which consumes less watts with more power (thank 40nm for that) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as…



It is a good little card, but if you can't support it... Well, go for the GT220, then HD4550, then G210



Hmmm, just noticed they haven't upgraded the calc for the GT240/20/10... Ok, to get past this, a GT240 uses the same amount of watts a 9500GT (DDR3), if you can run a HD4650 (DDR2), you can run a GT220, and a G210 uses less watts than a HD4550



K, done, nothing left to do, except remind you that Newegg rocks.|||use crucial to find out your ram type and the best video card is up to you since it depends on your budget, a geforce card around the £100 mark should run sims 3 easily.|||first determine the type of ram your computer supports. kingston value rams are very affordable and among the better rams with lifetime warranty.



nvidia 98xx series will be fine. newer nvidia gts/gtx series or ati 4xxx series will be better. just choose whichever fits your budget.|||well.....if ur planning to put in 2 GB ram space.....i suppose u do it by 1 GB & 1GB separate as it provides the best perfomance and then the graphics card.............if ur planning to buy it juz for playin de sim game i suppose u take a look at system requirements of de game....or ...if u wanna use it with others too...i bet something like Geforce will be de best choice abd buy it according to ur budget!@|||The Crucial tool (they can scan your system if you want) on www.crucial.com is an easy way to determine your RAM, as was said by the wise man that proceeded me.



For a video card, I'd go into the $50 - $99 range, like I'm seeing Nvidia Geforce 9500 - 9800 cards running on Tigerdirect. More than $100 and you aren't getting as much bang for each buck (but the performance will be very nice). Lower than $50, and you're probably too low end to run games for long.



MAKE SURE that you have the right 'bus type'. PCI-E is the most common now.