Help with upgrading to a new graphics card

[ribstone1]

I currently have a Nvidia Geforce GT220 1024mb graphics card, and was wanting to upgrade to a new one. I was looking at a GT720 as a replacement, ( unless you could recommend anything better with a realistic price?) would the new card fit where the old one was taken out?
I have a Packard Bell, Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q8300 if that helps!

 

[hang-the-9]

For gaming, you want a 730, the GDDR5 version. Although Packard Bells have horrible component, the power supply should be able to handle a 730. Even a 730 is on the low end of use for gaming. If you are not getting the card for gaming, you don't need to upgrade.

 

[freeracercolin]

By the graphics cards you are looking at, I'm going to assume you are a not a gamer. If you are, then you are going to a much better graphics card then that. With that in mind, I would recommend this: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video-card-vcggt7301d5lxpb A 720 would be a nice upgrade from a 220, but this is a tier higher for less than $20 more. If you are a gamer, this simply will not do. We're going to need more info, such as budget, specs, and games you want to play.

 

[ribstone1]

Yes I am getting the new card for gaming. a Geforce GT730 sounds good as in the link you sent me. Would a 730 fit my motherboard?. I think my motherboard is an Aspire M5802/M3802 (if that's the right info?)

 

[MrLinx]

It will be able to due to having a PCI Express 2.0 x16 Slot.

 

[freeracercolin]

Yes I am getting the new card for gaming. a Geforce GT730 sounds good as in the link you sent me. Would a 730 fit my motherboard?. I think my motherboard is an Aspire M5802/M3802 (if that's the right info?)

For gaming you aren't going to be able to do much of anything with a 730. Minecraft would run pretty smooth, along with other less graphically intense games. In a budget category, I recommend a 270(X) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92702gbd5tdheoc) or 750Ti (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp43751kr) Though more expensive, these cards are widely regarded as the minimum preferred for gaming.

 

[ribstone1]

Ok that's great, thanks for the advise. But again would either of these 2 cards be able to fit my motherboard?

 

[hang-the-9]

Yes I am getting the new card for gaming. a Geforce GT730 sounds good as in the link you sent me. Would a 730 fit my motherboard?. I think my motherboard is an Aspire M5802/M3802 (if that's the right info?)

For gaming you aren't going to be able to do much of anything with a 730. Minecraft would run pretty smooth, along with other less graphically intense games. In a budget category, I recommend a 270(X) (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-axr92702gbd5tdheoc) or 750Ti (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp43751kr) Though more expensive, these cards are widely regarded as the minimum preferred for gaming.

The issue with those is that they are double the price of the 730 and will very likely not run on a Packard Bell supplied power supply. The 730 is slower but a lot faster than the 220 and should run on a stock power supply.

If there is budget for about $180 to upgrade both the video card and the power supply that is the best way.

 

[junkeymonkey]

you may want to look around hard to see if that upgrade is realistic some prebuilts may not accept a card much over what you got in it form out of the box due to the restrictions the manufacture put on them -- my disclaimer to ponder on this

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 ,..


all there is to do is be sure it will work before you spend good money on it

don't end up like this guy-- good luck

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