New Graphics Card Compatiblity

[pingwasha]

Hey everyone :)

 

I was given an old PC recently and I'm looking to refurbish it. I was wondering if the graphics card I'm looking to buy will be compatible with my computer. Some basic computer info...

 

 

Processor: AMD Semprom 2800+ @2.00GHz

 

Mobo: GIGABYTE 7VT600P-RZ

 

Memory (RAM): 512MB soon to be 2.00GB

 

System type: WinXP - Home

 

PSU: Not much detail available but output is 300w

 

New graphics card wanted to be used:

HIS Radeon HD 4670 IceQ (preferred)

Or

DiabloTek GeForce 6200

 

Anything that you can tell me would be very much appreciated. If you need more info please let me know. Thanks in advance :)

[shalimar]

that was nicely elucidated

[pingwasha]

Thanks.

I've actually asked a couple of websites but I have not got a definitive answer from any of them so I know what add in my details :P

[pingwasha]

Also I was thinking of upgrading the PSU.

Are there some sort of limits I should worry about?

Like currently my PSU outputs 300w. If I were to upgrade to one that outputs say for example 650w, would that be to much? or could/will the PSU automatically detect and adjust on its own?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi sorry for a delay in replying, but however welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

You have actually touched on what I was going to say when you mention upgrading the PSU. If you are intending adding a graphics card you should find what power it needs and add that to whatever the original PSU already provides, in this case 300Watts.

Most manufactured computers were fitted with a PSU that is just big enough to do for what is already there, with little room for overhead.

So if you choose a GPU card that requires say 200Watts, then a new PSU of 500Watts is the minimum you should look for to be safe.

You are OK getting even bigger PSU's with rating up to even 1000Watts, though expensive of course, it is just a case of what will do a lot, will also do a little.

As far as advice on the card itself, I will leave that to one of our team who is more up to date on graphics than myself. I am only a humble sound and power supply expert.

Nev.

[snow]

Hi,

 

That CPU (AMD Sempron 2800+) is seriously slow by today's standards. The games you will be able to play, even on a new graphics card, will be very limited by it.

 

The motherboard has an AGP 8x slot. You will be able to fit any AGP graphics card, but not PCI Express cards.

 

With the system as old as it is, I don't think spending £56 on a new card is worth it. That money would be much better put towards a newer computer, where the performace gains will be hugely above what this machine could give you.