:confused: I lagg really really bad in cs:s. I have verizon DSL so i think its my video card. I believe it is a VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP. I don't know if i should just pick up a cheap 512 and run them both or get a totally different card. On cs:s, in the vidoe settings, it says "hardware: directx6 software: directx9" plz help me. thank you.

Nick [helpless noob]

Yeah, you need a dedicated graphics card to run source at any decent rate. I'm thinking yours is an intergrated chipset which is embedded in your mobo?

directx 6? WOW O_o Upgrade for the love of God! :)

Does your mobo support PCI-E or AGP?

AGP
its an HP pavillion a720n

The problem with OEM computers (like HP, Dell, or Compaq) is that they typically have small power supplies that are just large enough to power what the box ships with. If you added a powerful vid card, the box may become unstable.

I've seen dells (not our dell, that we know and love) running sub 300w psu...(the lowest I saw was 230w...totoally sucked)

Check the wattage on your power supply. If it's below 330, then I would tread carefully before adding hardware that would definitely put more of a strain on the PSU, especially a video card that requires its own power hook-up.

-t

Good point Theeda, I'd never really considered that before.

Nice one! :)

im buying a 400W psu and a radeon x1600PRO

That should do it! Good luck with the installation.

actually scratch the x1600PRO. im gettin a sapphire x600 GTO

this kid is gunna be set for cs:s now... congrats

I have the x800 gt, it's a nice card, the gto is even better. You should have no problems running CS:S now. Just make sure you have plenty of RAM (1gb+, 2 would be better).

i only have 512. how do i know which ram to buy? there are so many. could you link it on newegg for me plz?

Here's a couple of the more well known memory makers:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=HP+-+Compaq%2BPavilion+A+Series&mfr=HP+-+Compaq&tabid=AM&model=Pavilion+a720n&submit=Go
Couldn't find an exact match in Kingston.
http://store.majormemory-com.com/51hpevodepcd.html - don't know who these guys are.
Geil don't have an easy search function.

There are other memory companies but can't think if anymore right now.