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Updating my graphics card

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:53 pm
by matt1314
Hi there.

I wanted to know, if a HD4850 or a HD4870 would work with my system and my system would support the new card and if I even can build in the new one. My system specs:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2,33 GHz (HP Pavilion a6749de)
6144 MB RAM
1 TB HDD
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 (1 GB VRAM)

Is it possible? If yes, I'm gonna buy the new card as soon as I can to play finally with the highest settings on my games.

Thanks.

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:57 pm
by HummersRock
Yes, it will work.

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:03 pm
by Franch88
Your actual system is a recent one, so it must have the PCI Express connection for the graphic card, where's now placed the Nvidia GeForce GT 120 that you already have.
Obviously recent graphic cards can be used. Good choice for one of them, they're cheap too, because now there's the last HD 5000 series. :wink:

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:11 pm
by Zac4084
Yes, it will. The graphics card wont really make it faster, it will make it look better in a way.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:02 pm
by matt1314
Yes, I looked into a booklet and there it says: 1 PCI-Express 16x,
1 PCI (1 free) and 2 PCI-Express 1x (2 free). So I can buy HD4850 or HD4870? Because I also asked at TDU Central and there somebody told me, that my CPU is quite slow for the new graphic card. :wink:
Hmm, the CPU is kinda slow, not sure if the CPU would be a bottleneck. Get a 650W PSU and a E8400 aswell as your 4870. Then you are good to go!

CPU: https://www.norskit.de/shop/product_i...p1918&refID=ff
GPU: https://www.norskit.de/shop/product_i...96941&refID=ff
PSU: https://www.norskit.de/shop/product_i...20008&refID=ff

If not, get a 550W PSU and the card. See how it goes.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:08 pm
by reckless201
I have an HD4870 with a Pentium 4 Dual Core and I have to say it runs really well. Since you have a QUAD CORE don't worry about slow performance at all mate you're good to go :)

Get an HD4870. It has better performance and is newer. Though it may cost a bit more.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:05 pm
by Franch88
Yours is a quad core CPU, and at least this is ok to have a more powerful graphic card. Its working frequency isn't so much, though. Get the ATI Radeon HD 4870, it's still a very good graphic card and now you can get it spending less money, since now is available the newer HD 5000 series.
If you haven't a PSU of at least 550 W, better get one as suggested, this graphic card required more power to work.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:46 pm
by matt1314
And how can I check, how many W my PSU has?

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:50 pm
by Franch88
And how can I check, how many W my PSU has?
Open your PC case left panel, find where the PSU is placed (usually it's placed in the top-rear part of the case, but in other case it's in the bottom-rear part) and read the label on it, sure it's written there.
I think that your system shouldn't have a so powerful one because it's a brand made PC.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:10 pm
by Zac4084
The easiest way is to open up your computer case and check the sticker of the power supply. Somewhere should be a code of , for example, XXDX400. That 400 means, in most cases, that's a 400 W supply. Otherwise there is going to be another sticker with more detail specifications of the power supply. Check there. I think there was another at by telling how many wires there were.. Actually go look at more cards, find the correct one. You can keep the old one and use it on another old pc if you want.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:47 pm
by matt1314
Thanks, guys, I will check. :)

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:50 pm
by matt1314
Sorry for bringing up old topic, but while searching on the internet I found this information: "HP Pavilion a6749de NQ857AAR". Is that 857 the PSU power supply?

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:55 pm
by Franch88
I don't think so, sure that's a code that identifies that HP PC model. You're thinking that that 857 number should be the PSU power? The power is measured in Watts, and most of the times are used rounded numbers.
I already told you what's the best thing, open the case and read the label attached on the PSU, you'll find its power written.

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:56 pm
by Zac4084
I don't think so. Most are under 500 for the Pavilion line.

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:42 am
by matt1314
Okay, found a label on the PSU.

Image

I guess my power supply is accordingly to that 300W? :( No chance getting the HD 5870? If not, maybe another graphics card could suit, which I could use to test the new games, like Shift or Crash Time III (Highway Nights) with a nice FPS rate (e.g. 40-60 FPS, possibly with the max. graphics settings and eventually AA) and also can play Microsoft Flight Simulator X with a good frame rate...