I just went out and got myself Final Fantasy 11. I didn't have a graphics card (I just got this PC from Dell not too long ago). So I went off and bought myself a dandy Radeon 9200.
Turns out that it's an AGP, and my motherboard only supports PCI (i have integrated graphics. I thought instead of buying it WITH the Dell, I'll just buy it on my own. So the only option to not buy one was integrated graphics. I wasn't thinking about that).

Soooo, the only game I'll be playing is FF11. Will it work on a PCI card? Cuz I'm probably going out tomorrow to buy a PCI card.

Or should I just upgrade my processor to something that supports AGP? I don't know too much about this; so.... right now I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with a P4 2.4 ghz. How much would it cost to upgrade it?

PCI will work fine.

If you have a decent PCI card, say ATI 7500 or better, or nVidia TNT2 or better, you should be able to play at least 600X800 no problem. For 1024X768 or better you'll need at least an ATI 9000 or nVidia GeForce 2.

If you don't have much money, I'd go for a PCI nVidia 5200 Ultra. That should have more then enough power.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?catalog=48&DEPA=...=4636,3668

DX9.0b supported! Important... to a point!

upgrading your processor wont give you AGP access. i hope you can take that card back.
shoulda done some research

i was in the same situation as you. i bought the same computer with no AGP and i ended up trashing it and building a new one

eek. I don't mean upgrading my processor, I mean upgrading my motherboard. My processor is already fine.

NO! Do not upgrade the motherboard in a Dell! It will catch on fire--Dell uses proprietary parts in their computers, so if you put in an industry standard motherboard, it won't mix well.

As far as PCI cards go, I believe that the Geforce FX 5200 is the best. It's not very good, but it's not very expensive, either.

Ray linked you to a page of AGP Geforce 5200's. They will not work with your computer! Be very careful to make sure that it is PCI!

yeah, henry, you are right about Dell stuff.

thats why i trashed mine and bought a new system!

the only thing you can keep is the processor, ram, and drives

So... how about a new case and motherboard? Then I can just put on my RAM, processor, and drives?

I saw motherboards on Newegg that were around 30-50 bucs that will work. Cases are around 40-50 bucs for 450w.
60-100 bucs, I can afford that if it'll be better than a PCI card. I do a lot of graphics (though mainly 2d in photoshop and painter), so I wouldn't mind updating to AGP.
If it gets up to 200 or so, I'll probably spend 100 of it and then the rest my parents will help me with as a christmas present. Oh well!

just a little FYI (not to defend Dell either cause Dell blows monkies to me).

The only difference between a standard retail board and one that is being used by Dell is the bios chip. You can actually call them and get the info to reflash the bios with a retail bios compatible with that pcb revision. I have done that a few times to gain control of memory timings and some other stuff that Dell doesnt want you to have control of. If you are using xp then you should have no problem switching motherboards so long as you do a fresh install of xp using the new board. Most of the time if you have the same chipset then most of the stuff will just boot right up but then you still have to install a few things...meanwhile all those drivers for the old board are floating around the registry clogging up resources because they didnt get uninstall properly. Then you must do a cleandisk. For guarenteed perfection though you must reformat and reinstall windows.

Woops, here, try these...

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?catalog=48&DEPA=...=4635,3668

Doesn't look like they make an Ultra PCI card. Well these non-ultras are all about $70 or $80. Look at the "BUS" type and it will tell you if it is AGP or PCI.

I had a dell, the motherboard fried, i bought a new case and new asus motherboard for my 933 mhz p3 processor, put all my old stuff from the Dell into the asus m-board with a new case, then everything was fine. i hooked up my cable modem then setup playonline, registered my playonline id, etc, followed all the ffXI installation and appropriate content id purchasing etc... then fo into FFXI select my character that i made, then it begins with the allegiance countries opening scene and after a bit it either gives an error screen "error code FFX - 4001" or just auto-closes the FFXI and playonline windows, like nothing happened. Every part of the requirements for the game is at or better than game recommendations except my os (2000 opposed to XP) and my processor speed ( P3 933mhz to any p4 -probably buy a 2.0 ghz) i will include my specs from the playonliune config...PLEASE HELP all i want to do is play this game, and if i need a new motherboard and processor then i'll do it!!! help me out anyone, so far support has not helped... heres my specs:::
=============================== System =================================

CPU = Intel(R) Pentinum(R)III/Celeron(R) Coppermine Processor with MMX
CPU Speed = 934 MHz
No. of CPUs = 1
OS = Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 Ver 5.00.2195
Version of DirectX = DirectX 8.1b
Main Memory = Capacity: 767MB : Free Space: 545MB
Drive [C:\] = Local Disk Free Space: 7.82 GB (Capacity: 29.29 GB )
Drive [D:\] = Local Disk Free Space: 6.81 GB (Capacity: 29.29 GB )
Drive [E:\] = Local Disk Free Space: 1.06 GB (Capacity: 18.09 GB )
Drive [F:\] = Local Disk Free Space: 1.86 GB (Capacity: 27.95 GB )
Drive [G:\] = Local Disk Free Space: 378.28 MB (Capacity: 27.95 GB )
PlayOnline Viewer Install Path = D:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\
Tetra Master Install Path = D:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\TetraMaster\
FINAL FANTASY XI Install Path = D:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\
Graphics Card = NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Type of Chip = GeForce FX 5200
Video Driver = nv4_disp.dll
Version = 6.14.10.5216
Updated = 10/06/2003 02:16 PM
VendorId = 0x10DE
DeviceId = 0x0322
SubSysId = 0x0000
Revision = 161
WHQLLevel = Signed(Date:Unknown)
VRAM = 128.0MB
AvailableVidMem = 124.0MB
AvailableTextureMem = 130.0MB
Sound Card = Playback through TotalRecorder (emulated)
Sound Driver = WaveOut 0
Version =
Updated =
Network Card = 3Com EtherLink 10/100 PCI For Complete PC Management NIC (3C905C-TX)
Network Driver = el90Xbc5.SYS
Version = 5.00
Updated = 08/13/2002 09:27 PM
Motherboard = CUV4X-LS
Manufacturer = ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Version = REV 1.xx
Serial Number = xxxxxxxxxxx

============================== Software ================================

Hardware Analysis - Post A Reply - Microsoft Internet Explorer


=============================== Process ================================

smss.exe
winlogon.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
svchost.exe
spoolsv.exe
ccEvtMgr.exe
dcfssvc.exe
svchost.exe
navapsvc.exe
NPROTECT.EXE
nvsvc32.exe
PTSsvc.exe
regsvc.exe
MSTask.exe
vsmon.exe
WinMgmt.exe
MsPMSPSv.exe
svchost.exe
Explorer.EXE
Mixer.exe
TotRecSched.exe
IEDriver.exe
gesfm32.exe
ccApp.exe
iexplore.exe
wcmdmgr.exe
zlclient.exe
aupdate.exe
RUNDLL32.EXE
iexplore.exe
syslog.exe
polcfg.exe

========================= Installed Software ===========================

AC3Filter (remove only)
AceFTP v1
Ad-aware 6 Personal
Adobe Acrobat 5.0
Adobe Photoshop 6.0
Adobe Download Manager (Remove Only)
Advanced Tools
AngelPotion Video Codec V1
AOL Instant Messenger
Application name
AVIcodec (remove only)
Tools for Internet Explorer
ClassicVis Component for Winamp 3 (remove only)
Cubes
DivX 5.0.3 Pro Bundle
DivX Player 2.1
FruityLoops v3.0.1
GameSpy Arcade
Internet Explorer Q824145
ImageDrive (Ahead Software)
FINAL FANTASY XI for Windows - Official Benchmark Program 2
PlayOnline Viewer and Tetra Master
FINAL FANTASY XI
FINAL FANTASY XI: Rise of the Zilart
MainConcept DV Codec Demo
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB820888
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB822831
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB823182
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB823559
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB823980
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB824105
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB824141
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB824146
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB825119
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB826232
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB828035
Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB828749
LiveReg (Symantec Corporation)
LiveUpdate 1.80 (Symantec Corporation)
Lycos Sidesearch
InCD EasyWrite Reader (Ahead Software)
MUSICMATCH Jukebox
Nero - Burning Rom (Web installer)
NetAnts
Nimo Codecs Pack v5.0 (Remove Only)
NeroMIX
NVIDIA Windows 2000/XP Display Drivers
NVIDIA Display Driver
Outlook Express Update Q330994
PCI Audio Driver
Postal 2
Windows 2000 Hotfix (SP5) Q818043
Windows Media Player Hotfix [See wm828026 for more information]
Quake III Arena
Quake III Team Arena
QuickTime
ReBirth RB-338 2.0 fix1
Registry First Aid
Soldier of Fortune II - Double Helix
Sound Forge 5.0
syslog
The Playa
Total Recorder 4.1
Search Toolbar
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament 2003
Viewpoint Media Player
WildTangent Winamp 3 Visualizer
WildTangent Updater
Winamp3 (remove only)
Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
WinMX
WinRAR archiver
WinZip
Windows Media Player system update (9 Series)
WildTangent Web Driver
XviD MPEG-4 Codec
ZoneAlarm Pro
Microsoft Office 2000 SR-1 Professional
USB SmartMedia Reader
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
KODAK One Touch to Better Pictures
IE Driver
Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer
KODAK Picture Software
WebFldrs
DAEMON Tools
PopKiller
KODAK Camera Connection Software Help
LSX-MPEG Encoder Demo
InterVideo WinDVD 4
Reason
Rio Audio Manager
Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional Edition
KODAK Picture Transfer Software
50Cent
KODAK Camera Connection Software

says you have 2000 with service pack 4, I thought there were at least 6 service packs....might try updating?

sorry forgot to mention this:

In your processes you show 32 processes.....thats insane! Im running 17 total. You might try cleaning that up and then updating and then after all is said and done check disk and defrag cause thats a ton of stuff you have there.

i cleared as many as i could close without causing windows to shut down and i still have like 28... how do i clear them so they wont come baunless i open them... and i will try defrag as well, any other suggestions after that doesn't work, should i just go with a new motherboard processor combo. thanks for the help so far

you have to identify the source program for the running service and be sure that it is not vital to the system. you can also run msconfig and stop as many apps as you can from starting up with windows. This will free up some of your memory and possibly some of your processors work...after looking at your list again and seeing that you have 768mb of ram I dont think thats your problem though.
You might try reading up on the fx5200 because alot of people are having problems with them.

well i tried defrag, i tried clearing up system processes, and i looked up my video card (manufacturer specific) and downloaded and installed the drivers, none of these have worked. from what i can see my graphics card should have no problem running the game, it only needs a 64 mg Vcard, ive got twice that, and every other game runs mega fast on my pc. i dont know what the problem is i'm getting very tired of troubleshooting, i wish i knew what was the real problem so i could just go buy a new whatever... i also tried the benchmark program it doesn't even finish??? WTF something is royally screwed up here. Any additiohnal help?

i also got all the windows 2000 updates

Hey i figured that this would go in this category. I got a "failed to recognize hardware TnL" when i started final fantasy 11. I was told that this is because of my graphics card. I am running Intel Extreme graphics and my chip is built right into my mother board(Intel d845gvsr). I have no AGP slot on it and three available PCI slots so is there any PCI video cards that can run FFXI in decent Quality.

Ok i had the same problem i bought ff11 and i dint have a good enough graphics card i have a radeon 7500 pci so i was wondering if i bought a radeon 9200 pci graphics card if i could run ff11 then?

ya, thats what i ended up getting and it works perfectly