I was inspired to upgrade by a game that requires "pixel shader v1.1 or higher", but i want to make upgrades that will accommodate any other modern software advances that i may not have been exposed to yet. My computer was custom built by a friend who is no longer able to assist me. Thank you in advance to whomever takes the time to help me out.
Desired Results
1. Run games at a high graphics level and frame rate
2. Get as clost to the cutting edge as i can without entering that technology bracket where the price increases exponentially for relatively minor increases in performance
3. Support duel monitors
4. Make sure i don't upgrade a component that can't operate a full potential because another component isn't capable of allowing it to.
Budget
$100-$400 give or take if the payoff is worth it.
Computer Specs
Operating System:
Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 (build 6001)
Processor:
2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Main Circut Board:
ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-E 2.XX
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-E ACPI BIOS Revision 1006 06/30/2005
Display:
Radeon X1800 Series [Display adapter]
Radeon X1800 Series Secondary [Display adapter]
Samsung SyncMaster [Monitor] (19.1"vis, s/n H9NY628655, June 2005)
ViewSonic VA720 [Monitor] (17.1"vis, s/n A1D032202474, May 2003)
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x7109)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Drives:
300.07 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
218.67 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
LITE-ON CD-RW SOHR-5239V ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
LITE-ON DVD SOHD-16P9S ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
ST3300831AS [Hard drive] (300.07 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 4NF039BE, rev 3.03
Memory Modules:
2048 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Slot 'A2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A3' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes:
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 300.07 GB 218.67 GB free
Multimedia:
Realtek AC'97 Audio
Unsupported Standard Game Port