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[Iowa]

Sorry to bring up a dead topic guys, but I'm almost finished shopping for my new PC's parts, and just thought i'd run them by you guys:

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MiniUATX motherboard
-Supports 533 and 667 RAM
-4 USB 2.0 ports
-No AGP slot
-3 PCI slots
-1 PCI-Express x16 slot

Intel Pentium D 915 Processor
-Slot 775
-2.80GHZ
-2x2MB L2 Cache
-800MHZ Front Side Bus

NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 256MB DDR2
-PCI-Express
-Manufactured by eVGA
-HDTV
-SLI ready
-DirectX 10

1GB 667MHZ DDR2 RAM
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Is this a good upgrade, and furthermore, am I required to run DirectX 10 once I install my new GeForce?

What I'm really curious about is if this upgrade will allow me to run games such as those I've mentioned before, but recently the game "Bioshock" has piqued my interest when it was shown at E3. Do you think my new rig will be able to handle it?

[Mighty Midget]

About GeForce and DirectX 10: The thing is that dirx 10 is fairly new, and few cards support it. Only the new cards does, and I believe that is what that is about: It tells you your card is dirx 10 compatible. So, you don't need dirx 10 to get the card working as such, but you will need it when the game or other software requires it. Some effects/functions needed in a game and which your card supports may not be available if you have an older dirx version.

[Iowa]

Thanks, I've always wanted to know that, and I was having a bit of a heart attack because if I would've had to install DX10, I'd have to install Vista too...definitely not going there.

Oh, and just to revise my earlier post some, I've now ordered my PC parts and I ended up getting a GeForce 8600 GT rather than a 8500 GT. And I've upped my RAM to 2GB also...

Now I just pray I'll be able to run Bioshock, because if not you'll all be looking at a pretty pissed off Abandonian.