I have an i3 530 processor at 2.93ghz. I would like to place a dedicated graphics card in my desktop. Which one should i buy?

[mnmir567]

I have a packard bell desktop which is 7 years old. It has an i3 530 processor at 2.93 ghz. I recently upgraded ram from 3gb to 7gb ra,. I would now like to install a dedicated graphics card. Which one would be the best for my desktop?
Extra info - H57M01 motherboard, micro ATX case
I am willing to upgrade my cpu from i3 to an i7 1st gen maybe to an i7-860 or 870 series.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Wolfshadw]

What power supply do you have? Depending on that, I'd probably recommend a GTX 750.

-Wolf sends

 

[mnmir567]

Here is a picture i took a month ago when i was placing the extra ram in my pc.



https://imgur.com/a/dW52w - this is a link just incase the pic above is not viewable

 

[mnmir567]

What power supply do you have? Depending on that, I'd probably recommend a GTX 750.

-Wolf sends

I think its 250 watts from what i can see in the pic i uploaded

 

[electro_neanderthal]

That definitely looks like 250W... it's a low powered PSU; I'm not sure you can add much to that without replacing it first. Can you add a video card? Sure, but an old, stock PSU powering anything more than what's already there is not very confidence inspiring.

By the way, how on earth did you get 7GB of RAM working? I'm curious.

 

[mnmir567]

That definitely looks like 250W... it's a low powered PSU; I'm not sure you can add much to that without replacing it first. Can you add a video card? Sure, but an old, stock PSU powering anything more than what's already there is not very confidence inspiring.

By the way, how on earth did you get 7GB of RAM working? I'm curious.

Motherboard has 4 slots there was 3gb already in there so just added 2x2gb ram sticks.
I am willing to buy a new psu would 350W suffice? Are there any recommendations of a brand that is good?

 

[electro_neanderthal]

350W should do for a lower end graphics card, but if it's not too much more, I'd recommend a 400W PSU. EVGA, Corsair, Thermaltake, and Seasonic are all very reputable brands from what I can tell.

 

[diellur]

Just to add to the above, I'd not get a hugely powerful GPU either. Your CPU is quite old, so will bottleneck higher end GPUs.

 

[mnmir567]

Just to add to the above, I'd not get a hugely powerful GPU either. Your CPU is quite old, so will bottleneck higher end GPUs.

if i get a 450w psu and a gtx 750. would it help if i upgraded my cpu to an i7-860 ?

 

[dontlistentome]

An i5 750 or i7 860 would improve performance in a lot of games, but you'd still need to be reasonable in what you expect to play. No PUBG on this computer. You don't need to go crazy on the power supply, a decent 400W-430W should be enough.

The trick will be to find a used card, like a 750 or 750 Ti, at a reasonable price. Videocard prices are high, even used cards.

 

[diellur]

if i get a 450w psu and a gtx 750. would it help if i upgraded my cpu to an i7-860 ?

Getting an i5 or i7 would improve the situation, definitely. I'm not sure by how much, though. As always, the best approach is the most cost-effective one; get the GPU and PSU and see if you're happy with the performance. If you are, great! If not, it's easy enough to work out what needs improved from there to increase performance further.

 

[mnmir567]

if i get a 450w psu and a gtx 750. would it help if i upgraded my cpu to an i7-860 ?

Getting an i5 or i7 would improve the situation, definitely. I'm not sure by how much, though. As always, the best approach is the most cost-effective one; get the GPU and PSU and see if you're happy with the performance. If you are, great! If not, it's easy enough to work out what needs improved from there to increase performance further.

Would this psu be okay?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CP-9020049-UK-PLUS-Power-Supply/dp/B00X8QBT6M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519204920&sr=8-2&keywords=450w+psu

 

[diellur]

Yeah, Corsair are a good brand and have some affordable lower-power units. I've put their 450W PSU in several systems I've built and there have been no issues.

 

[budgetgamer12345]

Get a i7 860 a GTX 750 TI and a 450w powersupply.
After you get these parts i would recommend you to overclock your CPU and mostly your GPU to get a decent performance boost.

 

[Wolfshadw]

From what I can find, here is a list of processors that are compatible with your motherboard:

9pa250be06

Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-880 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-875K Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-870S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-870 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-860S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-860 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-760 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-750S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-750 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-680 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-670 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-661 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-660 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-655K Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-650 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-650 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-560 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-550 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-540 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-530 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6960
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6951
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6950

If you upgrade your power supply to the Corsair unit you listed, you'd be able to successfully upgrade the processor and add a graphics card like the GTX 750/750Ti. I wouldn't recommend going with any graphics card more powerful than that as it would not perform to it's abilities; being limited by even your upgraded processor.

Now these processors are not readily available and you'll likely need to find a used one, and with that comes the risk of a used processor that's been abused and/or faulty. That's the risk you take with used components. Same actually goes with the graphics card.

I'd agree with BudgetGamer12345's upgrade recommendations, but I doubt you will be able to overclock that Packard Bell System. I'm fairly certain the BIOS has been locked down to prevent that.

-Wolf sends

Edit: Motherboard Specs

 

[budgetgamer12345]

From what I can find, here is a list of processors that are compatible with your motherboard:

9pa250be06

Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-880 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-875K Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-870S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-870 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-860S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i7-860 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-760 Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-750S Processor
Lynnfield Intel® Core™ i5-750 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-680 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-670 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-661 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-660 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-655K Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-650 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i5-650 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-560 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-550 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-540 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Core™ i3-530 Processor
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6960
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6951
Clarkdale Intel® Pentium® Processor G6950

If you upgrade your power supply to the Corsair unit you listed, you'd be able to successfully upgrade the processor and add a graphics card like the GTX 750/750Ti. I wouldn't recommend going with any graphics card more powerful than that as it would not perform to it's abilities; being limited by even your upgraded processor.

Now these processors are not readily available and you'll likely need to find a used one, and with that comes the risk of a used processor that's been abused and/or faulty. That's the risk you take with used components. Same actually goes with the graphics card.

I'd agree with BudgetGamer12345's upgrade recommendations, but I doubt you will be able to overclock that Packard Bell System. I'm fairly certain the BIOS has been locked down to prevent that.

-Wolf sends

Edit: Motherboard Specs

I forgot that OEM systems had locked BIOS
Get the i7 875K and use the Intel Extreme Utility software which it overclocks CPU's with unlocked multiplier.
But don't get too high and don't change the Vcore also that high, because you are still using the PC stock cooler.
With the GTX 750 TI use MSI Afterburner to overclock.