Help Needed Regarding The Upgrade of Graphic Card

[thedeadman]

I want to upgrade my video/graphic card. I need your help guys.

Here are my CPU's specifications.

Intel Pentium Dual CPU E2180 @ 200Ghz
Installed memory(RAM) : 2.00 GB
System type: 32-bit operating system.

My current video card information is as follows:

Intel 82945G Express Chipset family.
Approx total memory : 256 MB

My power supply information is as follows:

Infinity Power Supply
300W Switching Power

AC INPUT : 230VAC 3A 50-60Hz

DC OUTPUT:
+12V (10A)
+5V (12A)
+3.3V (13A)
+5VSB (2A)
-12V (0.5A)
-5V (0.5A)

MODEL : 300U

I want to change the power supply as well. Suggest which video cards and power supply should I use or buy and I think I read that I can't install more than 2GB RAM in this processor... Is it true?
I am a novice so please do help.

Thank you.

[stroyal]

Welcome to TechIMO!

We need the motherboard info, to make any recommendation.

Yes you power supply will have to be replaced, as it won't run any thing better than you present on-board video.

You need at least 1 PCI-e X16 slot.

I'll have to look up that CPU,BUT, It is probably so old, that any high performance video card, would be drastically held back, and a waste of money.

How old is this?
It will save me time, by Knowing the age alone.

[stroyal]

It is not that old, (2007)but old enough, and slow enough, so I have my doubts, on a high performance card, but I'm not a gamer.

I'm sure you can do better than the on-board though.

We need a budget.
And need to get an Idea of what you expect to play, or run for programs.

As for memory, you don't need more than 2gig with a 32 bit system.

If you get a video card with 1 gig memory, all you could use, regardless of the boards memory capacity, is less than 3 gig.

All 32bit operating systems, can only address 4 gig total.
That includes RAM, video RAM, BIOS, video BIOS, some cache, and any other kind of memory on the board.

[thedeadman]

I want to play some games. Like not the latest ones but I want a graphic card that can atleast run most games. I can spend 150 dollars or more on Power supply as well as video card but I want to know the best option for me like which card to buy (Qualitative and not problematic) and which power supply to buy like 500W or 460W?

I am a novice so I don't want to go and get robbed in the market. I want to have some idea and information about video cards and power supplies.

[thedeadman]

It is not that old, (2007)but old enough, and slow enough, so I have my doubts, on a high performance card, but I'm not a gamer.

I'm sure you can do better than the on-board though.

We need a budget.
And need to get an Idea of what you expect to play, or run for programs.

As for memory, you don't need more than 2gig with a 32 bit system.

If you get a video card with 1 gig memory, all you could use, regardless of the boards memory capacity, is less than 3 gig.

All 32bit operating systems, can only address 4 gig total.
That includes RAM, video RAM, BIOS, video BIOS, some cache, and any other kind of memory on the board.

Yes, 1GB video card is what I am looking forward to but don't know which one is going to work with my CPU.

Thank you so much for helping. Sorry forgot about it in the earlier post

[stroyal]

Motherboard model number and brand, is still needed.

Power supplies are easy, you ONLY buy brand names.
The specs on non brand names are completely unreliable, as well as the power supply itself.
After you choose your video card, you simply, look up the video card power supply requirements.

Power supplies are sized to the video card, unless you have, ie 6 hard drives running in a RAID, or some other kind of unusual power user.

I'm not trying to insult you, but picking a video card by RAM, is silly.
The only time you have to consider RAM, is when spanning 3 monitors, or running an enormous screen.

[stroyal]

for the $150 range, this is what I would get.
video card
Newegg.com - XFX HD-677X-ZNLC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Power supply
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Power supply requirements. 450w
AMD Radeonâ„¢ HD 6770 Graphics

The power supply requirements are based on crappy power supplies, so a brand name 400 will be fine.
Corsair is my first choice, but these others are very good also.

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER GX 450W RS450-ACAAD3-US 450W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply


These are good brands, but don't have the 80% efficiency rating.
Newegg.com - Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
Newegg.com - ENERMAX NAXN ENP450AST 450W ATX12V Power Supply

Enermax used to be my favorite, but they got too expensive, as they were the #1 brand.
They have recently come out with a cheaper line, but is not 80% compliant.

They work fine, they just use more power.



Sorry I can't judge if your CPU will be bottlenecked, but the gamers will know.
I don't think so though.
If Shyguy answers, listen closely.

[stroyal]

Still need to know about your motherboard, and if you have a PCI-e X16 slot.

[thedeadman]

Motherboard model number and brand, is still needed.

Power supplies are easy, you ONLY buy brand names.
The specs on non brand names are completely unreliable, as well as the power supply itself.
After you choose your video card, you simply, look up the video card power supply requirements.

Power supplies are sized to the video card, unless you have, ie 6 hard drives running in a RAID, or some other kind of unusual power user.

I'm not trying to insult you, but picking a video card by RAM, is silly.
The only time you have to consider RAM, is when spanning 3 monitors, or running an enormous screen.

Ok here is motherboard information

MANUFACTURER: Intel Corporation
Model: D945GCPE
Chipset: Intel i945G
Brand: Intel Corp.
Version: PE94510M.86A.0050.2007
Date: 07/10/2007

I don't know about how to check if I have a PCIx16 slot. There are 2 white empty slots which I have no idea about.

About RAM, I don't want to increase it but I want a good video card. Thank you for your suggestions. I really appreciate your help since it's my first day here on this website.

[stroyal]

Sorry i missed your post, earlier.
This should be it.
Intel® Desktop Board D945GCPE

You have 2 PCI-e 1X slots, the small ones, and 1 PCI-e 16x the big one.
The 16x is the one you need.
Is there a card in it already?

I'm still thinking ATI HD 6770, and a power supply.
Just going on your budget, but any more would probably be a waste anyway, as the CPU will probably start to fall behind, or bottleneck.

Your max RAM by the way is 2 gig, so you can't increase it.

I'm done for the nigh, so I'll, check, back in the morning.

[thedeadman]

Sorry i missed your post, earlier.
This should be it.
Intel® Desktop Board D945GCPE

You have 2 PCI-e 1X slots, the small ones, and 1 PCI-e 16x the big one.
The 16x is the one you need.
Is there a card in it already?

I'm still thinking ATI HD 6770, and a power supply.
Just going on your budget, but any more would probably be a waste anyway, as the CPU will probably start to fall behind, or bottleneck.

Your max RAM by the way is 2 gig, so you can't increase it.

I'm done for the nigh, so I'll, check, back in the morning.

I doubt it
I only see the two white empty slots and a black slot which is next to 2 RAM slots. I think there is no other slots that I can find. I think I am going to take some pics to show you. I am confused.

[thedeadman]

This is the motherboard pic. See the two black slots are used by 1 Gb RAM each and there are two white slots and there is only one black slot (Small one) next to RAM which is empty. Which one is x16 slot?
Does it mean that there is no such slot in this motherboard
Can I install a PCI x16 slot?

[thedeadman]

Ok I read on internet (Intel D945GCPE (Intel 945GC)) that there is no PCI Express x16 slot onboard, which prevents it from installing a modern video card. (Disheartening)

So what should I do now... What about these small white slots? It means I can't install a modern video card and can I install a x16 slot manually or any way?

[thedeadman]

Again!!!!!
I went on Intel website and see they say there is a x16 slot in the 'Expansion options'.
Can you please check this Intel page. I don't know if there is one there or not.

Intel® Desktop Board D945GCPE

[stroyal]

Well, that sucks.
There must be revisions of the same board.

The 2 white slots are plane old PCI, and haven't been used for video cards in over 10 years.
The cards, are still available, but are all low performance.
There is not much you can do besides replace the whole board.

I can't say I remember, if the best PCI available, is any better than on-board.

I'll see if I can find something, but it is nothing I would waste money on.

[thedeadman]

Well, that sucks.
There must be revisions of the same board.

The 2 white slots are plane old PCI, and haven't been used for video cards in over 10 years.
The cards, are still available, but are all low performance.
There is not much you can do besides replace the whole board.

I can't say I remember, if the best PCI available, is any better than on-board.

I'll see if I can find something, but it is nothing I would waste money on.

Ok I've decided to replace this CPU with another one and have selected following motherboard and processor...

Intel Core i3-2120 Processor (3MB Cache, 3.30Ghz)
Intel Desktop Board DH67BL
Seagate 500 GB (16MB Cache)
Corsair DDR3 4GB-1333 BUS
Nvidia GT 430 video card

Have I selected the right CPU? And will that motherboard come with a PCI x16 slot? I am going on Saturday to get all these. Spending alot and expecting a lot.
Your suggestion is needed brother.

[stroyal]

That is a waste, as far as the video card goes.

Of all the cards you could have picked the GT430 is one of the few cards, that still come in PCI.
It is the best card available on New Egg, in PCI.
Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-40605-10L GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 512MB 64-bit DDR3 PCI HDCP Ready Video Card

If that's all you want, just get the PCI version.

If you want to upgrade, start a new post, with your budget, and a list of the programs/games you want to run.

We can put a system together for you, we do it all the time.

While Intel Boards, are Rock solid, they are overprices, and generally lack BIOS setting.
There is no real advantage

The 6770 we were talking about has recent to newest DirectX, and scores 1749, on Passmark.

The 430, only scores 595 on passmark, and has older DX.

[stroyal]

It only calls for a 300watt PS, so it might work, on yours, if the quality isn't crap.

[thedeadman]

That is a waste, as far as the video card goes.

Of all the cards you could have picked the GT430 is one of the few cards, that still come in PCI.
It is the best card available on New Egg, in PCI.
Newegg.com - ZOTAC ZT-40605-10L GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 512MB 64-bit DDR3 PCI HDCP Ready Video Card

If that's all you want, just get the PCI version.

If you want to upgrade, start a new post, with your budget, and a list of the programs/games you want to run.

We can put a system together for you, we do it all the time.

While Intel Boards, are Rock solid, they are overprices, and generally lack BIOS setting.
There is no real advantage

The 6770 we were talking about has recent to newest DirectX, and scores 1749, on Passmark.

The 430, only scores 595 on passmark, and has older DX.

But I can't spend more on video card. Tell me a video card that I can buy in 120 dollars.

[thedeadman]

It only calls for a 300watt PS, so it might work, on yours, if the quality isn't crap.

I have started the new post as per your suggestion friend

Need suggestions for buying New CPU