[SOLVED] How to upgrade graphics card and should I stick with same brand or different brand?

[Jrez7]

Just bought a computer from someone off OfferUp. The graphics card is a amd Radeon hd 7670 1GB. I was thinking about upgrading but don’t know how to do it. Can I do the upgrade myself or am I better off getting a tech guy to do it? I’m not a computer expert or anything. The guy told me it’s capable of playing games like GTA 5 and Fortnite.
Also am I better off getting the same brand or a different brand? What’s easier? Looking for something affordable. Maybe a 2-4GB graphics card.
My specs are hp amd fx-8120 8GB ddr ram

 

[Grobe]

If you decide to do it yourself, there are nice videos on youtube that explain.

Just one of many videos (just go to youtube and search for "graphic card upgrade") that explain the process

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbsajSZEqro

 

[Jrez7]

If you decide to do it yourself, there are nice videos on youtube that explain.

Just one of many videos (just go to youtube and search for "graphic card upgrade") that explain the process

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbsajSZEqro

Ok cool but what brand should I get? Should I stick with same brand or different brand? Any suggestions?

 

[Grobe]

Because you happens to ask a Linux guy I'd say go for AMD since they're known to have better support. For other use I don't think it matters that much actually. You should uninstall the graphic drivers anyway no matter what card you use.

 

[Jrez7]

Because you happens to ask a Linux guy I'd say go for AMD since they're known to have better support. For other use I don't think it matters that much actually. You should uninstall the graphic drivers anyway no matter what card you use.

Don’t I need to know
Here is what I believe is the power supply model.
Internal 600 Watt (100V-240V) Form Factor: internal ATX Total wattage: 600W Nominal input voltage range: 100-127V (50-60Hz) 200-240V (50-60Hz) PCI-E power connector (for high-end video cards): 2 Dimensions: 150mm x 140mm x 86mm (5.9 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches) * This power supply has an LED to indicate a possible failure condition when LED is off and power is connected.
This is my computer here
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03272947

any suggestions on a 2-4Gb video card that’s affordable? Same brand or different brand?

 

[geofelt]

Not hard at all.

The graphics card you have is very low end, perhaps half the capability of integrated HD630 graphics that comes on a Modern intel processor.
An upgrade is definitely in order if you want to play games that have any kind of fast action.

What is your budget?

Pick your card.
Here is Tom's gpu hierarchy list.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

You can safely pick any card at 75w or less because it will not require extra power supply 6 pin connectors that you may not have.
Also, a cheap 600w psu may not deliver anything close.
Check that the new card has an output that matches an input on your monitor(dvi,v ga, hdmi, displayport)
Do not base your picks on specs like vram.
The amount of vram will be appropriate to the strength of the card.
AMD and nvidia use vram differently so any comparison of specs is not valid.

As to brands, are you talking about amd vs. nvidia?
Or like evga/gigabyte/asus and so on?
Really, it matters little.
You will need to install a graphics card driver.
A purist will say you need to uninstall the old driver and use an app like DDU. That is probably not necessary.
Just unistal any amd software you find in the windows installed app list.

All graphics cards have a low res default mode that will run without any drivers at all.

Install your new card and connect up the monitor.
Download and install the correct driver for your os and card.

 

[Jrez7]

Not hard at all.

The graphics card you have is very low end, perhaps half the capability of integrated HD630 graphics that comes on a Modern intel processor.
An upgrade is definitely in order if you want to play games that have any kind of fast action.

What is your budget?

Pick your card.
Here is Tom's gpu hierarchy list.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

You can safely pick any card at 75w or less because it will not require extra power supply 6 pin connectors that you may not have.
Also, a cheap 600w psu may not deliver anything close.
Check that the new card has an output that matches an input on your monitor(dvi,v ga, hdmi, displayport)
Do not base your picks on specs like vram.
The amount of vram will be appropriate to the strength of the card.
AMD and nvidia use vram differently so any comparison of specs is not valid.

As to brands, are you talking about amd vs. nvidia?
Or like evga/gigabyte/asus and so on?
Really, it matters little.
You will need to install a graphics card driver.
A purist will say you need to uninstall the old driver and use an app like DDU. That is probably not necessary.
Just unistal any amd software you find in the windows installed app list.

All graphics cards have a low res default mode that will run without any drivers at all.

Install your new card and connect up the monitor.
Download and install the correct driver for your os and card.

Didnt realize it was low end. The way the guy advertised it was a “fast gaming pc”. My previous computer was 5.0 GB ram and a intel g33/g3 express chipset family which I believe is a integrated graphics card too.

as far as brand I meant should I go with amd or nvidia? Since I already have a amd Radeon hd 7670 card I thought it would be easier to buy a amd card. My budget is $150. Not trying to go over that. If so not too much.

that list you sent me doesn’t have many cards thats below 75w. According to the list I may be better off getting the nvidia.
so are you saying that when I buy the new graphics card that I don’t need to uninstall the old drivers? Why do you say 75w or less?

As far as monitors goes I have a whole another problem with that. The computer I bought doesn’t work with the monitor because it’s a old dell with only a vga port. I was able to test the pc by hooking it up to my tv via hdmi port. I now have to figure out if I’m get a small tv or monitor for the pc

 

[geofelt]

nvidia cards are usually lower power than comparable amd cards.
75w is fine.
hd7670 has a passmark rating of 854 and is a 66w card.
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+7670&id=319

Your best bet is to find something like a EVGA GTX750ti used on ebay for $100 or so. Also a 60w card.
Passmark 3922
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750+Ti

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+7670&id=319
The evga cards will usually have a dvi-I output so you can buy a dvi-I to vga adapter for it for a couple of bucks.

You might even find a GTX1050ti for $150

Lastly, sad to tell you, a FX-8120 is also a low end gaming processor.
I hope you got it really cheap.

 

[Jrez7]

nvidia cards are usually lower power than comparable amd cards.
75w is fine.
hd7670 has a passmark rating of 854 and is a 66w card.
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+7670&id=319

Your best bet is to find something like a EVGA GTX750ti used on ebay for $100 or so. Also a 60w card.
Passmark 3922
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750+Ti

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+7670&id=319
The evga cards will usually have a dvi-I output so you can buy a dvi-I to vga adapter for it for a couple of bucks.

You might even find a GTX1050ti for $150

Lastly, sad to tell you, a FX-8120 is also a low end gaming processor.
I hope you got it really cheap.

I bought it off the guy for 170. Is that a good deal? So you’re saying that it’s better to get those nvidia cards you mentioned because they are low power? If so how do I uninstall the amd Radeon hd 7670 drivers?

 

[geofelt]

$170 for a working pc of any kind is reasonable.
case, drive, psu, and windows can hardly be bought for less.
Just do not expect too much.
The graphics card you can install will depend primarily on the capability of your power supply.
Here is a handy chart:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
About the lowest card that is considered as gaming might be the GT1030.
One possible issue of concern might be the capability of your motherboard bios.
Modern graphics cards need a UEFI bios to be recognized.
Some cards will also have legacy bios support but that usually does not show up in the specs. And it differs by brand and model.
The nvidia 700 series like the GTX750ti are, I think the last to universally support legacy bios.

If your psu and bios permit, a strong graphics card is a reasonable purchase.
You may be limited in some games by the poor single thread of the 8120.
It will depend on the game. A game must be limited by something.

As to installation, first take a user system protection checkpoint which will allow you to back out any changes that do not work out.
Download and save the appropriate nvidia driver package directly from nvidia.
Do not use a "driver helper" app which might contain malware.
Go into the list of installed programs and uninstall any amd software that is driver related.
While you are at it, see if there are any other programs that you do not want and uninstall them also.
If in doubt, leave it be.
Swap cards and reconnect your monitor.
Your motherboard will have a latch at the end of the slot that you need to unlatch to remove the old card.
Some move side to side, some are lifted. Do not force anything.
When you boot, you will have a low resolution display by default.
Install the driver package and you should then get normal display resolution.