Looking to get Graphics Card for Lenovo Thinkcentre M82 SFF, any advice?

[spacethunderv]

I just got this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1UXF11/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) referb Lenovo Thinkcentere desktop as an early Xmas gift. Love it so far with the 2TB HD, 16 gigs o' ram, and the I5 CPU is excellent for the buck I spent. Only caveat is it's lacking in the visual graphics department since the integrated Intel HD Graphics 2500 is on the same low level (and a bit mushier) as the Raedon 3000 HD on my old HP Pavilion.

ThinkCentres specs should be in the amazon link, but i'll post them here for better understanding:

Intel I5 (don't know the gen nor number) 3.2ghz, turbo to 3.7ghz

16gigs of ram (x2 8gbs I believe)

64bit Windows 7 Home Premium preinstalled (OEM)

Hitachi 2TB Hard Drive SATA 7200RPM

I believe the M82 is from 2013-ish, so its I5 and all could be older generation but its much newer than the HP whcih was from like 2009 or something.

Only thing is i'm not sure what my mobo type or name is nor power wattage. I thinks the PSU is 250 or 285w i'm not 100% sure though. If anyone knows what I have there that would help me out.

Please note: IM NOT A HARDCORE GAMER! Mainly, I'm looking for something that presents a decent image, 1080p24 capilibitles, and audio drivers that deliver surround sound through HDMI.

Is it possible to shove in a decent graphics card into it without too much effort or cost? I was told that it has to be low profile and its mobo only accepts PCI x1 or something and most I see are x16. My Google-Fu hasn't been of much help finding answers specific to my model though, as I see dope questions where some chap needs to upgrade his kid owned HP dinosaur with oldie processors and shit because he dropped Hot Coca all ovr his $20,000 gaming rig or whatever LOL! I would prefer one that doesn't require me to change out the power supply if I don't have to, as some ppl have mentioned a PSU upgrade is generally done if a card in its PCI slot or the cpu will choke or something (but my issue is each person's PC and their application is different than my question and some versions of the M82 that ive seen questions about have moble CPUs or are 32bit OS).

 

[vapour]

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd024422

It supports a low profile GPU, get this:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137081&cm_re=1050_ti_low_profile-_-14-137-081-_-Product

 

[spacethunderv]

Thanks for the link. Forgot to mention my budget, which is up to 110USD. Is there a cheaper one that will work with the M82 and be compatible with its mobo?

Also, will any of these require a higher PSU or will it run on the stock PSU I got?

 

[vapour]

This is the one: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137139&cm_re=low_profile_gt_1030-_-14-137-139-_-Product
You have a 300+ psu, totally fine, this card only needs 30W.

 

[spacethunderv]

That one would do, thanks aloto!

One more thing, does the MSI have audio drivers that allow for 5.1 surround sound through HDMI or do I need a sound card for that (which i'm planning to get an external one anyway because it has headphones ports which I use as the PC's sound is kinda muddy and the Intel intergrated graphics only output Dolby 2.0 through HDMI which IMO sound even worse)

 

[vapour]

It depends on on sound card, not gpu, gpu has 2.0b HDMI, so it supports 5.1, but you need to pass the signal

Some useful info: https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/481638/cant-get-5-1-audio-over-hdmi/

 

[spacethunderv]

One more question, would that card cause heating or airflow issues on my thinkcentre? Ive heard stories of ppl having their gpus overheat or need to get additional fans, should i worry about any of that with my setup?

 

[vapour]

Nah, you can see from that power consumption, runs very cool 1080 ti can fry eggs

 

[spacethunderv]

Okei, thanks you for the advice!