Upgrading GPU on OEM PC

[AdeptLink]

Hello,

I have a HP Pavilion 500-550na OEM PC https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c04556684

During my time playing games for a year i realize i need a upgrade and the GPU is the way to go. From a week of browsing and measuring i have found the best for me is the GTX 1050ti Zotac Mini as i would like to keep a microATX factor case for space conservation. I assume this graphics card will fit perfectly but i'm not 100% as there are many variants of the card (Low Profile, Mini, OC etc.) The PSU would need to be upgraded also to power the upgrade so I found a 500W PSU which will allow future upgrades but not decided on which would be the best PSU as there are many to choose from.

What i would like to know is would all this be perfectly compatible and if anyone can recommend a microATX case with adequate dust control and a 500W PSU if i have my calculations correct on what i need to make the upgrade possible, also I would like some pointers and information on stuff i would need extra if i went down this route as this is my first time building a PC and I don't want to spend a lot of money to find out that i messed up.

Thanks.

 

[elbert]

Actually a 300W is enough for the 1050ti and most any single fan video card is fine. The zotac mini is just a single fan model. This 380w can push a 1060 so it should do fine.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($40.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $155.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-03 15:46 EDT-0400

 

[AdeptLink]

Actually a 300W is enough for the 1050ti and most any single fan video card is fine. The zotac mini is just a single fan model. This 380w can push a 1060 so it should do fine.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($40.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $155.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-03 15:46 EDT-0400

Thank you for the swift answer on the PSU and variant of graphics card. Purchasing these and then installing will work like a plug and play? also a newbie question but will they include everything i need to connect them?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Total wattage: 180 W external power adapter (100V-240V).......Your Tower uses an adapter like a laptop , make sure you can upgrade to a Standard ATX power supply.

 

[AdeptLink]

Total wattage: 180 W external power adapter (100V-240V).......Your Tower uses an adapter like a laptop , make sure you can upgrade to a Standard ATX power supply.

Hi,

Never noticed that until you pointed it out. I wouldn't exactly know how to make sure. Do you mean like a brick on the power cable connected to the wall? Cause i don't have that. Sorry if i missed your point. But i guess if it is a problem would purchasing another case solve the issue?

Thanks.

 

[elbert]

Actually a 300W is enough for the 1050ti and most any single fan video card is fine. The zotac mini is just a single fan model. This 380w can push a 1060 so it should do fine.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($40.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $155.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-03 15:46 EDT-0400

Thank you for the swift answer on the PSU and variant of graphics card. Purchasing these and then installing will work like a plug and play? also a newbie question but will they include everything i need to connect them?

Yup they include everything you need. The motherboard looks to have a standard ATX power connection. Probably an error. Open your case to see if your PSU is standard ATX just to make sure.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It uses a 180W POWER adapter right now , make sure It can mount and use a standard ATX PSU.

 

[dontlistentome]

I'd be uncomfortable spending money to upgrade a computer like this. Who knows what corners HP cut in order to get the computer to work with that low power external power supply?

 

[AdeptLink]

Actually a 300W is enough for the 1050ti and most any single fan video card is fine. The zotac mini is just a single fan model. This 380w can push a 1060 so it should do fine.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($40.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $155.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-03 15:46 EDT-0400

Thank you for the swift answer on the PSU and variant of graphics card. Purchasing these and then installing will work like a plug and play? also a newbie question but will they include everything i need to connect them?

Yup they include everything you need. The motherboard looks to have a standard ATX power connection. Probably an error. Open your case to see if your PSU is standard ATX just to make sure.

Thanks. I shall open the case tomorrow UK time and reply soon as possible.

 

[AdeptLink]

It uses a 180W POWER adapter right now , make sure It can mount and use a standard ATX PSU.

Thanks. I shall open the case tomorrow UK time and reply soon as possible.

 

[AdeptLink]

I'd be uncomfortable spending money to upgrade a computer like this. Who knows what corners HP cut in order to get the computer to work with that low power external power supply?

Hello. True but I can't really afford a from scratch PC build but from my calculations all my components max 150W ish and has been running for a couple years no problem in the power department so what else could go wrong i say.

 

[AdeptLink]

From a quick look at the back of my PC tower there are screws holding the PSU in and the space measures around 150mm and 90mm i think this is consistent with an ATX PSU would this be enough information or would i need a further internal look at cables and size?

 

[elbert]

From a quick look at the back of my PC tower there are screws holding the PSU in and the space measures around 150mm and 90mm i think this is consistent with an ATX PSU would this be enough information or would i need a further internal look at cables and size?

The antec is 86 mm (H) x 150 mm (W) so its fine that way. It needs 140mm on the inside but sounds like the PSU will fit.

 

[AdeptLink]

Sorry for the late reply due to unforeseen circumstances. I have a had a look and measure and the PSU has 140mm on the inside and it appears to be able to mount an ATX PSU.

 

[AdeptLink]

On some web searching these are the only parts i found cheap and what i want. would all this work together as a plug and play and my problem will be solved?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-Express-Graphics/dp/B01M66IJ55/ref=sr_1_7?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1493995536&sr=1-7&keywords=gtx+1050+ti

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X8QBT6M/ref=twister_B016KV6WRW?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

 

[elbert]

The video card looks good but this site has it for a bit less. The PSU is low quality being a tier 4 PSU. For gaming you want a higher quality least tier 2 PSU like the Antec I posted. It can put out near 450w and handle a 1060 if needed.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card (£136.80 @ Alza)
Power Supply: Antec - EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£45.48 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £182.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-05 16:58 BST+0100

 

[AdeptLink]

The video card looks good but this site has it for a bit less. The PSU is low quality being a tier 4 PSU. For gaming you want a higher quality least tier 2 PSU like the Antec I posted. It can put out near 450w and handle a 1060 if needed.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card (£136.80 @ Alza)
Power Supply: Antec - EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£45.48 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £182.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-05 16:58 BST+0100

Okay thanks. So buying the things you recommend from the websites on PCPartPicker will be everything done and sorted? also would you recommend me getting a new case now or just keeping what i have till I upgrade further in the future like buying a ATX motherboard and a new CPU (It may be a while because the CPU isn't bad for today's standard)?

 

[elbert]

Just keep the case you have. Some OEM's dont follow specs exactly on cases. Should wait till your ready to replace your motherboard just in case.

 

[AdeptLink]

Just keep the case you have. Some OEM's dont follow specs exactly on cases. Should wait till your ready to replace your motherboard just in case.

Thank you all very much and thanks elbert. I shall be buying the parts at the end of the month and when it's all built and running i shall message the results. couldn't of done this without you.

 

[AdeptLink]

Evening all.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances I was delayed in purchasing the parts but now i have and installed them without fault.
Within the first day of using I was blown away with the strength of the graphics card I was hitting 120 fps on ultra on some couple year old games, something I never thought would happen. The PC works beautifully with these upgrades. All parts fit like a glove and cable management wasn't an issue due to my case being bigger than i thought even though it looks like a messy pile of headphones. All in all, pleased with the upgrades and couldn't have done it without the help of you beautiful people.

Thanks a million. Will be happy for a long, long time.