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graphics card to fit my power supply

Gamer_17Gamer_17 Member Posts: 202
in Hardware

i have a AMD Athlon ll X4 (620 quad core processor) with 4gb of ddr3 ran and a 750gb Hard drive - am planning to replace the intergrated graphics that came with it and put a new video card in - not sure what the power supply is, but what card can i play lotro on and not blow my power.

just need to raid on low medium and quest on medium -high graphics

thanks for any help

Comments

  • SquatchinSquatchin Member Posts: 93

    You should be able to see the watts of your power supply on the side or backside of it if you remove the side plate.

    You could also go to the manufactures website(providing it is a brand name) and punch in your model # and it will display that info for you.

     

    Good luck!

    image


    image
  • Archangel326Archangel326 Member Posts: 43

    Somewhere on the PSU should be a tag that will tell you what the power rating is. You really need to know what it is. and also you neeed to find out if it even has a GPU power connecter. Usuall a 6 pin or 4 pin.

    Another thing: How much do you wanna spend on you GPU

    When i first switched from the IG on my budget rig I installed this and ran LOTRO really well on Med-High

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130632 

  • psyclumpsyclum Member Posts: 792

    with the description you gave it sounds like a HP or gateway type machine.  that means, you really cant upgrade the video to something decent w/o replacing the powersupply 1st.   you can throw your $ away and pick up one of those sub $100 vid cards.

  • Gamer_17Gamer_17 Member Posts: 202

    Thanks for all the help, looked at the 2 card suggestions - and am just wondering if it would be worth it to install a new power supply, not so much worried about the cost as I am with installing it. I have never installed anything before although confident i could do a graphics card not so sure about a power supply, is it more difficult?

  • psyclumpsyclum Member Posts: 792

    Originally posted by Gamer_17

    Thanks for all the help, looked at the 2 card suggestions - and am just wondering if it would be worth it to install a new power supply, not so much worried about the cost as I am with installing it. I have never installed anything before although confident i could do a graphics card not so sure about a power supply, is it more difficult?

    depends on the brand of the machine,  if it's a dell, then it wouldnt even be worth trying:D  just find a big dumpster and put the computer inside:D   nah it's not that bad, but dell tend to go out of their way to make their machine incompatible so you are forced to buy replacements from dell.   the last dell i had to replace the powersupply on, i had to try 2 different powersupply and tear the whole machine apart(they definately dont make it easy to rip the whole machine apart too:D) to get it into the case. 

  • Archangel326Archangel326 Member Posts: 43

    My current rig is a Dell and It only took me 10-15 min to wire in a new PSU. Well all but the power button since I also scaped the case and installed the componets ito a cooler master,they didnt have the button labeled. But I googled it and found a vid that someone made that walked me through the power button. It is easy if you do a little google reading and learn what the connecters go to.

    And to answer your question I would replace the PSU and install a better GPU. That way when you are ready to play something with better graphics you will be ok. 

    P.S. I dont want any flack about puting my Dell into a cooler master and pointless upgredes this was just to get me to Jan when I can Build me a monster RIG from Scrap.

  • drazzahdrazzah Member UncommonPosts: 437

    your best best is to get a graphic card that doesnt use any type of power connection if your PSU cant handle it, the one linked above for only ~$50 will do.

    image

  • QuizzicalQuizzical Member LegendaryPosts: 25,499

    If you want a low power gaming card, then the canonical choice is a Radeon HD 5570, like this:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131342

    Or if you've got one of those goofy, extra narrow cases and need a low profile card in order to make it fit, then try this:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874

    That's much faster than the GeForce GT 520 and Radeon HD 5450 that others have linked.  It might use less power than the GT 520, too, though it probably doesn't, but it's surely close in that regard.

    If you need a new power supply and have a case that can take typical form factors, then this will do for a relatively low power system:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

    If you want a beefier power supply that can handle a stronger video card, then try this:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371047

    Your case might not have the airflow to handle a faster, hotter video card, though.

  • CatamountCatamount Member Posts: 773

    I definitely would second Quiz's recommendation for the Earthwatts 380W. It's an inexpensive PSU that will power any video card that you should be pairing with an Athlon II CPU anyways. Anything that would draw more power would bottleneck on that CPU, and what's more, would possibly overpower the cooling of your case.

     

    That does leave you plenty of options though.

    A card that might fit the bill for a good price is the Radeon HD 6770, which can now by had for $90 after rebate:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&Description=Radeon%20HD%206770&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

     

    The 6790 isn't much more, either.

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