[SOLVED] Can I upgrade my brother's RS780M03G1 Gateway with a decent GPU

[jmhyrum]

So my brother is wanting to play with me and my friends who are all using $400+ custom gaming PCs. He doesn't have much money at all in fact he is considering around $100 max. Doing some research I have found that a video card like a R7 240 or R7 250 would do what he would like ($50-75). He is rocking a RS780M03G1-8EKSMH Gateway PC/Motherboard with an AMD Phenom ii x4 820 CPU. I'm wondering if a GPU upgrade is possible.

 

[terry4536]

You can buy cheap graphics cards in that price range. But as to whether they are "decent" is another question, and the answer is not likely.

Any motherboard with a PCI Express x 16 slot (most if not all) can support a graphics card. The next question is there enough space in the case and is the power supply suffecient to power the GPU.

 

[ElectrO_90]

Should be fine for such low end cards.

 

[terry4536]

Here is a web page full of the graphics card that you are looking for ($50 - $75).

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007709%204025%204026

 

[jmhyrum]

I cannot see a power watts on the PSU, so I'm trying to look that up, as with the case size; it has plenty of room. It does have the correct slot for it. From what I can tell the PSU of other similar Gateway models are anywhere from 300w-350w.

 

[terry4536]

What is the exact Gateway model? You can search for that, and then look for the specifications. It should list the power supply.

 

[terry4536]

Many Gateways are mini-towers. Those can limit the graphics card to low profile cards.

 

[jmhyrum]

So if my PSU is only 300W, I've seen cards like R7 240 draw at max 30W. Will this be fine if the cards draw so low power?

 

[terry4536]

Look at the system requirement for power supply first. If it is 300 watts (or below) that is going to be supplied by the PCI Express x 16 slot.

For example.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP3S33792

 

[dontlistentome]

I suggest you look at HD 7750 or HD 7770 cards, the R7 250x is basically a rebadged 7770. The 250 non x is basically a weaker 7750, so it might be okay on less demanding games. I wouldn't even consider the 240.

On the Nvidia side a GT 640 DDR5 or GT 730 DDR5 would be about equivalent to the AMD cards.

DDR5 vram is critical on this level of card if any gaming is going to be attempted. Do not get a DDR3 card. These cards are for less demanding games at 720p or less usually.

 

[terry4536]

Also many of the graphics cards in this price range are in very limited quantities. Choose the best option for the price.

 

[jmhyrum]

Ok I'm doing some research on GPUs and trying to find a card with a PSU min of 300w, but that has the most power. Thanks guys.