What kind of video card will work with my computer?

I'm not too smart when it comes to stuff like this. I have an HP pavilion a1226n. I don't know if I need to get a certain kind of video card or what. Help would be nice.



Thanks.|||After checking your machine on the HP website (see link below), it seems that the best vid card for you would be an ATi product.



If you want to go uber card, that would be the $600 HD4870X2, which is the best Production Card (i.e.: they made enough for the card to be obtainable) made. However, it is a large card (physically), so your case may not be able to handle it. That having been said, an HD class video card (avoid the 2900, it is literally over 12" long, and few cases as old as yours can handle it), will be perfect. Depending on what you want it for, you can stay at the lower end of the pool and pick-up a 2600. If you want to play in the deep end of the pool, you can buy a 4xxx class card - with the 48xx series being the best.



So, for gaming, you will want one or more cards - HD4870's for example.

For surfing and watching DVDs, the HD2600 will be fine.



While you're at it, you mght want to talk to a Computer Store (not Best Buy, Circuit City, etc) about having them upgrade your system (either a full upgrade, or a socket 939 dual core CPU). I would also suggest adding memory if you are still running the default 1Gb that the system came with. Either add a single 1Gb stick (of DDR, *NOT* DDR2), or swap-out the 512s for 1Gb sticks. Either way, you're doubling your physical memory.



Now...you will hear a lot of people telling you to go nVidia...don't. You have an ATi chipset, and nVidia cards have been know to occasionally cause problems in non-nVidia chipsets. Stick with ATi if you have an ATi chipset. Zero compatability issues. Just remember to update your drivers for the vid card from the AMD/ATi website periodcally (driver updates are released every month). (2nd link below.)



EDIT: You may also have to upgrade your PSU (Power Supply)...|||For HP nvidia is the best one



If this helps you please give as the "Best Answer"|||First you need to check to see how big your power supply is. Also check to see if you have a pic/pci express slot. Most cards on the market now are pci express 2.0 cards. If your power supply is to small you have to change it out or else it will not boot up because there isn't enough power for the new card.|||open it - look inside - you'll see a few white slots - those are pci. now look above all those white slots and see if there's a brown slot - that'll be agp. you're better off to go with agp if at all possible, however there are some really good pci video cards for people whose machines don't have an agp slot.



you could call hp and sit on the phone with someone on mars, or just buy one locally with the understanding if it doesn't work you can bring it back.



if you're running 'onboard' video right now, you 'might' have to set the bios to recognize any other video card - although most of the time the bios will already be set to look for an agp or pci before it detects the onboard, so just try it first.



as far as what 'brand' or 'kind' - you're not limited. just buy something you can afford. because just about anything is bound to be better than onboard.|||well like the other comment said, nvidia and you'll have to get one that will fit your motherboard, so youll need one that is either pci or pci express|||it supports pci express 16x alot of these would work

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis…

pending your price range and wanted specs