Upgrading Graphics for First Time

[Russell450]

Well, I am new to the graphics card thing since I am not really considered a gamer, but for a friend, I am helping him choose a new GPU. He uses Intel integrated graphics, but he needs to upgrade so he is upgrading to a card. He just needs 1GB of RAM and for it to be Directx 11 compatible. I found a PNY Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB card and I am just wondering if I can just put it the computer.

 

The PC is a Dell Inspiron 530 with the following specs:

 

PSU: Stock PSU with part number XW597 (300W)

 

RAM: 4GB

 

CPU: Intel Pentium E5400 2.7 GHz

 

Motherboard: Dell 0K83V0

 

By that information, please tell me if I can just simply put the card in the computer with no problem. The card does not require an extra power cord from the PSU, if that helps. 

 

I would seriously appreciate some help with this because I can just simply not find anything. Thank you.

[XCruzzerX89]

Well, I am new to the graphics card thing since I am not really considered a gamer, but for a friend, I am helping him choose a new GPU. He uses Intel integrated graphics, but he needs to upgrade so he is upgrading to a card. He just needs 1GB of RAM and for it to be Directx 11 compatible. I found a PNY Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB card and I am just wondering if I can just put it the computer.

 

The PC is a Dell Inspiron 530 with the following specs:

 

PSU: Stock PSU with part number XW597 (300W)

 

RAM: 4GB

 

CPU: Intel Pentium E5400 2.7 GHz

 

Motherboard: Dell 0K83V0

 

By that information, please tell me if I can just simply put the card in the computer with no problem. The card does not require an extra power cord from the PSU, if that helps. 

 

I would seriously appreciate some help with this because I can just simply not find anything. Thank you.

budget?

[Frosty]

That card will work in that computer. Though letting us know what your budget is might let us recommend better options for your friend.

[Fredrikmikael]

No budget?..

 

Consider a Titan!  :lol:  :lol:

[Russell450]

budget?

That card will work in that computer. Though letting us know what your budget is might let us recommend better options for your friend.

Sure. The budget is $60-$85. More than one option would be best, just to be sure it will be available at my local Best Buy.

[Russell450]

No budget?..

 

Consider a Titan!  :lol:  :lol:

Haha!! Very funny! No, seriously, I'm not rich! lol

[Matt420740]

You'll find that 730 isn't good for much aside from HTPC use. You'd be better off to find a used HD 7770 if he's doing any gaming.

The 7770 fits your budget, and you really don't need anything more powerful than that with the current CPU.

[Russell450]

You'll find that 730 isn't good for much aside from HTPC use. You'd be better off to find a used HD 7770 if he's doing any gaming.The 7770 fits your budget, and you really don't need anything more powerful than that with the current CPU.

Yeah, but he won't be doing anything too demanding. The one game he will be playing is ARK on steam, and that is it.

[XCruzzerX89]

Haha!! Very funny! No, seriously, I'm not rich! lol

How about this? http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKIHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434169355&sr=8-1&keywords=r7+250

[Russell450]

How about this? http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKIHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434169355&sr=8-1&keywords=r7+250

Sorry, I would but it isn't at my local Best Buy or on the site.

[Matt420740]

Sorry, I would but it isn't at my local Best Buy or on the site.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?id=pcat17071&nrp=15&cp=1&sp=-bestsellingsort%20skuidsaas&seeAll=&_dyncharset=UTF-8&ks=960&sc=Global&list=y&usc=All%20Categories&type=page&iht=n&browsedCategory=pcmcat182300050008&st=categoryid%24pcmcat182300050008&qp=gpusv_facet%3DGraphics%20Processing%20Unit%20%28GPU%29~AMD%20Radeon%20R7%20250

[Goldensapling]

Why Best Buy? It's a horrendous store.

[Russell450]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?id=pcat17071&nrp=15&cp=1&sp=-bestsellingsort%20skuidsaas&seeAll=&_dyncharset=UTF-8&ks=960&sc=Global&list=y&usc=All%20Categories&type=page&iht=n&browsedCategory=pcmcat182300050008&st=categoryid%24pcmcat182300050008&qp=gpusv_facet%3DGraphics%20Processing%20Unit%20(GPU)~AMD%20Radeon%20R7%20250

I will be using the MSI Radeon R7 250. Will that be a good enough card? And, how much better will the card be compared to the Nvidia GeForce GT 730?

Why Best Buy? It's a horrendous store.

I am using Best Buy because they are local and my friend is going there today. It is the most convenient for him and it is probably one of the only places around us that carry graphics cards.

[Nexxus]

Yeah, but he won't be doing anything too demanding. The one game he will be playing is ARK on steam, and that is it.

its still a modern game and going to need a "gaming grade" gpu to get reasonable framerate/visuals Dont look at anything without the suffex "GTX" (if you are looking at nvidias side of things at least) AMD the min you want I think is an R7 but im not familiar with AMDs line up currently.

[Russell450]

its still a modern game and going to need a "gaming grade" gpu to get reasonable framerate/visuals Dont look at anything without the suffex "GTX" (if you are looking at nvidias side of things at least) AMD the min you want I think is an R7 but im not familiar with AMDs line up currently.

Okay, I'll look at the Radeon R7 250. Now, how do I install the GPU? Will there be anything special to do? And does it matter which PCI Express slot I use? Finally, will the R7 250 work with a 300 Watt PSU?

[Nexxus]

I would be amazed if there is more then one PCI E slot...but assuming there is and you dont wanna read a manual/look it up start with the one closest to the cpu, id say the top one but for all I know its mounted upside down like my 1st case demanded, 

300w ...knowing how much power higher end cards need you should be ok,,,that being said if I was building this comp...400..preferably 450 is as low as im really comfortable going.

edit - I also might be wrong on the r7 prefex..im looking at the r7s benchmarks and im not liking what im seeing at all.

[Nexxus]

these are the lowest end cards id personally say you should look at 

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024&cm_re=gtx750-_-14-487-024-_-Product(im confident on this cards gaming capability, its absolutly a budget card but should be fine)

On amd side id say this is as low as you would want to look at. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202081but please take what I say about amd with a grain of salt, I havent used an AMD card since 2009 and since then they have changes their naming system a fair bit

Also a general rule of thumb...if the video card you are looking at isnt dual slot (see how on the amd link and nvidia there is a slot for the rear IO and slot for the exhaust, compaired to both cards you mentioned there is no exhaust slot) its not suitable for gaming purposes.

[Russell450]

these are the lowest end cards id personally say you should look at http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024&cm_re=gtx750-_-14-487-024-_-Product(im confident on this cards gaming capability, its absolutly a budget card but should be fine)

On amd side id say this is as low as you would want to look at. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202081but please take what I say about amd with a grain of salt, I havent used an AMD card since 2009 and since then they have changes their naming system a fair bit

Also a general rule of thumb...if the video card you are looking at isnt dual slot (see how on the amd link and nvidia there is a slot for the rear IO and slot for the exhaust, compaired to both cards you mentioned there is no exhaust slot) its not suitable for gaming purposes.

Okay , I told him to get the GTX 750 TI. How about installing the cards? Do you just put it in?

[Nexxus]

I did some VERY loose power calculations

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/JQ783C

you can see in the topish right. the nvidia card uses about 30/40(ish) less watts so its going to be safer, and as for installation there is a billion and one guides online/youtube. but its a case of taking the rear IO "guards" (dunno the technical name) out of the back of the case to make room for the rear IO/exhaust and push the card firmly into the slot and using the appropriate power connectors..thats basicly it.
 

[Russell450]

I did some VERY loose power calculationshttp://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/JQ783C

you can see in the topish right. the nvidia card uses about 30/40(ish) less watts so its going to be safer, and as for installation there is a billion and one guides online/youtube. but its a case of taking the rear IO "guards" (dunno the technical name) out of the back of the case to make room for the rear IO/exhaust and push the card firmly into the slot and using the appropriate power connectors..thats basicly it.

Okay, that's what I thought. Do I need to worry about drivers?

[Russell450]

And is there anything to worry about? Is there a possibility that this could ruin my system?