looking for sage advice

[rayn255]

i have an old Acer Aspire X1301 that i want to put a video card in can anyone recommend one that will fit and work? Sorry one more thing look like this bracket http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002

[Bluejay0]

What will you do with the GPU? Are you one sided on any brands like NVIDIA or AMD? 

[rayn255]

What will you do with the GPU? Are you one sided on any brands like NVIDIA or AMD? 

play games i was hoping for borderlands 2 mass effect 3 nothing fancy like hidef just to run them 1024x768 and no i dont care about brands

[GamerDude]

Whoa, pretty hard given that you must find a low powered low profile GPU, and the 220W PSU (which may not be pushing out that amount of wattage anymore due to age) is not going to help at all.

[-rascal-]

Owww...the Acer X1301 is a Low-Profile / Slime line system. It is not a common standard ATX spec'd format.

 

Your choices are essentially limited to Low-Profile graphics cards, as the "regular" cards are too wide....and most likely too long. With this in mind, don't expect to run games on High or Ultra settings with these Low-Profile graphics cards, as they are typically the weaker of the bunch. You are looking at gaming on a lower detail level if you want it to be a smooth gameplay (i.e. Low to Medium settings).

 

Another obstacle is the power output of your power supply. From what I can see, the Acer X1301 uses a 220W power supply. These days, the processor / CPU and graphics card / GPU will draw the most power in a system.

 

Without further ado, here are some options to consider (I assume are you in the US?):

Zotac GeForce GT 630 64-bit 1GB DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500305

XFX Radeon HD 6570 2GB 128-bit DDR3 (the card isn't capable of using the full 2GB anyways...but it's cheaper): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150657

ASUS Radeon HD 6570 2GB 128-bit DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121722

HIS Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 (probably one of the more power cards of the choices): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397

Zotac GeForce GT 640 1GB 64-bit GDDR5: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500308

ASUS Radeon R7 240 128-bit 2GB DDR3 (newest card of the bunch...but don't expect a huuge performance difference): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121799

 

There are a few other cards...but it will probably go over your 220W limit. Plus, the price of them are significantly higher ($80+, $100+)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150682

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150677

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002

 

Your best options, in terms of performance, would be either the Radeon HD 6670 or GT 640.

The next tier down would be the HD 6570, R7-240, and the GT 630.

The top of out of all of these...would be the R7-250 and HD 7750, but keep in mind the power limitation and the $100+ price tag.

[rayn255]

wow thanks rascal do you know of any more like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002 as the others wont fit in the case

[Bluuz]

Your choices are extremely limited. You're better off saving up to buy a newer complete system. 

[-rascal-]

wow thanks rascal do you know of any more like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002 as the others wont fit in the case

 

No, no.

The other video cards have a shorter bracket that you can use. It's included. That's why you see a weird flat ribbon cable for the VGA port - that can be removed.

Newegg provides pictures with different viewing angles for their products...as well as pictures of the included accessories and bundles.

 

All the cards I suggested are either Low-Profile designs, or can be converted to a Low-Profile card. Have another close look.

 

The ASUS Radeon HD 6570 doesn't seem to include a Low-Profile bracket (meaning you have to buy your own separately), so I may have to scratch that off the list...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121722

-confirmed- ASUS does not provide a Low-Profile bracket with the graphics card. You will need to purchase one separately if you decide to get this card.

 

Oh, jeez. I re-examined the layout of the mainboard for the Acer X1301. You may be limited to single-slot cards, as there isn't enough space for a taller / thicker cooling system for the graphics card...

 

So the available, logical, reasonable options...updated:

Zotac GeForce GT 630 64-bit 1GB DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500305

XFX Radeon HD 6570 2GB 128-bit DDR3 (the card isn't capable of using the full 2GB anyways...but it's cheaper): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150657

ASUS Radeon R7-240 128-bit 2GB DDR3 (newest card of the bunch...but don't expect a huuge performance difference): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121799

XFX Radeon R7-240 128-bit 2GB DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150677

 

There a few more cards available, but they are MUCH lower in performance. For examples:

GeForce GT 610 or 620

GeForce G210

GeForce GT 520

Radeon HD 6450 or 5450

 

With those cards, you'll probably just get by with running the games you mentioned on low settings.

[rayn255]

ya that is a big problem. i have no room in the case. i got a Radeon Hd6450 it barely fit but did not work, do you know why?

[rayn255]

Your choices are extremely limited. You're better off saving up to buy a newer complete system. 

I am. there is the build http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2qiBE i have everything but the video card.

[rayn255]

With those cards, you'll probably just get by with running the games you mentioned on low settings.

awesome thanks

[-rascal-]

ya that is a big problem. i have no room in the case. i got a Radeon Hd6450 it barely fit but did not work, do you know why?

If it barely fit, it may not be fully 100% seated into the PCI-Express slot.

 

I am. there is the build http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2qiBE i have everything but the video card.

So are you just looking for a temporary graphics card while you save up for a new PC?

 

Anyways, after going through pages and pages of inventory at Fry's, MicroCenter, NCIX US, and Amazon US...

 

I did find a few Low-Profile HD 7750's. Keep in mind, these a EXPENSIVE for a HD 7750...as you can get a "regular" size one for $80 or less.

 

PowerColor Low-Profile 7750

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-Profile-PCI-Express-AX7750-1GBD5-HL/dp/B008R3IVAI/ref=sr_1_28?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420127&sr=1-28&keywords=7750

Better views of it on Newegg: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131480

 

Another PowerColor 7750:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-Products-Express-Graphics-900574/dp/B009ZQ5HW6/ref=sr_1_31?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420127&sr=1-31&keywords=7750

 

Sapphire 7750 (the one that I linked to, but is sold out on Newegg)

(Sold by another retailer THROUGH Amazon?): http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-100357LP-128-bit-Express-Profile/dp/B0095MRLJ2/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420100&sr=1-7&keywords=7750

 

Sapphire 6670

Amazon (sold by another retailer THROUGH Amazon?): http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-Profile-PCI-Express-100326LP/dp/B009FD5THM/ref=sr_1_168?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1389420207&sr=1-168&keywords=7750

Better pictures of it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102958

 

 

EDIT: Wait, you're in Canada??? Doh! Prices will be slightly different from the US links I provided. Some things may not be in stock for US, but is in stock for Canadians.

[rayn255]

lol ya i was having some problems with the site so that post never made it up but that is ok you have been wonderful and helped me so much just THANK YOU . i can do the rest

[rayn255]

So are you just looking for a temporary graphics card while you save up for a new PC?

 

ya somthing to hold me over

[Bluejay0]

ya somthing to hold me over

GT620? I have a GT610 and plays Source engine games well.