Upgrading a graphics card
- Thread starter Shoorik
- Start date
Lol, well, we'll see. I'll give it a shot. I've read up on other websites that people have upgraded their graphics card with the same computer. If anything fries, that's okay, the computer was worth 175$ anyways. 
I'm sure it wont be that bad, I've read into the reference guide for this computer model and saw something about upgrading a graphics card. I assume that's what the slot is there for anyways, right?
I'm sure it wont be that bad, I've read into the reference guide for this computer model and saw something about upgrading a graphics card. I assume that's what the slot is there for anyways, right? 
G80FTW
Active Member
It depends on the PSU. Some factory PSUs can handle a little extra, as most pre-built computers have a power supply big enough for optional upgrades. You gotta think about it, his 200W PSU does not have alot to power like a top end gaming PC does. His CPU, for one, draws very little power compared to something like my i7, and I doubt theres any sound card or anything probably a small single HDD and an optical drive. 200W can power a low profile video card as long as the rest of the system isnt draining too much of it, and from the looks of this his system should be really power efficient.
For the card I recommended (the GT430):
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-430/specifications
Max power draw is 49W. So it would only be using 1/4 of his PSUs rated output in the worst case scenario.
And here is the 210 that he said he chose:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-210/specifications
30.5 watts. I would say he is completely safe using that graphics card with a 200W power supply.
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Yes, G80FTW, thank you for your input.
The only thing this computer has is a small Disk Drive, no sound card, just a jack for speakers from the motherboard I believe, an integrated graphics card, the CPU (Intel Core 2 Duo), motherboard (80 GB of space), 3 DDR2 Ram sticks (1 GB each), some extra USB slots, and I think 3 mini fans (2 for the CPU and 1 for the power supply).
Some thermal cooling here and there.
Lol, that's it, that's my machine. It works really well actually and is rather quiet.
I got this computer because I was using an old family computer that was purchased back in 2001. It costed $1200 un-inflated dollars back in the days. It has 512 MB of DDR RAM, Windows XP Home Edition, a 64 MB nVidia GeForce MX440 Graphics Card, 120 GB of space, two Disk Drives, an Intel Pentium 4 Processor, and I think a 270W power supply.
Compared to the old computer listed above, this computer works great!
And it only costed me $175 inflated dollars.
The only thing this computer has is a small Disk Drive, no sound card, just a jack for speakers from the motherboard I believe, an integrated graphics card, the CPU (Intel Core 2 Duo), motherboard (80 GB of space), 3 DDR2 Ram sticks (1 GB each), some extra USB slots, and I think 3 mini fans (2 for the CPU and 1 for the power supply).
Some thermal cooling here and there.
Lol, that's it, that's my machine. It works really well actually and is rather quiet.
I got this computer because I was using an old family computer that was purchased back in 2001. It costed $1200 un-inflated dollars back in the days. It has 512 MB of DDR RAM, Windows XP Home Edition, a 64 MB nVidia GeForce MX440 Graphics Card, 120 GB of space, two Disk Drives, an Intel Pentium 4 Processor, and I think a 270W power supply.
Compared to the old computer listed above, this computer works great!
And it only costed me $175 inflated dollars.
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Also, one thing I've just learned about is the "base score." Currently, the base score for my Compaq HP DC7700 computer is 3.4. The lowest score is the Gaming Graphics (at 3.4) and the second to lowest is the Graphics (at 3.9). I think that this graphics card upgrade should help the computer bring up the base score. I just have one question, does the graphics card effect both Gaming Graphics and Graphics together? If so, I may be able to bring my computer's base score up to a 4.9, which is the processor, the third to lowest score. Isn't this a big improvement or what?
Isn't this a big improvement or what?
G80FTW
Active Member
I had a GeForce 2 MX200 in 2001. Was the best freakin graphics card ever! They didnt even have heatsinks back then! I installed a heatsink and fan on it and overclocked the crap out of it and it never died. But it blasted through DX7 games of that time pretty nicely.
As for the windows index score, which I believe is what you are talking about, yes your score will be your lowest score. Which makes sense, as any computer is only as fast as its slowest component. Take mine for example, my rig is only as fast as my G80 will let it be in gaming
My i7 pretty much is just sleeping when Im gaming, waiting for my video card.
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Heh, it's good to hear from people who know about computers even from the "old" days lol. Technology is speeding up fast huh? The coolest graphics cards we have nowadays will be outdated in just 1-2 years. I remember, perhaps 5 years ago or so, a 1 GB USB stick was worth around $20-30 (I think). Nowadays, you can get a 32 GB USB stick for around $20 on Amazon. 32 times better in just 5 years and a little cheaper, even with the inflated dollars.
Oh yes, so I have installed the "EVGA 01G-P3-1312-LR GeForce 210 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card," and the fan is reallllllly loud lol. But the graphics seem to be working great. With the integrated graphics card, I played a game on rather low resolution and that was the only way it wouldn't lag spike. Now, I can play the game on the highest resolution with no lag at all. The 200W PSU seems to be taking it just fine too. I have a CPU which takes 65W. So I guess the whole machine is low profile.
Overall, good upgrade. ^_^ Though I may return the graphics card and get a different one because the fan is super loud. I should have taken into consideration the reviews on this graphics card.
Overall, good upgrade. ^_^ Though I may return the graphics card and get a different one because the fan is super loud. I should have taken into consideration the reviews on this graphics card.