Intel Graphics

[verse]

So I brought this Acer L310, it's a slimline PC that is about 3/4 the size of a playstation II, the system specs as follows Intel core2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz 2 GB RAM Intel 946 GZ Express Chipset Family now I know that Intel graphics cards are much to be desired, but it was an impulse buy that came with a very nice 19in widescreen monitor and i was amazed at the size of the darn thing. Much to my demise I spend about half me computer time playing Everquest II which just won't play, the graphics are gittery, which after some searching on the net i've found the issue might have to do with fps. The box itself i'm pretty sure doesn't have a APG slot and probably not even any PCI slots, i'm not really wanting to open it due to warrenty blah blah blah. also i'm running direct X 10 So any idea's on what i can do without having to spend any money on the machine?

[Solaran_X]

There isn't much you can do without cracking the case and seeing if you do have an AGP or PCIe slot for a video card. In fact...I didn't know EQ2 would even run on integrated graphics. I've always had a graphics card for it (256MB BFG GeForce FX 5200, 256MB Radeon 9550, 256MB BFG GeForce 7800 GS OC, and most recently [since I finally got PCIe] a pair of 256MB EVGA GeForce 7900 GS KOs.)

[TSR-JasonC]

According to <a href="http://computershopper.com/reviews/acer-aspire-l310-desktop-review" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ComputerShopper.com</a>, the Acer Aspire L310 has: "No internal expansion; upgrading RAM requires replacing existing memory" So, you're looking at a complete computer upgrade in order to play EverQuest II.

[doctorbow]

<cite>TSR-JasonC wrote:</cite><blockquote>According to <a href="http://computershopper.com/reviews/acer-aspire-l310-desktop-review" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ComputerShopper.com</a>, the Acer Aspire L310 has: "No internal expansion; upgrading RAM requires replacing existing memory" So, you're looking at a complete computer upgrade in order to play EverQuest II. </blockquote> Rather crappy, but reading further into the review the article mentions "You won't find any unused internal expansion slots".  Now, unused tells me there's possibility of PCI slot, which IF it exists WOULD be your only option.  You don't even have to open your case to find out, simply look at the back, and if you see any horizontal slots that are currently being used.  Now, my experience with units that have "Built-in" wi-fi is that they are not hard-cut on the MoBo, as the phrase "built-in" would have one to believe, but are delivered via an expansion card, much like dial-up modems still are (usually) these days, and Ethernet ports were add-ins, back in the day. (Wi-Fi = 802.11 wireless network access, really only applicable if you use or will use a wireless router/access-point).  If it IS there, it'll be the card that has the antenna stickin' outta your computer's butt. If this is the case, you CAN get several PCI graphics cards that are pretty capable, and designed to fit into a slim-line system, and just swap whatever card occupies that slot (If you DO need wi-fi access, it's REALLY easy to get a wi-fi USB adapter, and may end up being preferable in your case).  Don't worry so much about voiding the warranty blah blah blah.  Unless you send direct-to-manufacturer for repair, other manufacturer-warranted repair shops (BestBuy will do warranty repairs, for example) rarely even LOOK at such things as the silly sticker (hint, cut-through it, don't make it all scraggly and obviously torn).   Sooooo there may be hope for this system yet.  Let us know.