Help with new video card

[AestheticDeath]

OK, so I have this Dell optiplex GX270 small desktop

Its fairly small, kinda folds in half.

It has an AGP slot, which fits a 2.5"x6.6" video card, which based on the room in the comp, I am assuming is a smaller than normal card?

How come none of the video cards say the dimensions?

Also from the dell site (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx270/en/ug/specs.htm) it looks like the slot in my computer handles a 172 pin, 32 bit card? None of the cards Im seeing are 32 bit. 64/128/256 are about all I see.

So I obviously don't know what I am doing. Someone help?

Also, this comp supposedly has a 210W power supply, but some of these cards are saying you need like 350W.. How hard would it be to replace the power supply?

[Tsa`ah]

You'll want to look for cards that are described as low profile.

Almost every on-line store displays images of the cards. If the card is wider than the interface plate ... keep looking.

[AestheticDeath]

The whole point is to not have to buy a new computer. The ones I have are fine. They just don't have a graphics card thats able to play the game I want to play.

And I think I realized it doesn't matter what #bit the card has.. it can be higher than the bit the computer has. Right? Cause its just saying it handles up to that much.

[Sean of the Thread]

well a decent graphic card is going to account for half of a low end crappy computer that's better what you're currently using.

[AestheticDeath]

I paid $120 for this computer. I expect to pay that much or less for a decent card that can support NWN2. I just need help making sure the card fits the comp, and it can run the game.

[Tsa`ah]

An AGP slot is an AGP slot. Video cards don't extend very far past the interface teeth at the rear of the card.

Going from the teeth up, some cards extend past the interface plate, some don't. If your case is slim, well then chances are any card you put in can't have dimensions larger than the interface plate/connection plate.

So just look at the descriptions and the images for any card you're interested in. If it's a "fat" card, don't get it. If it's a "long" card, don't get it. If it's a "tall" card, don't get it. If it's any combination of the three ... don't get it.

There's no need to replace the tower or case, that's not what I was suggesting. AGP cards don't deviate in measurements much outside of width.

[Sean of the Thread]

I paid $120 for this computer. I expect to pay that much or less for a decent card that can support NWN2. I just need help making sure the card fits the comp, and it can run the game.

Oh I'm familiar with that dell just fine. They're modular workstations and have about ZERO space inside. I don't have time but I could find a recommendation later for you.

Not only are you looking at space problems on the vid card but power supply as well. There is literally NO space in those fuckers. You could mod it out and make the PS external if you want to redneck it up.

Without looking further into it (I will later today when I get time for you) it's my opinion you're really wasting time/money and effort when you can get exactly what you need and more for less than $350 total.

Give that workstation to your kids to play blue's clues.

[Sean of the Thread]

An AGP slot is an AGP slot. Video cards don't extend very far past the interface teeth at the rear of the card.

Going from the teeth up, some cards extend past the interface plate, some don't. If your case is slim, well then chances are any card you put in can't have dimensions larger than the interface plate/connection plate.

So just look at the descriptions and the images for any card you're interested in. If it's a "fat" card, don't get it. If it's a "long" card, don't get it. If it's a "tall" card, don't get it. If it's any combination of the three ... don't get it.

There's no need to replace the tower or case, that's not what I was suggesting. AGP cards don't deviate in measurements much outside of width.

Tsa'ah no offense but you really don't know what the fuck you're talking about in this case.

[Celephais]

And I think I realized it doesn't matter what #bit the card has.. it can be higher than the bit the computer has. Right? Cause its just saying it handles up to that much.
Generally the "Bitrate" of a card refers to the memory on the card, not the interface between the card and the MB. Now you have to be sure this is an AGP slot, I'm pretty sure your "172" number is for something else, not your graphics card; and not a 32bit-PCI interface.


I paid $120 for this computer. I expect to pay that much or less for a decent card that can support NWN2. I just need help making sure the card fits the comp, and it can run the game.
Get a dremel, they're awesome anyway, and cut a hole for it if there is nothing in the way... Otherwise you're stuck with Low Profile cards, which are 6.5" long; and you won't be getting a high end card, but NWN2 isn't demanding if I recall so... you'll probably be spending no more than $50.

[Tsa`ah]

Probably won't fit ... too long and with the cooling ... too wide (also with the cooling).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161207

May work providing the side of your case doesn't indent or if the panel ribbing doesn't protrude too far inward.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069609639&bop=And&Order=PRICED

[Clove]

That model shipped with 512MB of RAM. Might want to consider upgrading to at least 1GB. Your model can accept up to 2GB.

Your model has integrated graphics. 2 PCI ports and no AGP port.

A PSU isn't difficult to replace, but in low-profile cases they can be difficult/expensive to find one that fits. Just about any card you're gonna find now will need 350W or more. Personally I never put less than 400W in a computer today.

[Sean of the Thread]

There should be a Dremel in every fucking home. They fucking rock.

[Sean of the Thread]

That model shipped with 512MB of RAM. Might want to consider upgrading to at least 1GB. Your model can accept up to 2GB. A PSU isn't difficult to replace, but in low-profile cases they can be difficult/expensive to find one that fits. Just about any card you're gonna find now will need 350W or more. Personally I never put less than 400W in a computer today.

Agreed. 400w is the bare minimum I'll put into any box I put out.

Like I said on that OP he's going to have to mod to fit a decent PS. They're seriously almost the size of a phone book.

[Celephais]

Probably won't fit ... too long and with the cooling ... too wide (also with the cooling).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161207

May work providing the side of your case doesn't indent or if the panel ribbing doesn't protrude too far inward.
Yeesh, I'm surprised they bother making cards like that... that's a lot of money, but I guess if you're desperate to shove them into such a small case (with an old MB).

[Tsa`ah]

Tsa'ah no offense but you really don't know what the fuck you're talking about in this case.

I was actually responding to his space problem.

Cards extending well past the interface won't fit. Cards that have a wide profile due to cooling fans or blocks probably won't fit either. If the side panel is indented, or with reinforcement panels ... the card height will be an issue as well. This is a no brainer ... thus two two links posted as examples. If hight is in issue as well ... then he's looking for something like this ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139165

or this ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121542

[AestheticDeath]

Right, yeah I found a $50 video card that should work. But my power supply is 210 vs the 350 they say it needs. And it doesn't look like I can find a power supply that will fit in this damned thing.

New comp I guess is easiest. Just hate to spend more money on a whole comp to play one stupid game.

[Sean of the Thread]

Yeesh, I'm surprised they bother making cards like that... that's a lot of money, but I guess if you're desperate to shove them into such a small case (with an old MB).

that card is almost the size of the workstation.

[Sean of the Thread]

Right, yeah I found a $50 video card that should work. But my power supply is 210 vs the 350 they say it needs. And it doesn't look like I can find a power supply that will fit in this damned thing.

New comp I guess is easiest. Just hate to spend more money on a whole comp to play one stupid game.

It's not a waste of money if you can find another use for the old computer.

And I wasn't kidding about modding the larger powersupply outside of the box.. that's always an option and fairly easy.

[Celephais]

that card is almost the size of the workstation.
Woops, yeah... low profile refers to the height of the cards... standard agps are 6.5" long (as are low profile).

[Tsa`ah]

Just looking at the pictures I'd assume a microatx. About the only thing I could find was a 200w PSU.

[AestheticDeath]

I couldn't find anything on NewEgg that was low profile and 256MB

I found this on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200196243603&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010)

And the Dell site itself says its an AGP slot. It describes that slot as 172 pin/32bit. (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx270/en/ug/specs.htm)


That model shipped with 512MB of RAM. Might want to consider upgrading to at least 1GB. Your model can accept up to 2GB.

Your model has integrated graphics. 2 PCI ports and no AGP port.

Your looking at the wrong thing or something. This has 4 slots, up to 4GB of ram. It has 1GB atm. 4 slots with 256MB a piece.

It has an AGP port, and something right now thats plugged into it that has two ports, assumably the half-length PCI slots.

[Clove]

He's gonna need an AGP port too, which he doesn't have and PCI cards suck anyway. I'd just max out the RAM in it. Or he could do this...

http://www.pugetsystems.com/gfx/submersion/gallery/Submerged019.jpg

[AestheticDeath]

And since I would basically have to buy a power supply to be able to run a new card, it really isn't worth the effort I don't think.

Only thing is I can't seem to find cheap comps that come with a good graphics card.

So who wants to swap over to helping me find a new comp w/ a good video card rather than just a small card?

Looking at 3.0 MHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP, and a 256MB video card that can support NWN2.

I really hate computers...

[Tsa`ah]

Do you have your own copy of XP or Vista?

[Clove]

My mistake, Cnet had different specs listed than Dell and interestingly enough the first Dell PDF that I x-referenced it with corroborated the the Cnet specs so I didn't look further. It does have a 4x/8x AGP slot. But it's still a piece of crap and you're never cramming a decent PSU into it.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<Only thing is I can't seem to find cheap comps that come with a good graphics card.>>

That's a good thing; manufacturers that include decent addons charge retarded premiums on them. Get and install your own video card.

<<Looking at 3.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, Windows XP, and a 256MB video card that can support NWN2.>>

Processor speed and RAM amount aren't entirely relevant; 3.0 GHz Celeron is nothing like a 2.0 GHz Athlon. Same with RAM.. you need a good RAM speed more than you need to worry about quantity.

[Sean of the Thread]

well a decent graphic card is going to account for half of a low end crappy computer that's better what you're currently using.


And since I would basically have to buy a power supply to be able to run a new card, it really isn't worth the effort I don't think.
So who wants to swap over to helping me find a new comp w/ a good video card rather than just a small card?



I'll take apologies via aim or u2u.

[Bobmuhthol]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103099

Throw in a PCI-Ex16 video card.

[AestheticDeath]

Do you have your own copy of XP or Vista?

I think? I have the re-installation CD for Windows XP, w/ service pack 2 from 2007 that came with this GX270. I assume the re-install CD is as good as a normal install CD.

[Bobmuhthol]

It depends. I don't remember how Dell does it, but most OEM distributors give you a restore disk for your machine, and most custom distributors give you a personal, transferable license.

[Celephais]

Processor speed and RAM amount are entirely relevant; 3.0 GHz Celeron is nothing like a 2.0 GHz Athlon. Same with RAM.. you need a good RAM speed more than you need to worry about quantity.
Way oversimplified but...
"Celeron" and "Athlon" are pretty broad product lines... but yes, it's relative; but he's obviously just reading specs off the box... that should give a pretty good idea of the type of CPU he needs.

RAM speed will usually make little difference, and especially if you run out of RAM, any modern game will see very little gain from something like 800mhz ram to 1033mhz ram; but the second you start paging to disk, you're boned. I'd go with quantity (to at least 2 gb) before worrying about speed (and fast ram won't do you any good if the MB won't run it at that speed).

[Bobmuhthol]

I have 2GB of DDR400 RAM.. I don't need at least 512 MB of it and I turned my page file off completely. I'd rather have 1GB of DDR2.

[Celephais]

I have 2GB of DDR400 RAM.. I don't need at least 512 MB of it and I turned my page file off completely. I'd rather have 1GB of DDR2.
Along the lines of your "a 3ghz celeron is different than a 2ghz athlon"; the speed of that DDR2 is important.

Turning your page file off is stupid, regardless of if you're never using more than 2gb of ram you're hurting performance, Windows is tuned to expect a page file to exist, and it won't just idley use it; you'll get better performance with it existing.

If you've got your machine running real lean I'd agree with you about 1gb of DDR2-800 over 2gb DDR-400, but the typical user will see better performance w/ the 2gb... and I think I remember NWN2 as being memory hungry (well, at least if you do any map making)

Another concern would be if you have it in dual channel mode, cutting your speed in half would hurt you, memory timings too but those aren't going to concern typical end-users (I especially like when people say they keep DDR1 because they get better timings, not realizing the timings are relative to clock cycles).

[Tsa`ah]

I think? I have the re-installation CD for Windows XP, w/ service pack 2 from 2007 that came with this GX270. I assume the re-install CD is as good as a normal install CD.

Ascendtech.us has some decent prices on machines without an OS.

A machine with an Intel Dual Core E2160, 40g SATA, 51k of pc2 5300@667mhz and onboard vid ... no monitor is going to run 189 before shipping.

You can start with a base and upgrade just like Dell.

While you won't be able to swap memory ... you can upgrade your PSU and snag a decently priced pci-e card pretty cheap.

[AestheticDeath]

I'll take apologies via aim or u2u.

Hah. Sorry.

I didn't realize this thing would be such a pain to upgrade.