swapping graphics card

[robijntje]

hello, I recently made a post about doing a micro-ATX build that I want to make because I go to friends a lot and mostly play PC-games there, but my laptop isn't powerful enough to run the newest games at any decent framerates (bf4 at +/- 20 fps, everything low, 1080p).

then I figured that maybe, since I already have another desktop PC, i should just buy the mobo, cpu, case, .. and swap my RAM and graphics card from my current desktop when I want to go to one of my friends, because that would save me a lot of money.

The problem here is: I'm worried that after a while of swapping GPU and RAM, wouldn't it damage the connectors and break these parts? or are these parts quite resistant to such handlings?

I won't be swapping them every day but it'll be more than 2 times a year, so I don't want to risk my gtx 770 just to save some money, because when this (probably already retired) bad boy breaks I'll have to pay even more...

 

I know most people don't swap their graphics cards all day long but maybe one of you gentlemen/gentlewomen (is that even an existing word?) could help me out with this mindblowing (not really, just let me exaggerate a bit, makes me feel good) question?

 

Thx in advance!

 

Robijntje

[TheKleen]

They will be fine, just don't handle them roughly. 

[EpIcPoNaGe]

hello, I recently made a post about doing a micro-ATX build that I want to make because I go to friends a lot and mostly play PC-games there, but my laptop isn't powerful enough to run the newest games at any decent framerates (bf4 at +/- 20 fps, everything low, 1080p).

then I figured that maybe, since I already have another desktop PC, i should just buy the mobo, cpu, case, .. and swap my RAM and graphics card from my current desktop when I want to go to one of my friends, because that would save me a lot of money.

The problem here is: I'm worried that after a while of swapping GPU and RAM, wouldn't it damage the connectors and break these parts? or are these parts quite resistant to such handlings?

I won't be swapping them every day but it'll be more than 2 times a year, so I don't want to risk my gtx 770 just to save some money, because when this (probably already retired) bad boy breaks I'll have to pay even more...

 

I know most people don't swap their graphics cards all day long but maybe one of you gentlemen/gentlewomen (is that even an existing word?) could help me out with this mindblowing (not really, just let me exaggerate a bit, makes me feel good) question?

 

Thx in advance!

 

Robijntje

 

If you are careful and aren't constantly swapping out then you should be fine. If it were me though, I'd either convert your current desktop into a portable one or salvage the GPU from it and then build a new portable PC around it leaving your old desktop as a working back up desktop that you leave at home. 

[robijntje]

If you are careful and aren't constantly swapping out then you should be fine. If it were me though, I'd either convert your current desktop into a portable one or salvage the GPU from it and then build a new portable PC around it leaving your old desktop as a working back up desktop that you leave at home. 

it's not a bad idea but i'm going to sell my current case to a friend and buy a new one, and that's why I want the smaller build, because I want a nice build at home but I don't want to take it everywhere since it'll scratch my whole new case.. I'm mostly going to game at home so.. but how do you mean a backup desktop? like for when my other one breaks?

[robijntje]

They will be fine, just don't handle them roughly. 

even with like swapping once every 3 weeks?

[EpIcPoNaGe]

it's not a bad idea but i'm going to sell my current case to a friend and buy a new one, and that's why I want the smaller build, because I want a nice build at home but I don't want to take it everywhere since it'll scratch my whole new case.. I'm mostly going to game at home so.. but how do you mean a backup desktop? like for when my other one breaks?

 

I meant that you could just build a new portable PC with the GPU you have now and then run your current desktop on its integrated gpu. This way you'll have 2 desktops. One for gaming that can also be transported around and the other for backup/other family members or friends to use.

 

If you're swapping every 3 weeks that isn't too bad, but parts aren't meant to be constantly moved and so it may lower its lifespan...

[robijntje]

I meant that you could just build a new portable PC with the GPU you have now and then run your current desktop on its integrated gpu. This way you'll have 2 desktops. One for gaming that can also be transported around and the other for backup/other family members or friends to use.

 

If you're swapping every 3 weeks that isn't too bad, but parts aren't meant to be constantly moved and so it may lower its lifespan...

I paid too much for my z87-UD3H mobo and i5-4670K cpu just to use the integrated graphics so i'll keep it this way, i'm just gonna buy a 30 euro case and put in a simple micro-atx mobo and fx-6300 CPU just so I can play games at decent framerates when I'm not at home, but when I'm at home I still like a nice and big case, it just looks better in my opinion maybe later when my current mobo and cpu become too outdated to play games

[EpIcPoNaGe]

I paid too much for my z87-UD3H mobo and i5-4670K cpu just to use the integrated graphics so i'll keep it this way, i'm just gonna buy a 30 euro case and put in a simple micro-atx mobo and fx-6300 CPU just so I can play games at decent framerates when I'm not at home, but when I'm at home I still like a nice and big case, it just looks better in my opinion maybe later when my current mobo and cpu become too outdated to play games

 

 

Haha yeah that route is quite a bit more costly... Maybe try going for a i3 instead of a fx 6300? 

[robijntje]

Well, I don't want to spend too much on the cpu since I won't use it everyday, or is that unlogical? Idk man i know the basics about hardware but i'm not a pro.. btw how can i quote you on my phone?

[robijntje]

Haha yeah that route is quite a bit more costly... Maybe try going for a i3 instead of a fx 6300?

found it, nvm about the quoting (see previous post)

[EpIcPoNaGe]

Well, I don't want to spend too much on the cpu since I won't use it everyday, or is that unlogical? Idk man i know the basics about hardware but i'm not a pro.. btw how can i quote you on my phone?

 

A low end i3 isn't much more expensive than a 6300 and is faster at stock speeds.

 

To quote on your phone, you tap the post and it should expand to give you the quote option.

[robijntje]

A low end i3 isn't much more expensive than a 6300 and is faster at stock speeds.

To quote on your phone, you tap the post and it should expand to give you the quote option.

which i3 would you suggest then? And maybe mobo (micro atx) that would fit it, but isn't too expensive? And oh, your way of quoting is even better than the way i did it

[EpIcPoNaGe]

which i3 would you suggest then? And maybe mobo (micro atx) that would fit it, but isn't too expensive? And oh, your way of quoting is even better than the way i did it

 

You could get the i3 4160 and any cheap matx motherboard. You don't need a overclocking mobo as the i3 is locked. I'd link you to pcpartpicker but it looks like you're from Belgium and I'm not sure what the prices are there. If the i3 is much more expensive than a 6300, I'd actually stick with the 6300 as its still a capable cpu. Sorry I just realized that you weren't in the US and so I'm not sure if my recommendation is still accurate... 

[robijntje]

You could get the i3 4160 and any cheap matx motherboard. You don't need a overclocking mobo as the i3 is locked. I'd link you to pcpartpicker but it looks like you're from Belgium and I'm not sure what the prices are there. If the i3 is much more expensive than a 6300, I'd actually stick with the 6300 as its still a capable cpu. Sorry I just realized that you weren't in the US and so I'm not sure if my recommendation is still accurate...

yeah, i'll go check it out quickly brb for telling differences in price

[robijntje]

You could get the i3 4160 and any cheap matx motherboard. You don't need a overclocking mobo as the i3 is locked. I'd link you to pcpartpicker but it looks like you're from Belgium and I'm not sure what the prices are there. If the i3 is much more expensive than a 6300, I'd actually stick with the 6300 as its still a capable cpu. Sorry I just realized that you weren't in the US and so I'm not sure if my recommendation is still accurate...

The i3 starts at 120 euro, the fx 6300 starts at 100 euro, is it worth the difference?

[EpIcPoNaGe]

The i3 starts at 120 euro, the fx 6300 starts at 100 euro, is it worth the difference?

The i3 wouldn't be as much of a bottleneck if you end up upgrading your gpu and so I would say it would be worth the difference. The i3 is stronger per core than the 6300 and games utilize less stronger cores more than more weaker cores.

[robijntje]

The i3 wouldn't be as much of a bottleneck if you end up upgrading your gpu and so I would say it would be worth the difference. The i3 is stronger per core than the 6300 and games utilize less stronger cores more than more weaker cores.

oh, okay, and is every mobo that can handle this cpu also capable of an i5? Or are there things i should look for specifically?

[EpIcPoNaGe]

oh, okay, and is every mobo that can handle this cpu also capable of an i5? Or are there things i should look for specifically?

The mobo compatible with the i3 would be a lga 1150 socket and so it'll work with any other cpu in that socket (ie i5 and i7).

The i3 4160 is a haswell refresh meaning an older lga1150 motherboard may not have the updated bios to be compatible with the newer i3. You might want to start a thread on the cpu section regarding this as I'm not too sure if the motherboards would have the updated bios.

[robijntje]

The mobo compatible with the i3 would be a lga 1150 socket and so it'll work with any other cpu in that socket (ie i5 and i7).

The i3 4160 is a haswell refresh meaning an older lga1150 motherboard may not have the updated bios to be compatible with the newer i3. You might want to start a thread on the cpu section regarding this as I'm not too sure if the motherboards would have the updated bios.

okay, and one more question, will the stock cooler be sufficient if i'd use thus cpu for gaming?

[EpIcPoNaGe]

okay, and one more question, will the stock cooler be sufficient if i'd use thus cpu for gaming?

Yup.

[robijntje]

Yup.

okay, thank you so much for helping me out, and for the future the i3 would also be better since my i5 4670k is also lga 1150, didn't think that trough yet.. anyway thx a lot mate! & for the gpu swapping.. i'll take the risk

[EpIcPoNaGe]

okay, thank you so much for helping me out, and for the future the i3 would also be better since my i5 4670k is also lga 1150, didn't think that trough yet.. anyway thx a lot mate! & for the gpu swapping.. i'll take the risk

Yup. Np