GPU Upgrade Help

[bowhawk000]

I have an old Dell Inspiron 530s that I'm setting up for my friend. She just wants to use it for MS Office, League of Legends, Netflix, and Minecraft. Right now it is running on onboard graphics, but I'm looking into getting a cheap GPU upgrade for it.
It has a 1.6GHz processor and 250W PSU.
Would it be able to utilize http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3853743&CatId=3669

If not, other suggestions? It is a slim case and I prefer not to upgrade much else besides the GPU.

 

[ewok93]

That would work. You could also go with a 7770, a bit more but also better.

 

[jnkweaver]

All of the lower level cards list 300W as the required system power. The real problem is whether the current psu can really put out 250W anymore. It is just a crap shoot. I would lean towards no.

 

[iiNrG]

GT 630 for almost the same price on tiger direct. Much better value. You might want to look into a slightly better PSU. 350W maybe.

 

[ewok93]

It would be a smart choice to upgrade the PSU, that one is a bit... terrible.

 

[swifty_morgan]

with that power supply and slow cpu............... and amd 5450............ that 610 listed might be it's equivalent. so yes..... don't expect miracles and old horse.

 

[bowhawk000]

What form factor PSU would I need? SFX, TFX?

 

[swifty_morgan]

What form factor PSU would I need? SFX, TFX?

what are you going to do about the cpu. you can't put a big card on that machine. the cpu will still hold you back.

I run a 939/4800 dual core with a 5450 and it's almost a perfect marriage. if I had a lesser cpu it would be too much card. ( this is at 720p.... or 1300 resolution. )

 

[bowhawk000]

Hmmm, supposedly the cpu is rated at 2.4 GHz but is only running around 1.6 GHz when I did a "can you run it" test.
I found this PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151114. I don't want to sink too much money into it, so the cpu might just bottleneck the gpu, but it should show some visible differences, maybe? Right now, when I run LoL, I get ~20fps just from onboard.

 

[jay2577]

That is a quality power supply unit. Seasonic make the best power supply units in the world
You will get some improvement from the new GPU for your purposes

 

[junkeymonkey]

some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked'' bios and may not allow you to change certin hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warrenty claims and rtefunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you realy need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work 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.. it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. but its up to you good luck..

 

[ewok93]

That doesn't stop you from changing hardware. That stops you from overclocking. If you had an issue installing new hardware, it was because it's not compatible.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well just like the rest i warned about this now they got new cards that dont post and there out money holding the bag onr guy took his to a shop and tryed 5 cards and all failed to boot just a few things to look at

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/271800-33-upgrade-vid...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/349144-33-monitor-dis...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/182046-33-luck-instal...

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1948067/evga-geforce-gtx-650-displaying-monitor.html

 

[ewok93]

That is called a faulty motherboard. Not working as intended. Defective. Broken. Damaged. In need of repair.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well ok its not like i am taking out my a$$ here as i am trying to save this guy his money and grief as i tryed to help outhers that did not look and see if there walmart computers would ket them upgrade just like the last guy he went and bought a new nice card and hes looking at a black screen and had to out his old stuff back in now he is out his money and got a card he cant use .... i am not saying that there all this way but most are if you cant find a few of these computers that are the same model as he got and prove that the upgrade does work well before spending money on it ... i'm just trying to help the guy not hurt him i been there, and around here there are lots of walmart computers to work on.. so as i said unless you can prove with out a doubt that that model he has got will take the upgrade i sure would not gamble $200 on it and when you find the proof post the link here as i said above... this is done to protect them from undue warrenty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them [hp,dell.ect..]. there bios are fixed to protect them from you damaging there computer and comming back on them... beeen that way for a long time..

have not heard from this gut in awile....http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1953892/upgrading-graphics-card-pavilion-p6120t.html

this guy took his to a shop to prove me wrong... http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1948067/evga-geforce-gtx-650-displaying-monitor.html

i am not trying to hurt these guys just informing them on what may or will happen...