If it is a Lenova 3000 J200, it has a PCI Express x16 slot used for a graphics card.
Be Aware of this.
ONE, it looks like it was made around October of 2007.
PCI Express has gone through several versions.
1.PCI-E 1.0 version,
2.PCI-E 1.1 version,
3.and PCI-E 2.0, so far.
PCI-E 1.0 came in 2004. PCI-E 1.1 came out a little later.
PCI-E 2.0 came out in January of 2007. You may, or may not have the PCI Express 2.0 technology used in your computer.
DOESN'T MATTER! A graphics card designed for PCI Express 2.0, will work on a computer that has PCI Express 1.1 You won't get the full capability of the graphics card.
You WON'T notice either!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express
Computer games and 3D programs, can't use the full bandwidth of PCI Express 1.1, yet alone trying to use all of the PCI Express 2.0 bandwidth.
Your concern is your Power Supply.
According to the Specifications your computer either has a 220 WATT power supply, or a 280 WATT power supply.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-68084
This isn't enough power to keep a bird flying on a string, much less power a decent graphics card.
Suggestion?
Upgrade your power supply.
What Processor does your computer have, and how much Ram Memory?
(Start>Right-click on My Computer>Read the info in System Properties window)
Comments:
Nov 03, 2009
- By the way, I'm looking at the Service Manual for the Lenova 3000 J200 Series Desktop Computers, right now.
(Tech with over 20+ years experience, and I build high-end gaming computer systems. You may not be able to play intense games with a PCI graphics card, but there is ALWAYS a PCI slot on a computer, even if there isn't an AGP slot, or a PCI Express x16 slot! Just depends if there is an open, available PCI slot)
Nov 03, 2009
- That's the Lenovo 3000 J200 9691-49G Desktop Computer,
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/quickPath.do?quickPathEntry=969149G
(Apparently I just learned to spell Lenovo)
Three things I need to know,
1.What processor does your computer have, and how much Ram Memory? The motherboard you have will support Intel Celeron M, or Intel Pentium 4, or Intel Pentium D, or Intel Core 2 Duo, processors.
Windows running, go to the bottom left corner, and Left-click on Start.
Then Right-click on My Computer. (Computer for Vista)
At the bottom of the small window that comes up, Left-click on Properties at the bottom.
Tell me what it states at the bottom of the window. (Example: Intel (R) Pentium 4, (R) CPU 3.20GHz, then 3.20GHz, 2GB of Ram
That's an Intel Pentium 4 processor, and 2GB's of Ram Memory.
2.What do you expect of your graphics? To just surf the internet, and watch movies? Or to edit videos, play the newer games, and run 3D programs?
3.Do you have a graphics card installed now?
According to Lenovo, it came with an Nvidia GeForce 7300LE graphics card, (Has 128MB's of DDR2 graphics ram)
It's installed in the PCI Express x16 slot, on the motherboard.
From what I see so far, according to the Specifications the Lenovo 3000 J200 9691-49G came with:
1.If you're thinking of playing new high-end games, I'll need to know what games you're looking at.
A Celeron M, Pentium 4, or Pentium D processor isn't going to cut it. Not enough processing 'power', unless you want to try to play those games at low settings, and don't mind 'Freeze Ups'. (Game freezes while playing, and you have to quit, and start over)
2.The power supply is Way Too Weak to support a decent graphics card. A decent graphics card needs 150 Watts by itself. The rest of the computer system must have a decent amount of power, (Watts) also.
(Plus the 12 Volt power rail on a 220 Watt, or 280 Watt power supply doesn't have enough Amperage. (Amp's or A)
3.You need 2GB's of Ram Memory. (Doesn't state what it came with. The amount of ram can be specified when purchasing, is why. Probably came with 512MB's of ram. That is 1/2 of 1GB)
4.The Nvidia GeForce 7300LE graphics card, couldn't punch it's way out of a wet paper bag, when it comes to games. (But you know that)
To summarize:
You would need a Core2 Duo processor that has either an 800MHz FSB, or a 1066MHz FSB. There's a lot of Core2 Duo processors that have this Front Side Bus 'speed'.
Cost?
$119 on up.
(Intel Core2 Duo E7500 - 2.93GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 3MB of Cache)
You need 2GB's of ram memory, (Your computer uses PC4200 or PC5300.
DDR2 at 533MHz, or DDR2 at 667MHz respectively), to play decent games.
Cost?
$41 on up.
You need at least a 500 Watt power supply with at least 30 Amp's on the 12 Volt power rail.
Cost?
$50 on up. (OCZ StealthXStream 600W. Refurbished. Will deliver 728.8 Watts reliably. Has four 12 volt power rails that deliver up to 18Amps Each. - 72Amps total)
You need a better graphics card.
Cost?
$90 on up.
(Would recommend at least a BFG GeForce 9800GT Overclocked. 112 Stream Processors. Needs at least a 450 Watt power supply with a 12 volt power rail of 24Amps.
So you're looking at a new processor, more ram memory, power supply, and graphics card.
The least amount will cost $320 or more for all of this.
Would be more intelligent to buy one of the new pre-built computers, that have all the specifications you need.
Expert
