Dimension 3000 for games?

Hi

My Dell dimension 3000 is a great machine for internet use, music etc
but I've never used it for games. Will newer games such as Command and
Conquer 3, Supreme Commander etc actually play on it at all
considering it's only got the onboard Intel Graphics with 64MB RAM (I
think)? I know that the dim 3000 is poor in terms of upgrading the
grahpics and has no PCIe compatability but it has the min spec
required for these games, apart from the RAM on the graphics card. I
wondered if I could get away with it?

Would fitting a resonably cheap 128MB Raedon card be any good?

Thanks

On 23 May 2007 02:56:58 -0700, davea <alexanderd@tesco.net> wrote:

>Hi
>
>My Dell dimension 3000 is a great machine for internet use, music etc
>but I've never used it for games. Will newer games such as Command and
>Conquer 3, Supreme Commander etc actually play on it at all
>considering it's only got the onboard Intel Graphics with 64MB RAM (I
>think)? I know that the dim 3000 is poor in terms of upgrading the
>grahpics and has no PCIe compatability but it has the min spec
>required for these games, apart from the RAM on the graphics card. I
>wondered if I could get away with it?
>
>Would fitting a resonably cheap 128MB Raedon card be any good?
>
>Thanks

What processor and processor speed do you have on your system? How
much RAM?

I have a feeling that your machine is showing its age as far as the
newer games are concerned.

One thing you could do is download the trials of some of the newer
games and see how they run.

On 23 May 2007 05:42:33 -0700, davea <alexanderd@tesco.net> wrote:

>Here's my PC spec:
>
>2.66Ghz Celeron
>512mb of RAM (upgrading to 1GB though)
>250 GB HD
>Integrated Intel Graphics 64MB
>SoundBlaster Live soundcard.
>
>It seems to meet the minimum spec for the vast majority of games, with
>the exception of the likes of supreme commander which ask for a 128MB
>graphics card.
>
>Command and conquer 3 min spec for XP is 2ghz, 512 RAM, 64MB video
>which mine has. Other posts on this forum suggest it will perform
>poorly but if it meets the min spec I think I'll try the demo's and
>see how it performs.

Yes, definitely try the demos. I don't know much about the Celeron's
and whether "2ghz" is for a non-Celeron.

I have never thought of the C&C games as being nearly as processor
intensive as the "full view 3-d ones" (like Battlefield 2142).

Is C&C 3 a Tiberian Wars release? I was hoping it would be more along
the lines of Generals. I tried the first Tiberian Wars release and
didn't like the unusual fighting machines like the one that could
tunnel underground and come up out of nowhere.

The GMA950 graphics in your 3000 is actually pretty powerful. It will
use up to 128MB of RAM, so it should even run those games.

The only games with which I have had a problem with a similar config are
those that refuse to run with integrated graphics. It's just bad code,
as the program would run if they didn't check.

It likely won't have very good frame rates and might have to be run at a
lower resolution, but they should run.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> From: davea [mailto:alexanderd@tesco.net]
> Posted At: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:43 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Dimension 3000 for games?
> Subject: Re: Dimension 3000 for games?
>
> Here's my PC spec:
>
> 2.66Ghz Celeron
> 512mb of RAM (upgrading to 1GB though)
> 250 GB HD
> Integrated Intel Graphics 64MB
> SoundBlaster Live soundcard.
>
> It seems to meet the minimum spec for the vast majority of games, with
> the exception of the likes of supreme commander which ask for a 128MB
> graphics card.
>
> Command and conquer 3 min spec for XP is 2ghz, 512 RAM, 64MB video
> which mine has. Other posts on this forum suggest it will perform
> poorly but if it meets the min spec I think I'll try the demo's and
> see how it performs.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: davea [mailto:alexanderd@tesco.net]
> Posted At: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:01 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Dimension 3000 for games?
> Subject: Re: Dimension 3000 for games?
>
> On 23 May, 14:21, "Tom Scales" <tjsca...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > The GMA950 graphics in your 3000 is actually pretty powerful. It
> will
> > use up to 128MB of RAM, so it should even run those games.
> >
> > The only games with which I have had a problem with a similar config
> are
> > those that refuse to run with integrated graphics. It's just bad
> code,
> > as the program would run if they didn't check.
> >
> > It likely won't have very good frame rates and might have to be run
> at a
> > lower resolution, but they should run.
> >
> > Tom
>
> I was looking up the spec on the GMA950 but didn't notice that it will
> use up to 128MB. Thanks, that's pretty good.I was worried that it was
> an integrated card, will try tonight!

It does it automatically, so there is nothing for you to change. Does it
on the fly.

Run DXDiag from a command line. It will tell you everything is OK, I'll
bet. The game is checking for the wrong things. Common.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: davea [mailto:alexanderd@tesco.net]
> Posted At: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 5:11 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Dimension 3000 for games?
> Subject: Re: Dimension 3000 for games?
>
>
> > It does it automatically, so there is nothing for you to change.
Does
> it
> > on the fly.- Hide quoted text -
>
>
> I've just installed C&C 3 but every time I try and run I get this
> message:
>
> "DirectX Errror
> Please make sure you have direct x 9 or higher installed. Also verify
> that you video card meets the min requirements and that you do not
> have hardware acceleration disbaled in the Display control panel"
>
> I've installed Direct X 9.0 from the cd and enabled full hardware
> acceleration. Where can I check on my PC the direct X version?
>
> All all min specs are fine according to the game.
>
> Any ideas?

I believe you can get an ATI X1300 in PCI, but it wouldn't be worth it
as they're surprisingly expensive.

If you REALLY want to play, sell the 3000 and buy a replacement like an
E520.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: davea [mailto:alexanderd@tesco.net]
> Posted At: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 5:20 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Dimension 3000 for games?
> Subject: Re: Dimension 3000 for games?
>
> I've just installed C&C 3 on my dimension 3000 but every time I try
> and run I get this message:
> "DirectX Errror
> Please make sure you have direct x 9 or higher installed. Also verify
> that you video card meets the min requirements and that you do not
> have hardware acceleration disbaled in the Display control panel"
> I've installed Direct X 9.0 from the cd and enabled full hardware
> acceleration. Where can I check on my PC the direct X version?
> All min specs are fine according to the game. I can't afford to
> upgrade my PC at the moment but could get a new graphics card if there
> are any that will suit?
> Any ideas as to how I can get this game working?

Ran the DXDiag and as suspected everything looked ok. Guess it's just
not going to work! Never mind. Not really worth my while buying a new
card for it......now where did I put the recipet for the game?