We need to find out your motherboard model in order to know if it can take more than 4GB of memory.

Is your computer a brand name like Dell or HP?

No, Jenny100! It doesn't have a fancy brand name like Dell. It was bought from Bloom Microtech in Ottawa, Canada. Robert.

If Bloom Microtech is a computer shop near where you live, you may want to take the computer in and have them upgrade the computer for you -- that's assuming they offer upgrades and don't simply sell ready-mades. You may want to phone them up and find out. They'll be able to tell what motherboard it has and what system memory would be compatible. Your current 4GB of memory meets "Minimum" requirements for adventure games, but not "Recommended" requirements for some of the more demanding adventure games.

The shop would also be able to tell you whether you need to upgrade the power supply and add a case fan when you add a faster video card.


It's been about three years since I bought a video card and I am not up on all the current cards. You may want to get advice from someone who's bought a new card more recently.

However from a brief search, a Radeon R7 370 looks to me like a reasonable choice for a video card. It's fairly recent and not hugely expensive.
The R7 370 is the card Game-Debate recommends to play SOMA (the GD Adjusted Requirements)
http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=8825&game=Soma

I'd get one with a minimum of 2GB of video memory, though the Radeon R7 370 can also come with 4GB of video memory and I'd get the 4GB if there isn't much difference in price. I don't know what prices in Canada are like, or even if Bloom Microtech offers that model.

You may want to use the hwcompare site to compare video cards.
Here is a comparison of the R7 370 with an older model Radeon
http://www.hwcompare.com/19411/radeon-hd-7770-vs-radeon-r7-370-2g/

Hi Jenny100, are you saying there are several amounts of video memory available with the R7 370 and I should specify the amount? Robert.

The R7 370 seems to be available in 2GB and 4GB versions.
However if you buy locally you may not be able to get a specific model card. There may be an older or newer model with similar speed.

It would be better to check your particular motherboard model before you buy anything to make sure there are no issues with that particular combination.

And chances are you'll need a new power supply unless your computer came with a better power supply than most readymade computers. This site shows the power requirements and speed of your current card vs the R7 370.
http://www.hwcompare.com/19671/radeon-hd-5450-vs-radeon-r7-370-4g/

Hi again Jenny100, another question from ignorant me, I do not know my way around video cards! Do they come in 6GB or higher, regardless of brand? Surely the higher the better for adventure games, not shoot-em-ups, with an eye to the future when games get more sophisticated. With the R7 370, you say 4GB is maximum range. Am I correct or maybe I misinterpreted you? Is the R7 370 the best video card for me? Robert.

Robert, I think that the R7 370 video card comes with a maximum of 4GB. It's hard for me to imagine your ever needing more than that in terms of video memory as long as you are sticking to adventure games.

There are a lot of different video cards out there and I have no idea whether this one would be the best for you or not.

Maybe someone else can advise you further.

For adventure games - even new ones - you are already over what you need. A 4 GB card is plenty. I'm not very familiar with Raedon cards, so you should wait to see what Jenny says.

And as Jenny said before, there are a lot of other things to consider - like a power supply and whether your motherboard is new enough to handle all this. Your best source of information is the shop that built the computer for you.

Thanks for the info Draclvr. Is Jenny sick?
If so, get well soon Jenny. Robert.

I'm sure she just has lots going on this weekend, Robert. me, however? I AM sick! Laryngitis and the general creeping crud... blech.

It sounds like a good time to relax with a game along with a nice hot toddy. I hope you feel better soon, Draclvr.

I'm thinking that's the plan for later today, Marian! Finally got tired of coughing and made a cup of hot tea with a dollop of American Honey whiskey and a bit of lemon!

Don't buy a card until you check your motherboard model and power supply.

Unless you can either
(1) find your receipt with computer internals listed or
(2) contact the shop where you bought it and ask them,

you'll have to unscrew the computer case and see what's written on the motherboard and power supply. Be careful to ground yourself on the case and avoid touching the guts if you open the computer. Electrostatic damage is cumulative.

You could check if the BelArc advisor can identify your motherboard.
It was able to identify the motherboard on my older computer.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

However you'll still have to open up the computer to see the power supply.

4GB of video memory should be enough for the foreseeable future.
6GB wouldn't hurt but is unlikely to be necessary.
Do you want to pay more for the video card than you have to?
Maybe an extra $100 doesn't matter to you and you just feel more comfortable with extra "headroom" but it's not likely any adventure will require more than 4GB before the whole computer becomes "too old."

Are you planning to try to install the video card yourself?
If so, you'll almost certainly have to install a new power supply, and possibly also a case fan.
You will also have to reinstall video drivers.

You can use sites like GPUboss to compare video cards.
http://gpuboss.com/