Upgrading Graphics

chenc SG

I need to upgrade graphics on one of my desktops, its currently an ATI x1550 i think.

I'm looking at a 512mb graphic card, will my computer be able to take it? What spec information do you need for answering that?

tks

nenepokey SG

I need to upgrade graphics on one of my desktops, its currently an ATI x1550 i think.

I'm looking at a 512mb graphic card, will my computer be able to take it? What spec information do you need for answering that?

tks

wad's ur motherboard model? or do u mind giving the specs for ur computer? thanks.

MyPillowTalks SG

You need to make sure that the graphics card you buy will fit into the hole that your old graphic card is using now

The hole that holds ur graphics card is called a slot, nowadays people are using PCI express 2.0 x16, some motherboard is using PCI express x16, which is slower.

chenc SG

Tks for replying

Heres the specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4Ghz
2GB RAM
Motherboard chipset: ATI RS400/RC400/RC410
Graphic interface: Link Width-X16

Sorry I'm not too sure about the slot thing. But I don't think my computer is using the advance one.

Its using ATI x1550 series now. And I'm thinking of getting the ASUS Extreme EN8800GT (GeForce 8800GT) 512MB GDDR3, which is pretty cheap now.

Would some kind souls here pls compare their specs and conclude from there if I can get the upgrade?

Thanks in advance for the trouble :D

nenepokey SG

Tks for replying

Thanks in advance for the trouble :D

or would u mind using CPU-Z and take some screenshots of the results (one shot for each tab)? here's the link: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

but by what u said for ur specs, Core 2 Quad Q6600, and ATI chipsets, and from online results, you shouldn't mix NVIDIA graphic cards with ATI chipsets. if u want to change to a NVIDIA graphic card, suggest that you change a motherboard. submit ur results from the CPU-Z scan, then we see how to help you.

Raraken SG

Also, dont get the 8800 GT. 8800s eat alot of power. Get a 9600GT or something. They can have similar or better performance. Also, make sure your PSU can support. If you use an E6600, you are probably using a 300-watt or 400-watt unit. ATi chipset means try to go for the Radeon series like the 48xx series.

MyPillowTalks SG

Nvidia cards can work on ATI chipset, but not reccomended

48xx series are currently the more worth the money cards

SBS7484P SG

pilly, at the same time ah. i need ask of a qn.
im currently using ati X1300PRO, same family as of TS's X1550.
EVEREST tells me its a PCIE 1.0 x16 card.

im thinkin of upgrade to hd 4670, will my mobo, asus P5LP-LE (yes its a hp mobo) support it?

thanks.

just ran into lotsa troublewith the system tonight. its gone absolutely bonkers

SBS7484P SG

edit:

the hp webby says "one pci express x16 graphics" but makes no mention of whether 1.0 or 2.0

MyPillowTalks SG

I think is shuld be an 1.0, the older slot

1.0 means the bandwidth is not doubled, means ur card cannot perform fully, as the mobo limited the about of data going through it

Raraken SG

pilly, at the same time ah. i need ask of a qn.
im currently using ati X1300PRO, same family as of TS's X1550.
EVEREST tells me its a PCIE 1.0 x16 card.

im thinkin of upgrade to hd 4670, will my mobo, asus P5LP-LE (yes its a hp mobo) support it?

thanks.

just ran into lotsa troublewith the system tonight. its gone absolutely bonkers

PCIE 1.0 x16 mean yes, its a 1.0. Getting a 4670 is possible, backward-compatible. The question is not your mobo, but the card and your PSU. Your card probably will be able to be backward-compatible. PSU enough watts is another.

SBS7484P SG

PSU isnt a problem. problem now is, thanks kenneth for pointing it out to me, my mobo's missing a port that the 4670 needs. so yeah. ill wait till next year to have a full system overhaul.

right now what i'll do is just to add ram up to 3gb, add another hard disk to mirror my main one incase of failure, and add hard drive coolers (mine's running at 70 deg celsius!!!)

Raraken SG

PSU isnt a problem. problem now is, thanks kenneth for pointing it out to me, my mobo's missing a port that the 4670 needs. so yeah. ill wait till next year to have a full system overhaul.

right now what i'll do is just to add ram up to 3gb, add another hard disk to mirror my main one incase of failure, and add hard drive coolers (mine's running at 70 deg celsius!!!)

You could stilll get the card, then put in in the system. The max bandwidth wasn't even reached for 1.0 when the 2.0 specifications were released, so I'm not too sure what kind of performance implications could occur. So, its up to you, hopefully you get a nice gaming com, eh?

Anonymous User SG

PSU isnt a problem. problem now is, thanks kenneth for pointing it out to me, my mobo's missing a port that the 4670 needs. so yeah. ill wait till next year to have a full system overhaul.

What do you mean "missing a port"? like power pin from ur psu?
But dont think 4670 need external power eh...

(Meanwhile... im still using my x1650xt... *hi-5*)

natural_boy SG

both thy 2 using AGP,yet u all telling wat 4series.. my god!

ehh no..... pcie

Raraken SG

What do you mean "missing a port"? like power pin from ur psu?
But dont think 4670 need external power eh...

(Meanwhile... im still using my x1650xt... *hi-5*)

He is talking about the PCI-E 2.0 slot which his mobo doesn't have, only the PCI-E 1.0 x16. There is a difference between the two.

MyPillowTalks SG

He is talking about the PCI-E 2.0 slot which his mobo doesn't have, only the PCI-E 1.0 x16. There is a difference between the two.

pci 2.0 card can slot into pci 1.0 slot

but wont work as fast

Arkansaw SG

okay if you are getting 8800GT, don’t worry about the loss of bandwidth, it’s really negligible…..I did the research when I upgraded a few months back

Raraken SG

pci 2.0 card can slot into pci 1.0 slot

but wont work as fast

Yes, this I know. I told him he could still get the card now, just that there could be minute degradation in performance. Most, if not all, PCI-E 2.0 cards are backward compatible with 1.0. IIRC, the bandwidth of 1.0 wasn't even fully utilised when 2.0 came out.