Vostro 200/ATI Radeon 2400Pro Upgrade

[mattr1]

Ive been poking around these forums and it seems like there is a bit of experience out there with the Vostro 200 Slim (Zap in particular ). Im considering upgrading my video card with the release of WAR (getting alot of stuttering and lag in OB, even at the 'highest framerate' (lowest settings) ). And am fishing for suggestions.

I know absolutely nothing about building machines (plug and play is about the extent of my experience) so can anyone offer good advice for an upgrade to the 2400 Pro that will work in this box? Of course Im on a budget (which is why I bought the Vostro) so am looking in the $100 price range. Is the 2400Pro the dog that some folks make it out to be?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zap]

You rang?

Welcome to the forums.

The Vostro 200 Slim requires a low profile card, which will unfortunately severely limit your selection. You should have gotten the normal Vostro 200, not the Slim one.

Newegg low profile PCIe cards

Strangely there are some higher end low profile cards, but unfortunately they require additional power which your power supply cannot provide. I'm talking about that 9600 GT low profile in the Newegg link above.

Runner ups in performance: Radeon 3650 or GeForce 8500 GT. There is also an 8600 GT, but it doesn't come with the low profile bracket and people are reporting that the heatsink is too tall to make it fit even after obtaining a bracket.

I'd get the Radeon 3650 low profile and call it a day.

 

[mattr1]

Thanks Zap! This is exactly the info I was looking for. Yes the slim tower sounded good at the time, but so did paying for the card it came with.

Sounds like the 8500GT might have some issues fitting in the dell slim case (although it is pretty tempting with the $50 rebate) so the 3650 it is...

THANKS

 

[ther00kie16]

Actually, it looks like the power supply in the Vostro 200 slim has 17A on the 12V rail (you should probably confirm this by looking at it) totaling 204W and the 9600gt only requires 98W at load. With a 65W CPU, you are still only at 163W so according to the math at least it seems as if it should be able to handle a 9600gt. I don't know what cpu you have but I can't find a single review for the e7200 when coupled with a 8800 video card in a system that draws more than 200W at load.
The 2 reviews on newegg about 250W Dell power supplies probably didn't even try it pointing out that it requires 400W PSUs according to the box and that it requires a PCI-e connector which the Dell doesn't have. Well, another reviewer used it fine with a 300W PSU by using the included 4 pin molex to PCI-e adapter.

Also, 3650 isn't very fast (same performance as the previous generation 2600xt) and neither is a 8500gt. You may want to consider waiting for a low-profile 4670.

 

[v8envy]

The 2400 is indeed a dog -- compare it to a modern high end video card e.g. http://www.gpureview.com/show_...hp?card1=564&card2=525 or a modern midrange card e.g. http://www.gpureview.com/show_...hp?card1=557&card2=525

It's roughly 1/20th the hardware of a HD4870 or 1/10th of a 9600GT -- which means the difference between a playable 40 fps and an unplayable 4 fps when viewed a different way. If you can, go for the 9600GT. You won't be very happy with a 3650. Previous two generations of midrange and low end cards were not very good.

 

[wikoogle]

I'm in the same situation.

Any news on whether the 9600GT works?

What card did you end up going with Matt?

Are you happy with it? Can it run newer games?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on a tv tuner card for it too, like this one...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815122008

That should work right?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: wikoogle
Also, does anyone have any thoughts on a tv tuner card for it too, like this one...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815122008

That should work right?

Doesn't look as if it comes with the low profile bracket.

 

[wikoogle]

Thank you very much Zap, you're awesome.

I'm wondering, can you post a link to 3650 (or whichever graphics card you recommend), that has a low profile bracket and either vga or hdmi in put (or ideally, both).

Most of the brackets in the link that you included don't seem to be low profile brackets unfortunately.

Thanks sooo much.

 

[wikoogle]

So did anyone upgrade the graphics card on the vostro 200.

IF you could please send me a link to any good specific card I could upgrade with, I would be extremely greatful.

Thank you so much.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: wikoogle
Most of the brackets in the link that you included don't seem to be low profile brackets unfortunately.

You just have to read the specs and look at the pics for those features. Just FYI pretty much all cards can do HDMI video with the right adaptor, but not all can do audio over HDMI. For low profile, some of the cards come that way and others come with the bracket which you can replace yourself. Just avoid the cards that look low profile, but don't come with the bracket.

Originally posted by: wikoogle
So did anyone upgrade the graphics card on the vostro 200.

I did mine when I sold it. Put an 8600 GT in it. However, I had the regular mini tower Vostro 200, not the slim.

You should easily be able to use any low profile card (with low profile bracket) that does not need additional power.

 

[mattr1]

Well Im resurrecting this thread because Im a slacker and havent done any upgrading as of yet (sorry wikoogle, no added info for you on this upgrade). In hindsight I probably shoudnt have bought the slim tower but since its what Im stuck with, Im on the hunt again. Both the cards that Zap mentioned are no longer available at newegg and it looks like the 9600GT requires a 400w power supply. What about the 9400? I havent cracked my case yet but it sounds like the power supply for the Vostro 200 Slim is 250.... a little under the req but perhaps it will work?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814143153

Thanks!

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Well the 9400GT is about as powerful as an 8500GT (I think) so I'd rather get the HD 4550. Take your pick

 

[Zap]

Better list of low profile cards at Newegg

Hey look, the BFG card is the cheapest 9400 GT!

Hmmm, plenty of choices, but nothing that great.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The HD4550 would be the best choice. According to AT's review it's a bit slower than the HD3650, which you were planning to get, and I think it's a little faster than the 9400GT.

 

[mattr1]

Bah, it doesnt look like there are too many options that are a vast improvement in performance given my limiting parameters. Im looking around to see if I can scrape up a 3650 but they are seldom seem.

the HD 4650 recommended min psu is 400w, any guesses whether the HDMI/Low Profile version will require less power? I wonder (given the dissapearance of the HD 3650 on NewEgg) if it might be worth waiting as ther00kie16 recommended....

what a PITA