Can I have this GPU?

jamesbaca

Honorable
Nov 26, 2013
9
0
10,520
Cause I have a desktop computer with a weak GPU. I searched on Google and it said GPUs can be changed. So I was thinking buying a GPU to substitute my present GPU. But I searched, and not all GPUs run with all motherboards. So what I'm asking is can my Radeon X1650 SE be substituted by and Asus Nvidia Geforce GT630 4GB DDR3 128bit PCI-E W/ VGA/DVI/HDMI? It was rated by Game-Debate at "6" while my present is at "3". All I want is to run sleeping dogs. So any other GPUs you can suggest that works fine with Sleeping Dogs will do. But still answer my question.

CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66GHz
GPU : Radeon X1650 SE

Thanks in advance!!!
 
Solution
OK, in that case I have no idea what the laws there say about labeling electrical equipment. Here in the US that has to be labeled. If you can't find a label on your PSU, and you can't find any paperwork that tells you what kind it is, then the safest thing to do is buy a new PSU - they are usually not too expensive around here, but I don't know what prices are like in your part of the world.

If that turns out to be the case (you end up buying a new PSU), I would suggest reposting a NEW question, which would be "what kind of PSU do I need to get to run this video card on this system" and then list all the specs that you can find about your system. Download Speccy to help identify what's installed if necessary. CPU, motherboard...
It is more likely to be limited by your power supply than your motherboard. What are your power supply specs? They will be printed on the side of the PSU inside the case.
 


Uhmm, I'm new to tech so uh, what's a PSU?
And also can I check the power supply without taking the cpu case off???
 
PSU = Power supply (unit I suppose)

You can't usually check your power supply specs without taking the case off, unless you have that information in paperwork received with your computer, or if it's in your build specs. Just unplug it and take a look at it, it'll be where ever the power cord is plugged in. You're going to have to crack that case open anyway to replace your video card so this'll be some preparation for that.
 
And your generic PSU will probably not have any PCIe connectors and wattage for the new card, so you should get a new PSU before you get the card. Please do not buy the cheapest PSU out there as it might be the same or even worse than your current power supply. Try actually doing some research. Cheers.
 


But before that, will changing my GPU make my computer back to it's factory settings or whatsoever. Cause I got a lot of games downloaded in this computer. And I don't want to download them all over again.
 


Where do you get that idea? In over 30 years I have never seen a PSU in the USA that lacked this information. I'm pretty sure it's required by law. Even if you are correct in your surmise that some PSUs do not have this information printed on a label and attached to the PSU, he won't know for sure that is the case unless he opens it up and LOOKS. Assuming without checking is rather the OPPOSITE of doing "research".
 


You won't have to re-download your games, but you will have to locate and install the proper updated device drivers for the video card. You may also need to reconfigure some of the video options for your games.
 


There's nothing printed or written on the side of my psu. Well, I serached on google on how to check the power supply of my cpu. Instructed there, I was gonna need to remove the WHOLE PSU to see the power supply. So, looking at my pc. Here's what I found written on some parts of my cpu.

X1650 512MB PCI Express X16
Dual DVI/TVO
Single Slot Fansink
167.64*111.15 mm PCB

I also took pictures of my cpu. Maybe you could edit it and put arrows on where I can search for the PSU and the power supply. I'll post the pictures later...
 
James, the PSU IS the power supply. In the US it always has a label on it that tells the manufacturer and the electrical specs. I don't know what country you are in. Sometimes the PSU is installed such that the label isn't visible and you have to remove the power supply and turn it over until you find it. What country are you in?

Core voltage is the amount of voltage being supplied to something with a processor - could be your CPU or the processor on your video card, or anything else that has a processor.

Try watching this video about power supplies - I'm not saying its the best on the subject or even all that great but at least it's a fairly complete explanation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAH4hEQYfYs

That ought to help you to identify what your power supply is and how to find the specs for it.
 


Ok. I'm from the Philippines by the way.
 
OK, in that case I have no idea what the laws there say about labeling electrical equipment. Here in the US that has to be labeled. If you can't find a label on your PSU, and you can't find any paperwork that tells you what kind it is, then the safest thing to do is buy a new PSU - they are usually not too expensive around here, but I don't know what prices are like in your part of the world.

If that turns out to be the case (you end up buying a new PSU), I would suggest reposting a NEW question, which would be "what kind of PSU do I need to get to run this video card on this system" and then list all the specs that you can find about your system. Download Speccy to help identify what's installed if necessary. CPU, motherboard, RAM, HD (speed and brand if you know it), any other drives like a DVD, your sound card, how many fans you have in your system ... I may be forgetting something, but basically anything that drinks power in your system, it all needs to be added up to figure out what PSU you need.

Also you need to know the total amperage your GPU needs and make sure you have more than that on combined +12V rails - these are usually labeled +12V1 and +12V2, and they'll list amperages for each. On my PSU those values are 21A on +12V1 and 22A on +12V2, but 38A combined - so don't try to add up the separate amperages on each +12V rail, look for the specs for "Max Combined Wattage" or something similar. Here's a picture of a PSU label with all the info on it:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=se3gwp&s=6

That's what you're looking for.

Also keep in mind that your PSU wattage ought to be about double the average load so that you don't make it work more that about 50% capacity - it's safer and better for the PSU.

Also make sure your PSU, whether you keep this one or get a new one, has the right kind of connector(s) for the video card you want. For instance, I currently have a Radeon HD 5770 which uses one 6 pin connector from the power supply. I was thinking of replacing it with a Radeon HD 7870, which would have needed TWO 6 pin connectors. My PSU did have a spare one. Then I found out about the new R9 770 cards - which only require ONE 6 pin connector and run at a lower power consumption. So that would be an exact replacement slot-for-slot and power-cable-wise for the existing card. So, make sure you have the right connectors for the card you want.

The other thing to make sure of is what kind of slot the GPU (video card) needs and to make sure you have the right kind. ALSO make sure that the card will PHYSICALLY FIT in the space you have for it. For example, the MSI r9 770 card is 10" long and 5" wide and takes a double slot, so I need an empty slot next to the GPU slot (below it in my case/motherboard configuration, check your configuration to make sure where the 2nd slot the card needs in relation to the video card slot).

When I opened my case and checked, I found I had plenty of room lengthwise and no problem with the slot below (it was empty), but because they chose to mount a fan on the side panel I was only going to have MAYBE 1/4" space on the 5" dimension. So I opted not to get that card after all.

So make sure you have the right card for the right type of slot. To my knowledge all modern video cards require a PCIe x16 slot (PCI Express x16) which is the longest slot on your motherboard. There are other sizes of PCIe slots that you may or may not have on your motherboard, also there is the vanilla PCI (no express) slots which may or may not appear on your motherboard. Here is a diagram that might help you figure out what type of slots you have, but the best way is to look up the specs for your board.

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?15853-Pci-and-Pci-e-slots-explained

That should at least give you an idea of what you are looking at.
 
Solution