that's not true and what he asks is valid if you don't have a full uefi bios on a older motherboard todays newer cards may not work or be compatible
see it here all the time a old board with a legacy bios may not work with a lot of todays new cards and may only accept like a NVidia 600 series or below even like a 750 ti that use to work well today manufactured 750ti's may not [older ones had a switch to select legacy or uefi use ]
and he got a HP too boot?? then that is a big issue with them on a lot of there models
just to add from HP on a like same model
''But the PC you have is already tested for the ideal hardware configuration and hence HP never recommends any upgrade/downgrade of the hardware/software on the PC.
If you still wish to do so, then it will be your sole discretion''
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Please-provide-graphic-card-list-supported-to-HP-desktop/m-p/5975673/highlight/true#M140924
just like I say from this disclaimer I use on this prebuilts deal '' in the end any upgrade you do is all your own risk . the prebuilt manufactures only guarantees there computers work as sold to you as is out of the box from there factory with what they put on it , not a drop more ''
some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked or fixed'' bios and may not allow you to change certain hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warranty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you really need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work in your model first before you invest money in it .. there are a lot of these threads here at toms to look at some models will allow upgrades and some dont.. and a lot of guys here say ya ya ya when is really no no no...it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. then get told its your psu and you spend more and end up right back where you are now, but its up to you good luck..
you got to know the the boards in these computers are not like the ones we use to do custom builds witch are open to upgrading with in the boards compatibly . the bios is custom made for there design and just for the parts they authorize to be used on there computers there only guaranteed to work as is out of the box as you bought it ,..
also these boards do not have to meet atx standards and there pci-e slot power may not do the required 75w needed for most higher end cards and can be limited to say 45 or 60w that is all thats needed with the low end factory oem cards that it may of shipped with
in the end any upgrade you do is all your own risk . the prebuilt manufactures only guarantees there computers work as sold to you as is out of the box from there factory with what they put on it , not a drop more
there in busness to sell you whole ready to go computers , and dont worry about you upgrading them or giving you support to do so . thats not how they make there money they prefer you run to wal-mart and buy there ''better'' latest models