Low Profile Without External Power

[PGriff]

I'm trying to help my brother fix his crappy dell up a little so it can run some games (tf2). It struggles pretty hard with his integrated graphics i guess.

It has to be low profile and there can be no 6-pin external power connector. I was looking at a 9500gt and I'm not sure if there is one or not?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121271

Any other suggestions on which card to get would be appreciated. I would like to see what ATI has to offer in this category as well I'm not really familiar with their line at this level. Price range is as close to 50 as possible, 60 or 65 is about the limit I think.

Thank you!

Edit: For bottlenecking purposes, the cpu is a athlon x2 4200+ @2.2 Ghz. It overclocks pretty easily to 2.6 using software. (This bios doesnt let me touch anything in there ha)

 

[zebrax2]

IIRC the 9500gt doesn't require a power connector as well as the 9600gt and even some 9800gt.
maybe this 4650 low profile

 

[brblx]

does the pcb just need to be low profile, or do you need the low profile bracket, as well?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131151
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102829
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150392

4650 or 9500gt is about the best you're going to do. there are also some low profile 9600 ang 9800gt's with no power connector, but they're maybe $80-100

 

[frozentundra123456]

Actually, most 9600GT and especially 9800 GT cards do require an external power connector and a fairly decent power supply. There are some models from Galaxy that are low power and do not require an external power connector. The 9600GT from galaxy is low profile also, but I dont know about the 9800 GT. I would recommend the 9600GT if you can find it at the price you want, but I think it will be close to 100.00.

The HD4650 is a decent card also. I am running one in my comp with a 300 watt generic power supply without any problems. It is adequate for a 19 in monitor at 1440x900. The 4670 is a better card because it has DDR3, but I dont think it comes in a low profile form.

You dont mention the watts of the power supply, but I think you need around 300 watts to run even the HD4650 or 9500GT.

 

[PGriff]

Originally posted by: brblx
does the pcb just need to be low profile, or do you need the low profile bracket, as well?


4650 or 9500gt is about the best you're going to do. there are also some low profile 9600 ang 9800gt's with no power connector, but they're maybe $80-100

I believe both need to be low profile? I'm not quite sure what those mean but it is realy a slim case and there is no way a standard size card would fit in there. The slot on the back is very short.

Thank you frozentundra for pointing out the 9600gts without a power connector. They are appetizing, but I don't know if my brother is gonna wanna pay that much. I think ill look at some becnies/prices and pick between a 9500gt and a 4650. Thanks for the help.

 

[Schmide]

The dell c521 (i think that's the machine you would have) has a 280w psu that will deliver 16a on the 12v. A 9600gt with an overclocked 4200x2 you would be in the upper bounds of the PSU.

A the major 12v usage offenders would be

(load)
70w (80w oc) 4200x2
60w 9600gt
30w chipset

160w = 13a (15a oc)

In reality not overclocked it would probably run in games around 10-12a range, you could probably get away with it but it would need some extra airflow in that cramped case.

 

[brblx]

Originally posted by: frozentundra123456
Actually, most 9600GT and especially 9800 GT cards do require an external power connector and a fairly decent power supply. There are some models from Galaxy that are low power and do not require an external power connector. The 9600GT from galaxy is low profile also, but I dont know about the 9800 GT. I would recom

both of the people before you said 'some' 9600gt and 9800gt cards. not all. quit trying to correct people for no reason.

OP, i would go for this card-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...9&ref=dynamitedata.com

you won't have to aquire and swap brackets like some of the others, and it should have no issues running on a stock power supply.

 

[PGriff]

Originally posted by: Schmide
The dell c521 (i think that's the machine you would have) has a 280w psu that will deliver 16a on the 12v. A 9600gt with an overclocked 4200x2 you would be in the upper bounds of the PSU.

A the major 12v usage offenders would be

(load)
70w (80w oc) 4200x2
60w 9600gt
30w chipset

160w = 13a (15a oc)

In reality not overclocked it would probably run in games around 10-12a range, you could probably get away with it but it would need some extra airflow in that cramped case.

Yes this is the exact machine thank you ha. I should be ok then with the 4650.

brblx, after looking at benches and stuff that is exactly the card that we decided on. I didn't know that some low profile cards have bracket swaps or whatever, but that is good to know that this one will work well.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[RussianSensation]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102820

4670 512 low profile without power connector for $65

 

[Selbatrim]

That's not a low profile card RussianSensation. If it was I'd be a happy man

There was an Apollo card around a little while back which was a 4650 with DDR3 memory. Seems to have disappeared from Newegg though, but would've been your best ATI offering and you might be able to find it somewhere else.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Selbatrim
That's not a low profile card RussianSensation.

How so? Did you glance at the side shot? Only 1 PCI slot.

 

[Selbatrim]

That is a common mistake RS. Low profile does not mean single slot. It means half height (even though it is not exactly half height). It can fit in a case that is narrower than normal. It has a smaller end bracket as well.

This is a low profile card

The first image show the card with a normal bracket. Some cards you have to buy the low profile bracket separately, some comes with only the smaller bracket and some come with both.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Originally posted by: brblx

Originally posted by: frozentundra123456
Actually, most 9600GT and especially 9800 GT cards do require an external power connector and a fairly decent power supply. There are some models from Galaxy that are low power and do not require an external power connector. The 9600GT from galaxy is low profile also, but I dont know about the 9800 GT. I would recom

both of the people before you said 'some' 9600gt and 9800gt cards. not all. quit trying to correct people for no reason.

OP, i would go for this card-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...9&ref=dynamitedata.com

you won't have to aquire and swap brackets like some of the others, and it should have no issues running on a stock power supply.

brblx, I have a low power system myself and have spent considerable time looking for a low power card that has decent performance. I just wanted to give the OP as much information as possible and clarify a possibly confusing situation.

I wasn't trying to "correct" anyone.

actually if you read his reply, the OP seemed to appreciate the post. Anyway, brblx, what gives you the right to say what I can and connot post. Don't you have anything better to do than criticize people that were only trying to be helpful??