Need Help With Upgrading Graphics Card

**MaxGG** · February 7th, 2011, 07:06 PM

I have a terrible graphics card. Its an Intel (R) g43/g45 Chipset.
It came with the desktop i bought, which is a dell inspiron 560 with a Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache) and 300 Watt supply.

Im looking for help with getting a new graphics card, nothing fancy, as long as it is better than a GeForce FX 5600. My friend recommends a GT240 which is cheap and works better, but it is @ 350 watts. will this mess up my computer?

**ShyguyXPC** · February 7th, 2011, 07:13 PM

Ugh...

Your current Graphics "Card" is onboard Intel Integrated Graphics.

As to the GT 240 IT IS NOT 350W...

Even some of the top end cards these days barely pull 300W.

GT 240 doesn't even pull 75W (Pulls about 70W total) which is the max the PCI Express x16 slot can feed to a card.

it may be recommended to have a 350W Power supply for the ENTIRE System with a GT 240, but the card itself does not need 350W.

Just about ANY graphics card these days, even the most lowest end for current generation cards will be more powerful than an Ancient GF FX 5600.

but a GT 240 should be a MASSIVE increase in performance compared to that or even the crap onboard intel graphics (which are not suited for most 3D gaming)

Your Current system, based on the CPU specs you listed, should be capable for Running GT 240 just fine.

Is your Current system a Regular Size Case, or a Slim Case (not sure if the Dell Inspiron 560 was available in Slim style or not)

Also open up your PC and look at the Power supply, find a Label on it and look for the Amp Rating for the +12V Power on the Power Supply, just to make sure it has enough to run a GT 240.

**MaxGG** · February 7th, 2011, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by ShyguyXPC

Ugh...

Your current Graphics "Card" is onboard Intel Integrated Graphics.

As to the GT 240 IT IS NOT 350W...

Even some of the top end cards these days barely pull 300W.

GT 240 doesn't even pull 75W (Pulls about 70W total) which is the max the PCI Express x16 slot can feed to a card.

it may be recommended to have a 350W Power supply for the ENTIRE System with a GT 240, but the card itself does not need 350W.

Just about ANY graphics card these days, even the most lowest end for current generation cards will be more powerful than an Ancient GF FX 5600.

but a GT 240 should be a MASSIVE increase in performance compared to that or even the crap onboard intel graphics (which are not suited for most 3D gaming)

Your Current system, based on the CPU specs you listed, should be capable for Running GT 240 just fine.

Is your Current system a Regular Size Case, or a Slim Case (not sure if the Dell Inspiron 560 was available in Slim style or not)

Also open up your PC and look at the Power supply, find a Label on it and look for the Amp Rating for the +12V Power on the Power Supply, just to make sure it has enough to run a GT 240.

Thanks very much for the information. Sorry Im such a noob at computers

I don't know how to open up a pc, but I think that it will work, hopefully.