Need upgrade advice for FX540

astor

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Jun 5, 2009
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My wife's computer is showing its age and I'd like to get her a new vid card. Alas, I'm not sure how new I can go. She has a 9500 GT in there right now, and it needs to be replaced.

With a 700w psu, i'm more concerned about it being a PCI x 16. I don't see a 2.0 anywhere, just PCI x16, so that seems to have severely limited my options, unless a 2.0 card would still work in there.

This is her computer:

http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/FX540_Series/2906020R/2906020Rsp3.shtml
 
Solution
You can use any PCIe X16 card in that slot, no matter the version. The PCI Express protocol is backwards compatible. The new card will simply run at whatever bandwidth the slot has. In your case, version 1 no doubt. But any modern card no matter the version will be a nice upgrade.
Does anyone do any gaming on this PC? (Modern retail games, not online games.)
What resolution is the monitor?
How many PCIe 6/8 pin power connectors does the PSU have available? (They are probably bundled up and shoved back in some cubby hole)

clutchc

Titan
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You can use any PCIe X16 card in that slot, no matter the version. The PCI Express protocol is backwards compatible. The new card will simply run at whatever bandwidth the slot has. In your case, version 1 no doubt. But any modern card no matter the version will be a nice upgrade.
Does anyone do any gaming on this PC? (Modern retail games, not online games.)
What resolution is the monitor?
How many PCIe 6/8 pin power connectors does the PSU have available? (They are probably bundled up and shoved back in some cubby hole)
 
Solution

astor

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Jun 5, 2009
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She does light mmo gaming, RIFT, Plants vs Zombies, WoW; things like that. Monitor is 1650 x 1080. I'd prefer to get a card that does not need an extra power plug. She's using the computer atm, so I cannot check the connections inside.