Upgrading Graphics Card & Power Supply

[Amans]

This is my computer

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02835831&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=5115709

Pentium Dual-Core 3.2ghz

Integrated graphics


I want to upgrade to Nvidia Geforce GT 530 graphics card
http://www.geforce.com/Hardware/GPUs/geforce-gt-530-oem/specifications

I need a 550w power supply. Is there a specific one I should get?

I just want to make sure I can have the 550w power supply and 530 card installed and everything will be set?

 

[jgutz2006]

Yes this appears to be sufficient and should dramatically help you with performance if your playing or trying to play any games.

What price range are you looking for as a maximum to include both GPU and PSU as people on here could probably help you find the best solution for your budget (the GT530 may not be the best at your price point)

 

[Amans]

Thanks for your quick response!

I'm looking to spend around $50-70 for a graphics card (new or used the 530 is OEM - my bf has it in his new hp and I really like the graphics and performance) and $50-ish for the power supply.

I would also like to make sure the card is compatible

Geeksquad said it is

HP said it wasn't at first. They said the 530 is PCI-e 2.0 x16 and my comp will only take PCI-e x16 or x1

Then he recommended Radeon 6450 1gb or 512mb (PCI-e 2.1 x16) and Geforce GT 405 1gb (PCI-e 2.0)

I spoke to another rep and he said some cards are not backwards compatible then he mentioned the deal with the power supply (which I already knew) and it sounded like it would be compatible as long as I upgraded to 550w PSU so i wonder if that is why the were saying it wasn't compatible - because of the power supply? If thats the case I'm not sure why the first guy didn't just say I would need to upgrade the power.

I have 8gb of RAM. I'm playing The Old Republic and it runs rather poorly on my computer (on lowest settings and shadows turned off). I'm hoping the upgraded card will help a lot. I just purchased my computer in July so buying another is not an option right now

 

[Amans]

Also, can someone verify that there is a x16 pci-e slot?


P1020880 by Amanda_Panda, on Flickr

 

[ko888]

Also, can someone verify that there is a x16 pci-e slot?

[url]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6601183845_0940ddc89b.jpg[/url]
P1020880 by Amanda_Panda, on Flickr

The long black slot just above the silver metallic North Bridge chipset heatsink seen in your picture is the PCI Express 1.1 x16 slot.

 

[delluser1]

Thanks for your quick response!

I'm looking to spend around $50-70 for a graphics card (new or used the 530 is OEM - my bf has it in his new hp and I really like the graphics and performance) and $50-ish for the power supply.

I would also like to make sure the card is compatible

Geeksquad said it is

HP said it wasn't at first. They said the 530 is PCI-e 2.0 x16 and my comp will only take PCI-e x16 or x1

Then he recommended Radeon 6450 1gb or 512mb (PCI-e 2.1 x16) and Geforce GT 405 1gb (PCI-e 2.0)

I spoke to another rep and he said some cards are not backwards compatible then he mentioned the deal with the power supply (which I already knew) and it sounded like it would be compatible as long as I upgraded to 550w PSU so i wonder if that is why the were saying it wasn't compatible - because of the power supply? If thats the case I'm not sure why the first guy didn't just say I would need to upgrade the power.

I have 8gb of RAM. I'm playing The Old Republic and it runs rather poorly on my computer (on lowest settings and shadows turned off). I'm hoping the upgraded card will help a lot. I just purchased my computer in July so buying another is not an option right now

Couple of low power cards that do not require external power, and the rep at HP said you need 550 watts , :lol: :lol: :lol:
This is much more than you need, but a good deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

 

[esrever]

don't buy the 530 unless you have to imo, you can get 6570 for that price and be better off. you'd get more than 30% more performance with a 6570 than a 530 looking at the specs.

 

[Amans]

After I said I was going to upgrade the power supply with the better card, he said I'd need 550w.

My bf is running a quad core and the 530 card but he is using a 460w PSU. Should he upgrade the power supply?

Nice diagram. Thank you

A PCI-e 2.0 x16 will work in a PCI-e x16, correct?

I've already purchased the 530. But I will keep the 6570 in mind

 

[ko888]

After I said I was going to upgrade the power supply with the better card, he said I'd need 550w.

My bf is running a quad core and the 530 card but he is using a 460w PSU. Should he upgrade the power supply?

Nice diagram. Thank you

A PCI-e 2.0 x16 will work in a PCI-e x16, correct?

I've already purchased the 530. But I will keep the 6570 in mind

The GeForce GT 530 has a Maximum Graphics Card Power of 50 Watts.

For a system using a single GeForce GT 530 graphics card NVIDIA specifies a minimum of a 300 Watt or greater power supply that has a combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 22 Amps or greater.

If your bf's 460W PSU has a combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 22 Amps or greater then it meets the requirements.

A PCIe 2.0 x16 graphics card is fully backward compatible with a PCIe 1.1 x16 motherboard slot.

 

[Amans]

Thank you everyone! I purchased a 6670 and the xfx 550w power supply yesterday. I'm looking forward to possibly tripling my fps in TOR

 

[Amans]

Best answer selected by Amans.