Graphics card

[mshepherd511]

When playing on train simulator games it seems to run slower than my son has seen on YouTube. What kind of graphics card is recommended please? My PC man can order me one but I don't know how high to go, cheapest would be preferable, any advice would be great thanks.

[mshepherd511]

So out of my depth, bear with me. It is for a Hewlett Packard tower which has windows7. Been reading other posts & it doesn't make much sense to me. Just a type of card and minimum memory would be really helpful if possible pls.

[Aldaron]

Train Simulator 2014 has a minimum requirement of a 512 MB video card. Pretty much any gaming video card you can buy today at retail will meet that requirement.

The real problem is you have a HP machine, which was likely not meant to provide enough power to a video card and may not even have the type of expansion slot you need for a video card. Which HP computer model do you have? More information will go a long way towards others providing assistance.

[mshepherd511]

Thank you for your patience. It is pavilion slimline s5000 does that help? It has a nvidia GeForce sticker so must have that type already.

[Gallona™]

It might mean that it's integrated into the cpu.

[Cathal]

fart into your fan and it will run faster ;)

[mshepherd511]

Sorry, not good at these things, does that mean I can't get a graphics card?

[Aldaron]

Slimline S5000 is the series, would need the model number itself (located either on a sticker on the side or back of the machine usually) to give completely accurate information.

The long and short of it is most prebuilt computers are not made for gaming, especially games more recent than the manufacturing date of the system. The Slimline S5000 is no exception.

Regardless of which specific model you have, the power supply in all Slimline S5000 desktop computers is too weak to support a video card. You would need to replace and upgrade that before you could stick in a video card and expect it to turn on. The power supply is one area almost all PC manufacturers skimp on to save money, usually sticking something in there that is just capable of turning the machine on.

The Nvidia GeForce sticker is more likely to display the fact that the integrated video chip is an Nvidia GeForce device.

All Slimline 5000s have at least one PCI-e x1 expansion slot, but nothing higher than that. You would need a low-profile PCI-e x1 video card which are becoming increasingly rare these days because the industry moved onto more powerful/faster video cards that require PCI-e x16 slots a long time ago.

Your options would be limited to cards like these from Amazon[www.amazon.com] or these from NewEgg[www.newegg.com]. Of course, you can go wherever you need to go get whatever you want, but they would be just like those.

If I had to make a suggestion right now, I would recommend something like the HIS ATI Radeon HD5450[www.amazon.com]. Even then, it is not really meant for gaming still, but it's something that should provide a better experience than what you already have.

[mshepherd511]

Thank you so much Aldaron, you have been really helpful. Can't check the model no as my son is in bed now but will look tomorrow. I really appreciate you breaking it down into simple terms for the likes of me with no idea.