I have a system running XP which is a few years old. I have just run up against a game that my card will not support because mine is not shader 1 capable. Could someone review my dxdiag and recommend some specific video cards in the medium price range. I've DONE a little research but would like assurances that what I buy will be compatible and a wise choice.

Thank you in advance.
-Wade Horton

System Information:
------------------
Time of this report: 7/12/2007, 07:54:56
Machine name: BOOTS
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: E-6000
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz
MEMORY: 512MB RAM
Page File: 252MB used, 995MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 MX 440
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_87311462&REV_A3
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8198 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 3955456 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 3536768 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4231-11CF-D457-3BA702C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0171
SubSys ID: 0x87311462
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_87311462&REV_A3\4&36560896&0&0008
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 3536768 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nv4_disp.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 3955456 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvsvc32.exe, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 131139 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvhwvid.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 573440 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvapi.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 110592 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvoglnt.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 5402624 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvcpl.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 7311360 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvmctray.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 86016 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvwddi.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 81920 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvnt4cpl.dll, 6.14.0010.11014 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 286720 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvmccs.dll, 6.14.0010.8198 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 229376 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\help\nvcpl.hlp, 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 169507 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\help\nvwcplen.hlp, 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 55444 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvcod.dll, 1.00.0000.0035 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 35840 bytes
Driver: C:\WINNT\system32\nvcodins.dll, 1.00.0000.0035 (English), 12/10/2005 03:06:00, 35840 bytes

What game is it? I would compare the reccomendations of the game manufactuer against cards that are compatible wiht your motherboard and price rangeMedieval Total War. I think I want to go with Nvidia because that is what I have the most experience with in terms of driver downloads, but what model? here are some AGP cards to choose from (quite a list) maybe Nick can walk you through some of the choices ?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639&name=AGP+4X%2f8X


http://computer.howstuffworks.com/agp.htm < explains AGP cards vs. PCI


What's your budget?
And what POWER supply do you have?Well Rome Total War 2, which I assume is what you have, needs a 128 MB Graphics card, which you are gonna find most cards should at least have that, we are just going to have to find out if you need an AGP card or PCI, do you happen to know which you have? AGP will be a shorter brown port on your motherboard, as PCI will be long and usually black or white.

This is an AGP slot (Short Brown one)


This is a PCI Express slot
Thanks for the pics! I'll take a look and repost if I have questions.
-whorton