I need help updating my graphics card.

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

Hello, I'm looking to update my graphics card but I am confused on which graphics card to purchase that will be able to run on my computer. Currently confused on specifications such as wattage, motherboard slots, etc.

Windows 7 Home Premium-64 bit

Computer: HP p7-1247c

Processor:
AMD A8-3820 APU with Radeon HD Graphics (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz

8.192 GB of RAM

Motherboard:
AAHD3-HB (Hibiscus)

Power supply: Internal 300W (100V-240V)

I currently have the AMD Radeon HD 6550D Graphics card and I want to upgrade to something better.

My budget is around $300 but I would like to also know what is the best upgrade I can make to my graphics software.

Thank you!

EonW · Nov 13, 2013

With that PSU the best card you could run would be the AMD 7750, as the PSU is not a particularly powerful one. You would need to change the PSU to go for a much faster card.

StarBG · Nov 13, 2013

I would not upgrade without another psu, 300watt psus are weak for this kind of pc and if the eff. is like 75% or even higher you risk to damage your whole system.

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

Would you think I am better off to buy a new PC?
If not, what PSU upgrade would you recommend?

EonW · Nov 13, 2013

For a PSU:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430m

and for a GPU:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-hd7790dc2oc2gd5

and will keep you well within budget and not stress the rest of the system.

StarBG · Nov 13, 2013

Yea, the rest of the system is good, just the psu. Good PSU and GPU as suggestion.

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

Thank you for the help!

EonW · Nov 13, 2013

Kaisaru :

No problem. I've just had a look at your HP PC, and a card that may fit better is this one:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-hd7770dc1gd5v2

It's not quite as fast, but less expensive, but more importantly is not as big, so should fit inside the case. Before you buy a card, make sure that it is not too long or too wide, as this will mean it will block other components or slots, or generate too much heat.

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

EonW :

Kaisaru :

No problem. I've just had a look at your HP PC, and a card that may fit better is this one:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-hd7770dc1gd5v2

It's not quite as fast, but less expensive, but more importantly is not as big, so should fit inside the case. Before you buy a card, make sure that it is not too long or too wide, as this will mean it will block other components or slots, or generate too much heat.

How can I make sure that the card will fit inside my case?

StarBG · Nov 13, 2013

You need to open it and check how much space there is.

EonW · Nov 13, 2013

Kaisaru :

This is your motherboard:

http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay/?sp4ts.oid=5187022&spf_p.tpst=kbDocDisplay&spf_p.prp_kbDocDisplay=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02967715-2%257CdocLocale%253Den_GB%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

The GPU slot is the black one under the letters AAHD3. Measure the distance from the back port(where you connect into your card) to just past the end of the black slot, and this will give you a fair idea whether the new card will fit. Also check width as it will probably cover the nearest PCI x1 slot.If you have something in there, move it to another spare slot. You do not want the card so long that it impinges on the RAM slots.

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

EonW :

StarBG :

Thank you. You have cleared a lot of confusion I've been having for the past few days!

Kaisaru · Nov 13, 2013

Code:

EonW :

Kaisaru :

This is your motherboard:

http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay/?sp4ts.oid=5187022&spf_p.tpst=kbDocDisplay&spf_p.prp_kbDocDisplay=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c02967715-2%257CdocLocale%253Den_GB%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

The GPU slot is the black one under the letters AAHD3. Measure the distance from the back port(where you connect into your card) to just past the end of the black slot, and this will give you a fair idea whether the new card will fit. Also check width as it will probably cover the nearest PCI x1 slot.If you have something in there, move it to another spare slot. You do not want the card so long that it impinges on the RAM slots.

I have opened up my computer and this is what I found. It doesn't seem like there is anything connected to the GPU slot you mentioned but how can that be?

Also, the PSU unit you advised me to purchase has a on and off switch which my system's tower does not have an opening for in the back of the tower.

Again, thank you!

EonW · Nov 14, 2013

Kaisaru :

Code:

EonW :

I have opened up my computer and this is what I found. It doesn't seem like there is anything connected to the GPU slot you mentioned but how can that be?

Also, the PSU unit you advised me to purchase has a on and off switch which my system's tower does not have an opening for in the back of the tower.

Again, thank you!

If the PC you have has (which I think it does) an integrated graphics card (built into the motherboard), then you would plug the monitor into a connector on the rear of the motherboard. With a separate graphics card (GPU) then the connector would be (again) at the back of the case, but coming out along a row of slots some of which will have 'blanks' in them covering the slots, others would have (possibly) connectors at them for card in the PCI e slots. As for the PSU switch, usually the hole (cut-out) which the PSU fits into at the back of the computer has enough room and there is not a separate hole for the on/off switch.If the PSU in the case at the minute does have a separate cut-out, then HP did not intend for anyone to change parts not supplied by them.

Kaisaru · Nov 14, 2013

EonW :

Kaisaru :

Code:

EonW :

I have opened up my computer and this is what I found. It doesn't seem like there is anything connected to the GPU slot you mentioned but how can that be?

Also, the PSU unit you advised me to purchase has a on and off switch which my system's tower does not have an opening for in the back of the tower.

Again, thank you!

If the PC you have has (which I think it does) an integrated graphics card (built into the motherboard), then you would plug the monitor into a connector on the rear of the motherboard. With a separate graphics card (GPU) then the connector would be (again) at the back of the case, but coming out along a row of slots some of which will have 'blanks' in them covering the slots, others would have (possibly) connectors at them for card in the PCI e slots. As for the PSU switch, usually the hole (cut-out) which the PSU fits into at the back of the computer has enough room and there is not a separate hole for the on/off switch.If the PSU in the case at the minute does have a separate cut-out, then HP did not intend for anyone to change parts not supplied by them.

With the information that you're giving me, I'm coming to the conclusion that my best option is to wait until my computer becomes outdated, then build one instead of buying stock. The reason being is because it seems that I'll need to buy a case as well to be able to upgrade my computer to where I would like it to be and switching parts between the two cases is going to be a hassle.

EonW · Nov 14, 2013

I've been trawling around the web trying to find a picture of the back of your computer, to see what it was like. I found this and don't know whether it is the same or similar to yours. It shows how to replace the PSU.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=uk&lc=en&docname=c02906500

and this:

http://www.replacepowersupply.com/hp-p7-1247c-power-supply.html

From the look of it, your PSU does not have an on/off switch, but this does not mean that the new PSU will not fit in. The easiest way is to actually measure the PSU, including the cut-out area,and see if it is similar size to PSU from other makes (you can always get size from website; eg Corsair CX 430M is 5.9"(W) x 3.4"(H) X 5.5"(L)).
Having said all that, yes, you may be better looking for a replacement later for the whole machine. The problem with makers like HP, Dell, etc. is that they tend to use proprietary parts for their machines so that they cannot be easily replaced with parts not bought from them (Apple is an obvious case in point). While your case looks to be of a mid-tower size, there may be problems fitting non-HP parts in. If you want to build your own, that way, you get to pick your own parts, and can also later upgrade as you wish/need. Alternatively, you could buy from a company that builds computers, but using the same parts you could buy singly, and then use this as a basis to upgrade later. I recently priced parts (UK) to build a computer for light use based around an i3-3220 CPU, B75 motherboard, Corsair Carbide 200R case and Corsair CX 430 PSU, and found one ready made from a reputable site with practically exact specs, but cheaper than I could get parts myself, and it came with a good warranty, and an AMD 7750 GPU that was included for same price I had set without the card! I have noticed that in the USA, though, parts do tend to be a lot cheaper relatively, and better bargains too, so it is easier to buy and build.

Kaisaru · Nov 14, 2013

EonW :

I've been trawling around the web trying to find a picture of the back of your computer, to see what it was like. I found this and don't know whether it is the same or similar to yours. It shows how to replace the PSU.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=uk&lc=en&docname=c02906500

and this:

http://www.replacepowersupply.com/hp-p7-1247c-power-supply.html

From the look of it, your PSU does not have an on/off switch, but this does not mean that the new PSU will not fit in. The easiest way is to actually measure the PSU, including the cut-out area,and see if it is similar size to PSU from other makes (you can always get size from website; eg Corsair CX 430M is 5.9"(W) x 3.4"(H) X 5.5"(L)).
Having said all that, yes, you may be better looking for a replacement later for the whole machine. The problem with makers like HP, Dell, etc. is that they tend to use proprietary parts for their machines so that they cannot be easily replaced with parts not bought from them (Apple is an obvious case in point). While your case looks to be of a mid-tower size, there may be problems fitting non-HP parts in. If you want to build your own, that way, you get to pick your own parts, and can also later upgrade as you wish/need. Alternatively, you could buy from a company that builds computers, but using the same parts you could buy singly, and then use this as a basis to upgrade later. I recently priced parts (UK) to build a computer for light use based around an i3-3220 CPU, B75 motherboard, Corsair Carbide 200R case and Corsair CX 430 PSU, and found one ready made from a reputable site with practically exact specs, but cheaper than I could get parts myself, and it came with a good warranty, and an AMD 7750 GPU that was included for same price I had set without the card! I have noticed that in the USA, though, parts do tend to be a lot cheaper relatively, and better bargains too, so it is easier to buy and build.

That's what I was thinking. Plus I'd be dropping a good amount of money to upgrade anyways, so I think that building, as you said, would be easier and cheaper long term as I would like to upgrade my parts in the future.

I appreciate you working with me through this, thanks again!

EonW · Nov 14, 2013

Kaisaru :

EonW :

That's what I was thinking. Plus I'd be dropping a good amount of money to upgrade anyways, so I think that building, as you said, would be easier and cheaper long term as I would like to upgrade my parts in the future.

I appreciate you working with me through this, thanks again!

No problem, you're welcome. Good luck with the build.

I need help updating my graphics card.

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