Graphics Card

[You]

Reeeet. Wanna update my Graphics Card but not sure what one I can choose... Got a Dell Inspiron 530s Comp, with 4GBRAM and the current Graphics card is a Radeon X1300/1500 (It came with the comp). It's not a bad one but just want something more powerfull.

If you need anymore info, please ask.


Edit: Did a little look online and it said the 530s model PSC is about 300watts? Don't mind upgrading if anyone has any suggestions..

[AgnesIO]

What do you do on your pc? If gaming, example of games?

[Firehorse]

I had a dell which came with no card. Nvidia 8500GT should work great with 300W.

[You]

It'll be for gaming.. Simulators, Action etc.

[Firehorse]

Yeh, 8500GT is probably the most powerful card you can get without needing to upgrade your PSU. Not sure about the amd/ati cards for that power usage though.

[AgnesIO]

I would personally go above the GT range then.

What would your budget be?

[You]

Oh, want to try get a 1GB or something Graphic card, maybe more. I think my current one is 512mb so i want something a bit more than that.

Budget, don't want to spend too much but if its going to work, then I don't mind it being in the hundreds.

Also, as said earlier, don't mind upgrading PSU.

[Firehorse]

ok, then i'd probably go for something around an ati 5760 with a 450/500W PSU.

[You]

Do i need a specific type of PSU or would any do?

[Firehorse]

Go for a good brand like Corsair. If your psu fails then it's the only component which can damage all the others in the computer at the same time.

[Swinkid]

Any would do, pref corsair or OCZ. try get a modular one, this will cut down on cabling.. You will need one with two 6PIN Connectors, i would get a 6850 as this is the replacement for the 5770 (The one up from the one said above) Make sure its a 500W or above PSU.

[AgnesIO]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135514

That is my PSU - really good - I am gamer.

Althoigh it is not modular, so you cannot remove any of the wires you are not using.

[Swinkid]

oh yes, another thing to mention, make sure its above 80% silver efficancy.

[You]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135514

That is my PSU - really good - I am gamer.

Althoigh it is not modular, so you cannot remove any of the wires you are not using.
What do you mean, i cannot remove anyof the wires i'm using? Are all PSU's the same size? Don't wanna buy one and find out it doesn't fit in the case lol.

[AgnesIO]

What do you mean, i cannot remove anyof the wires i'm using? Are all PSU's the same size? Don't wanna buy one and find out it doesn't fit in the case lol.

Yeah they are.

Basically the PSU has loadss of cables attached - but with a Modular PSU you can remove the cables if you do not need them.

I have a few spares on my pc - but you may have a fair amount since it is just a standard dell.

[Swinkid]

Actually not all psu's are the same size, some are longer than others but the one pointed out above should be fine.

[AgnesIO]

Actually not all psu's are the same size, some are longer than others but the one pointed out above should be fine.

Well every PSU I have used has fit in perfectly lol

My mistake though - as stated technically they are not all the same size.

[You]

Sweet. Well, I've bookmarked the CPU for payday! As for graphics card, any suggestions for something over 1GB? Turns out my current one is only 256mb. Will the new PSU and Graphics card work with my current motherboard and stuff? Wont need to upgrade owt else would i?

[Swinkid]

The cards performence isnt just determained by the graphics ram it has, its also determind by how many cores the graphics prosessor has. I would reccomend the 6850 as it runs on a 450W PSU ( Ibelive) and is the replacement for the 5770. I would get a 600W so you have enough power for both cpu, motherboard, ram and everything else aswell as the graphics card.

[AgnesIO]

Could you post the specs of your machine??

[You]

Field Value
Computer
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name MARCUS-PC
User Name Marcus

Motherboard
CPU Type Unknown, 2000 MHz
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 2048 MB
BIOS Type Award (03/01/08)

Display
Video Adapter Radeon X1300/X1550 Series (256 MB)
Video Adapter Radeon X1300/X1550 Series (256 MB)
Monitor Dell E228WFP [NoDB] (DT86777PFCCM)

Multimedia
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

Storage
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 2926
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH9R/DO/DH 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 2920
SCSI/RAID Controller Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
Disk Drive SAMSUNG HD321KJ ATA Device
Disk Drive TEAC USB HS-CF Card USB Device
Disk Drive TEAC USB HS-xD/SM USB Device
Disk Drive TEAC USB HS-MS Card USB Device
Disk Drive TEAC USB HS-SD Card USB Device
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H31N ATA Device
SMART Hard Disks Status Unknown

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 294955 MB (206259 MB free)

Input
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network
Network Adapter Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapter (192.168.0.100)
Network Adapter Intel(R) 82562V 10/100 Network Connection

Peripherals
Printer HP Officejet 4300 Series
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934 [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935 [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936 [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937 [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938 [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939 [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C [NoDB]
USB Device USB Audio Device
USB Device USB Camera
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device


I know it says I only have 2GB of ram but it's being updated, just waiting for them to arrive to make it to 4gb.

[Firehorse]

If you're not willing to spend so much then the radeon 5550 is a cheaper <£100 option you could go for. A good value for money card at around £85. I think it's also single slot if you didn't have much space in the case, and a 450W PSU should do.

[You]

I quite like the sound of the 6850. Would it be a straight swap for my X1300/X1550 if i upgrade the PSU?

[Firehorse]

I quite like the sound of the 6850. Would it be a straight swap for my X1300/X1550 if i upgrade the PSU?

should be. Would need to wire it into your psu though and check the amount of space in your case. If you only have a half size case then it might be a problem.

[You]

Nah, it isn't a half size case ( http://www.krishnamoorthi.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/kmcom-newpc.JPG ). Guess it wouldn't be too many wires to wire into the PSU. Quite a bit of space in the case too. Will have a look at the rest of the space when I change the PSU over.

[Firehorse]

Nah, it isn't a half size case ( http://www.krishnamoorthi.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/kmcom-newpc.JPG ). Guess it wouldn't be too many wires to wire into the PSU. Quite a bit of space in the case too. Will have a look at the rest of the space when I change the PSU over.

I can almost guarantee that case is way too small.

[Swinkid]

I can almost guarantee that case is way too small.
It may just fit looking at it, noting that the 6850 is smaller than a 5850 by quite abit, probs smaller than the 5770 (or the same size)

[Firehorse]

Thinking more about width than length. The graphics card would probably be about 2/3rds the width of a CD drive, yet this has to vertically mount the drive because the case width is half that of it. Motherboard looks like it would still be vertically mounted i'm guessing from that image.

[Swinkid]

Thinking more about width than length. The graphics card would probably be about 2/3rds the width of a CD drive, yet this has to vertically mount the drive because the case width is half that of it. Motherboard looks like it would still be vertically mounted i'm guessing from that image.

Surely, if a 5.25" drive can fit in the front, which it look like it does, then a 6850 would fit, without the actual sizes of the case we cant really tell.. if that is the case(like my pun?!), no Graphics cards would fit, this must be a stand atx case else the card hes got is intregated.. But yeah, i recon it would fit else it would have upgradeability issues ..

Edit:

Second thoughts, i dont think even a PSU would fit, So yeah a Graphics card wouldnt fit..

[Firehorse]

Surely, if a 5.25" drive can fit in the front, which it look like it does, then a 6850 would fit, without the actual sizes of the case we cant really tell.. if that is the case(like my pun?!), no Graphics cards would fit, this must be a stand atx case else the card hes got is intregated.. But yeah, i recon it would fit else it would have upgradeability issues ..

Edit:

Second thoughts, i dont think even a PSU would fit, So yeah a Graphics card wouldnt fit..

Yeh, I have the full sized version of that case, and considering this is his current card: http://www.techfuels.com/attachments/everything-else/7562d1225795606-hp-ati-radeon-x1300-video-card-hp-ati-radeon-x1300-video-card.jpg (may even have been customised by dell to fit)

[Swinkid]

Yeh, I have the full sized version of that case, and considering this is his current card: http://www.techfuels.com/attachments/everything-else/7562d1225795606-hp-ati-radeon-x1300-video-card-hp-ati-radeon-x1300-video-card.jpg (may even have been customised by dell to fit)

Yeah but if that is it, that has a standard sized bracket, inless yeah like you said it is dell fitted. I supose, without getting the sizes of it though we can't really tell..

[You]

http://tekgems.com/images/large/INSPIRON-530-2R-soft.jpg

http://images.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/5404-IMG7893s.jpg

That's pretty much the interior of my tower.

But basically, if you're saying a PSU wouldn't fit then theres no point upgrading or I should just look for different options?

Apparently, I need a slim/lowprofile component for it to fit >.<

[Recursion]

No, that case will not fit a full height graphics card. I doubt you'll be able to get a 6850 or whatever to fit in that.

[You]

Hmm, that sucks. Reckon this would be any good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

Or if I bought a new tower, could I just take everything out the current one and put it in the other one?

[Firehorse]

Hmm, that sucks. Reckon this would be any good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829

Or if I bought a new tower, could I just take everything out the current one and put it in the other one?

Buying a new tower would probably work. HOWEVER!! Many other components will likely be custom to the dell case and won't fit into others without modification.

As for that card yeh it looks like it would have a better chance of fitting. Check the power consumption first though.

[You]

Mehhh, might aswell just buy another PC, haha. Would be a lot easier. Although, depends on what sort of modificaitons would be needed.

Do appreciate your help lads!