Need help with a graphics card update for my PC

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510
I got an Acer Aspire X3995 which I bought almost half a year ago. I'm currently inquiring into purchasing a new graphics card for it but from what research I've spent on this so far, I've gathered that my two major problems are that the case is too small to hold any high-end graphics card and that the PSU wouldn't be sufficient. Specs for the computer off the top of my head are as follows(and in addition, I have not made any sort of changes at all on the computer ever since I got it):
Intel i7-3770 3.4 GHz Quad-Core
4*2 GB of RAM in 2 DDR3 sticks
2 HDD's on 500 GB each
NVidia Geforce GT 620(or 630)
Current power supply is on 220 W
My monitor's a Philips with a res of 1920 x 1080 with full HD capacity, if the info is useful

acer_aspire_x3995_dtsjleh001.jpg


I can't give much more information than that for now because of the fact that I'm presently on my vacation with no access to the computer in question. The picture above isn't directly from me but that's exactly how the inside looks anyway.

What I need help with pretty much is what graphics cards and power supplies I should be looking for. Seeing as the original case for the computer is very small, I might need a new one to hold the stuff I'm looking for but I got no clue as how to find a suitable case so I might need some help with that as well. Thing is though, if what I currently have could hold a high-end graphics card albeit obviously with a new power supply, I wouldn't mind having the power supply outside of the case so that I wouldn't have to get a new case and spend time and money on that as long as the cables provided to me would hold up in terms of length. Thanks in advance for any help that I may hopefully receive!
 
Solution
ko888
If you're planning on moving the Flex ATX motherboard from the Acer Aspire X3995 to the Corsair Carbide Series 200R it may not mount properly. The Corsair Carbide Series 200R doesn't officially support Flex ATX form factor motherboards only ATX and Micro ATX motherboards. Flex ATX is suppose to be a sub-set of Micro ATX. You'll also need to remove the rear motherboard I/O panel shield from the Acer Aspire X3995's case and use it on the new case.

An XFX 550W power supply is sufficient to power a system with a single GeForce GTX 680. Get a 650W model if you want a little more spare capacity to handle upgrades.
Sort by date Sort by votes
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510


Purely for gaming purposes, really.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510
An update on the situation: Since I managed to track down a good price on a GTX 680, I've been looking around to find a power supply + a case to fit with my computer so here's a crucial question: Would a GTX 680, along with a XFX 850 W 80+ Bronze XXX power supply and the rest of my existing components, fit in a Corsair Carbide Series 200R case?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990
If you're planning on moving the Flex ATX motherboard from the Acer Aspire X3995 to the Corsair Carbide Series 200R it may not mount properly. The Corsair Carbide Series 200R doesn't officially support Flex ATX form factor motherboards only ATX and Micro ATX motherboards. Flex ATX is suppose to be a sub-set of Micro ATX. You'll also need to remove the rear motherboard I/O panel shield from the Acer Aspire X3995's case and use it on the new case.

An XFX 550W power supply is sufficient to power a system with a single GeForce GTX 680. Get a 650W model if you want a little more spare capacity to handle upgrades.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510


So, how do I look for cases that would support a Flex ATX motherboard then?



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990


If the six mounting holes on the Acer DIB75L Flex ATX motherboard line up with the six motherboard standoffs on the Corsair Carbide Series 200R's motherboard tray then you should be fine. That is something you need to determine. I figure at least four of the mounting holes will line up with a good chance that all six will line up.

A standard Micro-ATX motherboard will usually have 8 mounting holes.

Acer_DIB75_L_Flex_ATX_Motherboard_mounting_holes.jpg
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510


This is what I found:
200R-04b.jpg


But even if the motherboard would fit(which I admit I really can't deduce myself from looking at those two pictures :/ but I'll try to check measurements between the two and see), could I be sure in that the case could hold all of my other stuff, including the GTX 680? Also, I should point out that I'm pitching for this case in particular because it's in a package deal along with a Corsair 750W CX Modular 80+ power supply, which would save me a bundle of cash if I bought the deal.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990


From the pictures it looks like it will fit. The PCI-E x16 slot on the Acer DIB75L Flex ATX motherboard is located relative to where there is a gap where the front intake fan is located on the case.

Corsair says that the Carbide Series 200R has room for cards up to 430mm long (300mm with drive cage).

An NVIDIA reference design GeForce GTX 680 is 254mm long. Some of the GeForce GTX 680 cards that use non-reference design coolers can be up to 303mm in length. There should be no problem fitting that graphics card into that case.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990
Since Flex ATX is a subset of the ATX standard it should fit since the rear I/O panel has a defined size in the specifications that motherboard manufacturers are not suppose to deviate from if they want their motherboards to properly fit into the majority of ATX standardized computer cases.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510


In that case, I've gathered the information I've needed so far. Thanks a lot for the help and suggestions!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TTT152

Honorable
Jul 10, 2013
8
0
10,510
I'm back and require some help regarding two graphics cards to choose from. I've managed to track down two varying cards and I'm wondering which of these two alternatives would be the best for me:

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX-680-Super-OverClock/

http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/1000476/Gigabyte-GTX-770-WindForce-OC-2GB-Video-Card-Review/1#axzz2aeVUpG3n

The 770 would cost me about 40 euros more than the 680 here on the site I'm shopping at, so I have two main concerns here. Is it worth putting up the 40 € extra to get the 770 here instead of the 680, and would the 770 fit the previously mentioned case, the Corsair Carbide Series 200R? I'm worrying a bit on the size considering that the WindForce is quite different from the 680 in that perspective, from what I've heard.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990


If the Gigabyte GTX 770 WindForce OC 2 GB [GV-N770OC-2GD] cost is over 10% more than the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 680 SOC [GV-N680SO-2GD] then it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to pay a higher performance per Euro for that extra ~10% increase in graphics card performance.

The problem with the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 680 SOC [GV-N680SO-2GD] is fan noise if you're sensitive to that. It's one of the noisest graphics cards probably only surpassed by the Radeon HD 6870. Some have described it as a high-pitched whine when the card is under load.

The GV-N770OC-2GD is 292mm in length and will have no problem fitting in the Corsair Carbide Series 200R.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom