Dell XPS 420 direct replacement Card

[Roddyrock]

Dear All

Apologies in advance for my silly question as I have never even seen the inside of a pc...!

i wish to change my graphics card from a 8800 Gt to a 650ti/750 ti (so I can play modern games) without changing any other component in my pc (ie psu).

Very grateful if you can advise if this is possible.

System specs (original Dell pack - late 2007):
Intel® Core 2 Quad-Core Processor Q6600 (2.40GHz, 8MB, 1066MHz)
3072MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024/2x512]
SINGLE 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT card
375w PSU
Chip set - Intel x38/48
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit
Maximum 4gb OS memory

I would be very grateful for any help or advise you can offer


Many thanks in advance
Roy H

 

[BAYAN1]

I've just checked and there are 2 x 6 pin power connectors going into my 6850, the XPS 420 did originally just have one but I can remember using the adaptor to get the extra 6pin.

I know the R9 270 will run with no problems after all your advice on this thread, it's just a straight swap. I also know that the R9 270X is a better card and could possibly give me an additional 5-15% extra FPS on different games over the R9 270. All for an extra £9.

I know the extra FPS don't sound much but when your skirting around the 30 FPS on the newer games then every little helps.

So should I play it safe or risk it for a few FPS more?

 

[Math Geek]

benchmarks and such show about 40 more watts with the 270x. not much but the 270 is already pushing the psu to it's limits. i personally would not do it but would be curious if it would work i took the chance with the 270 and if you take the chance with the 270x and it works...... 😀

i would not try it as i think it would be too much for the psu.

 

[BAYAN1]

I think I'm going to take your good advice and go for the R7 270. It would be a shame to damage the XPS 420 trying to push it too far, its been a good little PC and should keep me going for another year or two.

Then it will be a new build with crossfired titans or similar lol should have come down in price by then. I'll post some benchmarks up and let you know how it compares with my old set up but it won't be for a week or two. Going to order it now then celebrate the coming of the new year.

Thanks again everyone who's taken the time to post replies on here, especially Math Geek.I really appreciate your help. Have a Happy New year 🙂

 

[Math Geek]

here is my 3d mark score for the system http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/4915907

be curious to see if it stays the same for you since it is the same system.

enjoy

 

[BAYAN1]

Good score considering its mainly a 7+ year old system. Faster than 45% of all results too. I'll do two tests involving both the old and new cards.

Have you any preference/ opinion between the Asus R9 270 and the sapphire R9 270? I definitely won't be going for the HIS one 🙂

 

[Math Geek]

no preference really. the saphire is cheaper right now on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202090

have used them before and never had any issues. and the reviews are favorable.

 

[BAYAN1]

Gone for the Asus AMD Radeon R9 270 DirectCU II OC 2GB, from amazon.co.uk. I've stuck with Asus again and it's got good reviews too, I'll keep you updated on performance when I run the benchmarks.

 

[Roddyrock]

Hi BAYAN1
I totally agree with Math Geek - it's not a good idea risking a 270x with the 375w psu.
I'm sure the Asus vs Sapphire question could be a thread all of its own but, having recently purchased a sapphire product, I would definitely recommend it.

 

[sora]

Hi BAYAN1
I totally agree with Math Geek - it's not a good idea risking a 270x with the 375w psu.
I'm sure the Asus vs Sapphire question could be a thread all of its own but, having recently purchased a sapphire product, I would definitely recommend it.

I'm pretty sure the 375W power supply is also low quality.

 

[Math Geek]

you know i would have agreed with you a few months ago but having looked at the stats and seen other mainstream psu's stats as well. i'm leaning toward it being a pretty decent psu. it's stats compare to many average 400-450w psu's out there (corsair, lower antecs and such). i know they are not the best brands/models out there but this one is stronger than them at less rated watts and clearly able to handle a good load.

so i'm feeling a little better about the psu every day. i'm in no way saying every dell psu is awesome and etc etc etc.... but this particular one seems to be good quality.

 

[BAYAN1]

I have to agree with Math Geek there, the PSU is still going strong after 7+ years of at some times very heavy gaming. It also had enough juice to supply a 6850 for most of that time, with 2 x 6 pinn power connectors when it only originally came with one.
I agree its not a 750 watt corsair PSU but its done me well over the years.

 

[BAYAN1]

Just a quick update, been running the fire strike benchmark with the 6850, averaged 2050 over 5 test runs.
The r9 270 should be arriving tommorow so I'll let you know those benchmarks when I run it.

 

[Math Geek]

wow so you should more than double that score if my score is on point. not bad at all

 

[BAYAN1]

Fingers crossed, it should be less than your score as your system is a little bit better than mine. But anywhere over 3600+ and I'll be well happy. I've got a few fraps scores too so I'll put them up as well.

 

[BAYAN1]

Ok, the Asus R9 270 card came this morning 🙂

Since then I've downloaded the new drivers, wiped the old drivers in safe mode. Installed new card with drivers and he hey presto...... nothing!

In device manager under display adapters its saying standard vga graphic adapter? With a this device cannot start (CODE 10) In properties? Its also listing a Microsoft driver from 2006 so I think the system at the moment doesn't pick up that the new Gpu is installed!

The card is powering up fine with both fans running, so I don't think its a PSU issue.

 

[BAYAN1]

Here's a bit more information on my specs just incase it helps.

Dell xps 420
Windows vista 32 bit
Intel core quad Q6600 CPU
3 Gb DDr 2 ram@ 333 mhz 2x1GB 2x512mb sticks
OTP406 dell motherboard

 

[BAYAN1]

Quick update
Wiped drivers in safe mode,then restarted in safe mode.
Tried reinstalling and an AMD Catslyst install manager warning came up saying Failed to load detection driver!

 

[Math Geek]

you don't have to install from safe mode. just boot it up normal with no driver and then install the drivers from the disk it came with. i am on driver version 14.301.1001.0 if that helps any.

safe mode runs with minimal support and should only be used for removing stuff and not installing it as all the needed services might not be available.

 

[BAYAN1]

Hi,
I've trief that, but the disk has drivers for windows 7 and upwards only. My system has vista 32.
I've also downloaded drivers for vista off ati website, re wiped old drivers and installed those and the Pc still doesn't recognise the Gpu in the device manager! Its still showing standard vga graphics adapter with a code 10 device cannot start message.

I've been trying all different ways for the past few hours and I can't get it to work :-(

 

[Math Geek]

hhhhhmmmmm that is odd. i am on win 7 so had no driver issues. did you try the win 7 drivers anyway? they often work with vista.

 

[BAYAN1]

Yes I did, everything loaded on the PC but the amd catalyst install manager failed to load detection driver and finished. Then I looked in the device manager and it was the same standard vga graphics adapter in there, as before.

I'm really stumped here! The pc is not recognizing the new graphics card and is using the old graphics Microsoft drivers by default!

 

[Math Geek]

my last idea would be to do the install manually. unpack the vista (or win 7) driver and through the device manager update the driver manually. you will have to point the dialog box to the inf file in the folder for the driver you unpacked.

this takes the rest of the stuff out of the mix and could sidestep whatever is messing up with the catalyst installer.

 

[BAYAN1]

Yes I had a look to do that earlier but struggled to point the dialog box to find the downloaded file?

I'll try again, fingers crossed

 

[BAYAN1]

I've got as far as update driver software-standard VGA graphics adaptor.

When I am browsing for driver software locations it doesn't pick up the downloaded AMD driver as its an exe file!

 

[Math Geek]

you have to extract the exe file. i use winrar for this purpose. it will take everything out of the exe and into a folder you designate. then you scan through the folders for the one labeled drivers and then vista 32. there are usually multiple drivers and you have to pick the right folder for you os. there will be other folders for the control panel, directx and other such items but you only need/want the driver for the card without the rest.

i did not have any issues installing the driver but i did it manually from the start. i hate the other stuff and never use it so i just don't bother with the exe file


it is also possible that the first thing the exe file did was to unpack everything to a folder. often in your root c: drive there will now be an amd folder with the package in it all ready to go. for me it unpacked it to an amd folder. under that was amd-catalyst-version number, followed by a bunch of folders. pick the packages folder and then drivers under that.