Best Graphics card for old PC (PCI-E 1.0 and 300W power)

Jason Blackwell · Apr 25, 2013

I've acquired an older Tower PC - Intel Core 2 Duo 3Mhz/Vista 32 4GB
And I wanted to fit a graphics card as an upgrade -i've currently got a 5450 a mate passed on slotted in there at the moment...
Obviously not looking to create a true gaming machine...just something I can run older non-graphics intensive titles on like Galactic Civilizations, Hearts of Iron and Crusader Kings etc....
Anyway I was looking at the 5750 - but have a couple of issues Its a PCI-E 1 interface I think...I had to update the Bios for it to recognise my current PCI-E 2.1 Card and the power supply is a pretty weedy 300W that comes with mass market towers...
So i guess power and the interface will be two problems...
Can anyone reccomend a suitable card on a reasonable budget?
Many thanks!

Someone Somewhere · Apr 25, 2013

PCIe is backwards compatible - any card will work, though there were issues with the 2.1 cards and 1.0 boards.

7750 is more power efficient than 5750, and a lot faster. It's about the most I'd go for right now on that PSU and CPU.

Outlander_04 · Apr 25, 2013

7750 , or if the psu is a good quality unit then a 7770 is possible

huilun02 · Apr 25, 2013

Get a HD 7750 it will work. You don't need anything better and it's not worth spending more on that old PC anyway.

jessterman21 · Apr 25, 2013

huilun02 :

+1 Make sure it's the GDDR5 version. And if you're feeling lucky, try an HD 7770.

ASHISH65 · Apr 25, 2013

which mobo you have? pci exp are backward compaitable.sometimes 2.1 and 3.0 doesnot work with 1.0 slot.

it depends on mobo's chipset it will work or not?

Chris Kauffman · Jul 20, 2013

Can somebody please explain why the recommended GPU's are all specified for a 400W power supply minimum?

jessterman21 · Jul 20, 2013

Chris Kauffman :

Hi Chris, I'm feeling really good right now because it's my birthday, RED 2 was Amazing, and I just ordered a new video card - SO.

Many power supplies are cheap pieces of junk made to run a low-power CPU, one hard drive, one optical drive, and whatever USB devices you may plug in. Most of these can be found in off-the-shelf PCs, and Nvidia/AMD don't want to be held liable by saying the recommended PSU for even an extremely low-power card is less than 400w. Because if they say the card runs on a maximum of 45w, which many OEM 220w PSUs can handle easily, someone somewhere will buy a $15 PSU rated at "300w" and try to run an overclocked FX-8350 and an HD 7750 on it and immediately smell smoke when they start it up - then raise hell with customer support or even worse, file a lawsuit.

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Best Graphics card for old PC (PCI-E 1.0 and 300W power)

Jason Blackwell

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Someone Somewhere

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Outlander_04

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huilun02

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jessterman21

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ASHISH65

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Chris Kauffman

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jessterman21

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