Replacing video card in XPS 420

[grecchia]

I'd like to replace the failing video card in an older XPS 420, which was recently modernized with Windows 8 and 6 G of DRAM. This PC is now used mainly for e-mail, web browsing, and MS Office applications, maybe Photoshop but no gaming. Therefore, the video card does not have to be very powerful and I am budgeting about $80 for the replacement card.
I'd like your advice on possible replacement cards for this PC. Any comments are appreciated.

 

[masmotors]

i think a hd 4870 refurb will be good and cheap im still using 1 in my 3rd pc

 

[Kisianik]

Or $69.99 GIGABYTE GV-R667D3-2GI Radeon HD 6670 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125430

 

[grecchia]

Or $69.99 GIGABYTE GV-R667D3-2GI Radeon HD 6670 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125430

Kisianik,
thanks for the quick reply. I did some research on the Newegg web site and the HD 6670 seems to meet my needs. However, I noticed the card specs state PCI Express 2.1, but my XPS video slot is only PCI Express 2.0. Will there be a compatibility issue? Also, the card profile seems a bit odd, with the fan exceeding the upper border of the card. Do you know if it would fit in the XPS 420 case and mounting hardware?
I came across another similar card, but with an NVIDIA GEForce GT 630 chipset: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130821
Do you know if this card will work in my PC and meet my requirements?
Thanks!

 

[Kisianik]

PCIE 2.1 is backward compatible to 1.0, so no problems here.

Good observation on dimensions of card.
This is your PC with open side panel

This one looks like the same or not? Below

The question is - is dual bracket card will fit, I can see space for dual bracket (will occupy PCI slot above PCIE slot), just the length of the card

And now I found comparison GT630 vs HD6670 http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-6670-vs-GeForce-GT-630

HD6670 wins by numbers.

Remembering $80 parameter let me give you a few more 6670 cards with better dimensions

First is dual bracket SAPPHIRE 100326-2GL Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102992
Card Dimensions 6.46" x 4.21" x 1.57" I think that length of the card before heatsink shroud must not exceed 7.5", so just in case you can measure it to confirm, in this case this card fit.

A few more, they just don't look so "masculine" as the other ones

Next is perfect fit
ASUS HD6670-2GD3 Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121645

This one is only 1GB card and as such is very skinny
XFX HD-667X-ZHF3 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150542

So, if you not sure, last one will be perfect, if you can spend a few buck more Asus will be better because 2GB will give you more resolution and better support for multiple screens (if needed), same goes for Sapphire.

Anything else I can help you with?

P.S. If you find any of above posts helpful and ready to close this thread please pic up as solution most useful post.

 

[grecchia]

PCIE 2.1 is backward compatible to 1.0, so no problems here.

Good observation on dimensions of card.
This is your PC with open side panel

This one looks like the same or not? Below

The question is - is dual bracket card will fit, I can see space for dual bracket (will occupy PCI slot above PCIE slot), just the length of the card

And now I found comparison GT630 vs HD6670 http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-HD-6670-vs-GeForce-GT-630

HD6670 wins by numbers.

Remembering $80 parameter let me give you a few more 6670 cards with better dimensions

First is dual bracket SAPPHIRE 100326-2GL Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102992
Card Dimensions 6.46" x 4.21" x 1.57" I think that length of the card before heatsink shroud must not exceed 7.5", so just in case you can measure it to confirm, in this case this card fit.

A few more, they just don't look so "masculine" as the other ones

Next is perfect fit
ASUS HD6670-2GD3 Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121645

This one is only 1GB card and as such is very skinny
XFX HD-667X-ZHF3 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150542

So, if you not sure, last one will be perfect, if you can spend a few buck more Asus will be better because 2GB will give you more resolution and better support for multiple screens (if needed), same goes for Sapphire.

Anything else I can help you with?

P.S. If you find any of above posts helpful and ready to close this thread please pic up as solution most useful post.

Kisianik,
a lot of good info in your message! The pictures you attached are exactly how my XPS 420 looks. By the way, it has a 420 W PS, so I think any of the cards you propose should be OK with that.
I do like the ASUS card. I have had good luck with this brand so far (a laptop and a wireless router) and indeed the HD 6670 chip set seems to have better performance than the GeForce GT630. Thanks for the link to their comparison.
The current card in my PC is a GeForce 8800 GT. It has failed already twice and I brought it back to life twice with the baking-at-400F-in-the oven trick. I don't know how long it is going to last. The first time it was almost a year ago, the second was two days ago, so I don't want to take too many more chances with it.
What is involved in replacing the video card? Do I just plug in the new one and let Windows 8 auto-configure the driver for it, when it boots up? Should I uninstall the NVIDIA driver first? How do I see what the PC is doing, if the video card is in transition?
Also, how does the HD 6670 compare with the GT8800 GT? While not a requirement to match the higher-end video performance, will I see a lot less performance or being a more modern product, could it be comparable?
Thanks

 

[Kisianik]

grecchia said:
What is involved in replacing the video card? Do I just plug in the new one and let Windows 8 auto-configure the driver for it, when it boots up? Should I uninstall the NVIDIA driver first? How do I see what the PC is doing, if the video card is in transition?

I don't have Win8, so I can not say exactly how to do this, but first you need to uninstall NVIDIA drivers with 8800GT still inside using Win8 utility, next simply follow instructions in 6670, meaning remove 8800GT install 6670 and install drivers.

grecchia said:
Also, how does the HD 6670 compare with the GT8800 GT? While not a requirement to match the higher-end video performance, will I see a lot less performance or being a more modern product, could it be comparable?

8800GT beats 6670 in all aspects, hey, I still have 8800GT in my XPS GEN3 and it is dying and I have spare GTX550 TI OC card, which is stronger than 6670, and this card is inferior to 8800GT. This is life I guess. You can not beat 8800GT with $80 card, not yet.

Anything else I can help you with?

I think by now all questions are answered.

 

[grecchia]

grecchia said:
What is involved in replacing the video card? Do I just plug in the new one and let Windows 8 auto-configure the driver for it, when it boots up? Should I uninstall the NVIDIA driver first? How do I see what the PC is doing, if the video card is in transition?

I don't have Win8, so I can not say exactly how to do this, but first you need to uninstall NVIDIA drivers with 8800GT still inside using Win8 utility, next simply follow instructions in 6670, meaning remove 8800GT install 6670 and install drivers.

grecchia said:
Also, how does the HD 6670 compare with the GT8800 GT? While not a requirement to match the higher-end video performance, will I see a lot less performance or being a more modern product, could it be comparable?

8800GT beats 6670 in all aspects, hey, I still have 8800GT in my XPS GEN3 and it is dying and I have spare GTX550 TI OC card, which is stronger than 6670, and this card is inferior to 8800GT. This is life I guess. You can not beat 8800GT with $80 card, not yet.

Anything else I can help you with?

I think by now all questions are answered.

Kisianik,
all questions have indeed been answered and then some...
I will go with the Asus HD6670 card you recommended.
Thank you for all the research and the useful advice!