Graphics Card for Gaming?

[God of Eternity]

I have a Windows 7 Home Premium x64-based PC. I want to play a game that requires more than the default system specs are capable of, so how should I go about this? Steam indicates a minimum and recommended equipment list, but i'm not sure if i'll need both a processor and graphics card or simply a graphics card, because i'd rather not purchase more than necessary and I have a tight budget. I don't know anything about graphics cards and what not, so i'm hoping you guys could assist me.

Here is my system specs:

OS Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Type: x64-Based PC
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 245e Processor, 2900 MHz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Process...
Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4270
Adapter RAM: 256.00 MB
Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB

Here is the list on Steam that indicates the minimum and recommended specs:

Minimum:

OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8
Processor: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3870/NVIDIA 8800 GT or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

Recommended:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bits
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 8200 / AMD Phenom X4 9950
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4890 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

[Legendary old man]

You need a video card for sure. The CPU is very questionable. From experience that CPU is pretty weak but will play some games.

Depending on your motherboard a CPU upgrade might be possible. If you happen to have a AM3+ motherboard there are quite a few processors that would be a huge boost. If you have an AM3 motherboard than there are no good upgrades, you need a new computer. To see if you have an AM3 or AM3+ you would need to get the model number of the motherboard which means opening the case.

If you want to match a Video card to your current CPU I would suggest something like an AMD 7770. Anything much more powerful would be a waste as the CPU would become a bottleneck.

[Thylbanus]

I have to agree with facedown, your laptop is not in gaming shape. At least not for todays games. Being on a budget is something I am VERY familiar with. I have to say, you would almost do better getting a new rig. One that is a desktop rather than laptop (you will almost always pay more for laptop parts than corresponding desktop).

This is the holiday season and you may be able to score a cheap computer, but I find that build your own is always the best (if you have the aptitude for it). You could build one for about $475, but the same rig shopped out, would cost you $650 and it wouldn't be from a company I would deal with. You might find a independent dealer that can put one together for you that would be better, but I'd beware as some or all the parts may be refurbished.

Tech specs of the theoretical rig:
OS: Yours
Processor: AMD FX-4130 3.8 GHz Quad-core
RAM: 8 GB DDR3
Graphics: Radeon HD 6570 2 GB
Storage: 1 TB 7200rpm SATA 6.0Gb/s
plus the usual CD/DVD burner, tower, power supply, fans.

You could go with the upgrade to your current, but bottlenecks will abound, as facedown stated, although I believe he is being optimistic in his appraisal. In my unprofessional opinion, I would say you would have to upgrade just about everything. Your motherboard will probably not handle the kind of upgrade you would need, the processor needs an upgrade, video card, RAM may or may not be compatible with your upgrade. It's a hornet's nest to be sure. Not knowing your motherboard is probably the biggest hurdle for me right now. If you could post that it might help (no guarantees).

EDIT: also remember that minimum specs can mean that your visual appearance will also be "minimal." HERE[i1276.photobucket.com] is a comparison.

[Пупырка]

I have got Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 . Counter-Strike is very good