180W video card

DELL!@#$ · February 17th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Got a Dell 4300S with 180W PSU and want to increase video capability to Geforce 3 series or better. Have a Pentium 4 1.7MHz processor, 40GB HD, CD writer, 768MB RAM, and a 3.5" floppy drive that I rarely use. Before getting all my facts straight I got a Evga 6200 card, but it is physically too big (need low profile for S series) and I was told that it might burn out my motherboard. Will the card be supported by the current PSU (I think I can make it fit with a little work) and if not what options are out there?

TimeDeatH · February 17th, 2009, 07:39 PM

The PSU you posted doesnt seem like it would be enough wattage for those parts, and do you mean 1.7 GHZ not 1.7 MHZ. Also upgrading your video card wouldn't do a whole lot, you'd need to upgrade almost all parts. I suggest buying a new computer, or building one.

Look here for low priced parts and computers.

Edit: Nevermind what I said about the PSU, it seems like thats an ancient computer. Which reminds me, I have an old pentium III lying around here somewhere from my old laptop.

**RicheemxX** · February 17th, 2009, 08:04 PM

I can't say I agree with suggesting buying/building a new PC without asking what the computer is used for. If you are just using it as an internet box then it should be fine, but if you are looking at doing any gaming you can't expect much. Unfortunately as TimeDeath suggested the power supply isn't really powerful enough to power that or any other decent video card. And given the form factor it's unlikely that you could find a better PSU that would fit without changing the case.

DELL!@#$ · February 17th, 2009, 08:11 PM

You're right about the processor speed. (1.7 GHz)
I've had the computer for awhile and the only thing I really use it for now is games, and I bought a game (on sale of course) that requires at least geforce 3 or radeon 8500. I'm really not looking for the best image quaility, just trying the meet the minimal requirements to play this game. I found a few site that indicated that the radeon 9600 XT could be supported by a 180X PSU (Radeon 9600 XT on 180W PSU) but it does not come in a low profile configuration. Any ideas?

JLK03F150 · February 17th, 2009, 08:51 PM

This FX5200 low profile would probably work OK with that system.
Newegg.com - CHAINTECH LA-FX20-H GeForce FX 5200 128MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Low Profile Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards