Need advice on upgrading video on OLD PC

[dud]

Hi all,

Ever try to upgrade an old PC for a friend or family member who has no money? Well, I am ... right now. The computer is a Compaq model SR1222NX found here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00256286


The upgrade involves upgrading RAM from (don't laugh) 256 MB to at least 1 GB and changing from integrated graphics to a vid card. The purpose of the upgrade is to speed the machine up for Mom and to allow son to play basic (i.e. games prior to 2006) games.

Memory: I've located the right mem so that's no problem.

Video card: Here's the problem. The computer was built in 2004 and has a 268W (max) PS at 12v. A fellow forum member contacted me about a great (cheap) card that he has for sale but it requires a 350W PS. I want to get them the fastest vid card they can handle ... but my feeling is (because of the weak PS) it is going to have to be one that does not require ANY additional power to the card.

My question is ... can you recommend a card or class of card that would meet my requirements?


Thanks ...

 

[crisium]

Perhaps this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-303-_-Product

A DDR2 Radeon 4650 is around equivalent to cards released in 2005, so it can handle games from 2006 or earlier. And going any faster on a Pentium IV is not wise.

As for the power consumption, it is rather low. Low enough? I'm not sure, but perhaps someone else can chime in.

 

[dud]

Perhaps this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-303-_-Product

A DDR2 Radeon 4650 is around equivalent to cards released in 2005, so it can handle games from 2006 or earlier. And going any faster on a Pentium IV is not wise.

As for the power consumption, it is rather low. Low enough? I'm not sure, but perhaps someone else can chime in.

Thanks but that card is even worse power-wise. It requires at least a 400W PS.

 

[severus]

For what it's worth, my graphics card (4870) requires at least a 500W psu, but it runs perfectly fine on my 450 Corsair. For a machine like that, I would suggest something along the lines of a used 8600gts. pre-2006 games like CS: Source, etc would run fine (200fps?)

 

[dud]

For what it's worth, my graphics card (4870) requires at least a 500W psu, but it runs perfectly fine on my 450 Corsair. For a machine like that, I would suggest something along the lines of a used 8600gts. pre-2006 games like CS: Source, etc would run fine (200fps?)

The 8600GTS would be an excellent choice and I've already found a fellow member who has a (new) one for sale. The problem is it requires a minimum of 350W.

 

[Modelworks]

For that system you would really be better off just replacing it. You are not going to find a good graphics card that will work on that system because the power supply was designed with the intent of only powering what it was sold with, that is the problem with retail pc.

If you add up the cost of a new power supply, the ram, the video card you are coming close to what it would cost to just replace the whole thing . I see core2 pc with 1GB ram on ebay for under $150 all the time and that is everything the case, power, board, etc.

Pc can be like an old car, you keep buying replacement parts till it gets to the point the parts cost more than the car is worth.

 

[Arkaign]

This will work, and will kick the crap out of games of that era :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814134089

Only takes 59w to run at load (vs onboard + idle), will be no problem on that PSU. I've run thirstier video cards than that with 250w OEM PSUs with no problems.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gt-220,2445-16.html

 

[dud]

This will work, and will kick the crap out of games of that era :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814134089

Only takes 59w to run at load (vs onboard + idle), will be no problem on that PSU. I've run thirstier video cards than that with 250w OEM PSUs with no problems.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gt-220,2445-16.html

That card looks great. Powere consumption at on 59 watts works for m. The only question I have is the MB I will be installing it on (an old ASUS PTGD1-LA, circa 2004) has a PCI express x16 slot while the GT 220 has a PCI express 2.0 x16 interface.

Will the MUCH newer card (version 2.0) work in an older PCI express x16 slot?

Thanks all ...

 

[Arglebargle]

NO problem, the PCIe cards are backwards compatible. This system won't even come close to saturating the bus. Even real hot systems have to work to do that.

 

[dud]

NO problem, the PCIe cards are backwards compatible. This system won't even come close to saturating the bus. Even real hot systems have to work to do that.

Thank you. I may have found the solution I was looking for.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I have run a HD4650 on a 300watt OEM power supply without problems. The power consumption seems about the same as the GT220, so you should be OK. However, my comp is only about 2 and a half years old. Your power supply is quite a bit older and may not perform to specs of when it was new. I think either of these cards would be ok for power usage and should handle 2006 games and earlier without problem, even with a single core processor. BTW, if you look closely, the HD4650 states that a 400 watt power supply is "recommended", not reqiured. Sort of a confusing statement.
Just a question though: why is the user limiting himself/herself to 2006 and earlier games??
There were some good games back then, but just curious. After upgrading, you could probably run some less graphically intense more modern games at low resolution and graphical settings.

 

[NoQuarter]

The PSU requirements they state are very very conservative estimates, they really bear no relation to the actual power required, it's more for covering their own ass than giving you a required PSU rating.

I like to point out this article:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/system-wattage_6.html#sect0

A system with a Radeon 4850, which isn't very power friendly, only uses 189W under torture test, which is a draw you'll never achieve with real world use - and this is a card that recommends a 450W PSU. Now, you don't want to run a PSU at max load, especially not an OEM one. But I would be amazed if a 4650 or 8600GT couldn't run on what you have.

edit:
The other config in that article http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/system-wattage_4.html#sect0 has a 4650 in it actually, 137W at max load.. you should be fine.

 

[lsv]

TL;DR

Just get a new PC. Seriously. You'll run into PSU problems, size problems, placement problems and whatever else when using proprietary machines=/

 

[DietDrThunder]

I need the same advice but for an even older PC that I built.

http://www.epox.com/product.asp?ID=EP-8K7A

8K7A rev 1.0 MB
AMD 2400 XP
Windows XP Pro
2 sticks of 512MB PC 3200
2 Western Digital 120 GB hard drives
4X AGP ATI All-In-Wonder 7500 video card
Linksys 10/100 lan card
floppy drive
Pioneer DVD-RW
Pioneer DVD-Rom

The ATI Radeon All-in-wonder is getting a bit flakey as it will no longer play BattleField 1942 and some of my kids games that it used to. I will build a new PC for myself and would like to replace the video card so i can give this PC to my 12 year old. What would you guys suggest as a good 4x AGP replacement?