Will a GeForce gtx275 work in a 2007 Alienware desktop?

[Bungiecord21]

I don't know a ton about computers, but I have a buddy selling me his 2007 Alienware desktop for $300. It apparently has a bad video card in it and I just found somebody online selling a new GeForce gtx 275 for $30. Will this card work in this computer? Note: I do plan on investing in a new video card in the near future, but plan on using this one only to diagnose and confirm that we do in fact have a bad video card.

 

[Jason Howard]

shouldnt be any reason you cant as long as it and the motherboard are pci express.

 

[fastreaction]

Straight to your question. That videocard should probably work if the usual requirements are met (enough power supply, CPU not bottlenecking it, you have enough space in your case, etc.) However, when I look at your "story" you want to achieve something else. It might be a good thing to tell us what is wrong with your pc, because there might be better alternatives for it.

- Fastreaction

 

[Bungiecord21]

Thanks Fastreaction. He tells me that his computer started getting pixelation issues that eventually turned in to black spots before fading completely to black. The computer still starts/runs, but there is absolutely no video. His monitor still works on other pcs, so we ruled that out. Next I can think of is the video card. If that's not it I would assume it's the motherboard. The deal is that I don't pay him until I figure out and fix whatever is wrong with the thing, so I figure I got a hell of a deal on an Alienware PC either way.

 

[fastreaction]

Since your monitor seems to work on other pc's it seems indeed that the graphics card is the problem. You are also mentioning about black spots, those are most likely hints that the graphics card is slowly dying. Best method to test, is to put that graphics card into another pc or putting a working graphics card into the not working pc.

-Fastreaction