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replacing graphics card in xps 8500

Tags:
  • Power Supplies
  • AMD
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
  • XPS
  • Monitors
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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February 25, 2014 4:27:00 PM

Total hardware n00b trying to replace the graphics card in Dell XPS 8500 tower, which has an AMD Radeon™ HD 7770 2GB GDDR5 with a 500 W power supply. Replacement card is an ATI FirePro 2460. The goal is to run 3 independent displays with DisplayPort connectors. Upon opening the case I was very intimidated by the 2 slot AMD Radeon, with all of the cables running from it and the fancy plastic case with the attached fan. The ATI is a much simpler card, and doesn't look like it has the same connections (presumably for power?) as the AMD, so I'm afraid to unscrew/unplug anything from the existing card. The open PCI slots are of a different size than the ATI card; I'm hoping the slot that the AMD Radeon is plugged in is the correct size. Is it a bad idea for me to even attempt this???

Operating System: Windows 8
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: XPS 8500
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-3770 processor
Memory: 12GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz - 4 DIMMs
Power Supply: Dell manufactured, max 460 watts
Monitors: ASUS VE228 (3 monitors), 1920x1080 each

More about : replacing graphics card xps 8500

a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
February 26, 2014 10:34:06 AM

You are going to lose a lot of performance with that old 2460. Have you considered getting DisplayPort to DVI adaptors?
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February 26, 2014 11:11:09 AM

Yes, we tried adapters and they didn't yield the same quality across all 3 monitors. We also tried the Accell UltraAV adaptor (http://www.accellcables.com/K087B.html), but it stretches the monitors into one wide monitor, can't adjust settings so the monitors are independent...
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a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
February 26, 2014 1:49:08 PM

Are all the monitors the exact same model?
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February 26, 2014 4:26:07 PM

Yes, all three are Asus VE228H monitors
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a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
February 26, 2014 4:55:24 PM

Well, those monitors do have DVI-D ports. Have you considered getting a couple DVI cables and only using one HDMI?

Please correct me if I'm wrong but when you say DisplayPort do you mean HDMI? Those monitors don't have a DisplayPort connector but they do have HDMI.
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March 21, 2014 3:55:19 PM

Sorry, got sidetracked temporarily from this issue! You're right, there are no DisplayPorts on the monitors! What we actually want is to have all 3 monitors connected to the hard drive via DVI connectors. If we use adapters to convert the DVI from each monitor to the HDMI and VGA inputs on the video card, will all of the displays have the same resolution? That's the problem we had before when connecting the monitors using the available inputs; the quality of the non-DVI displays were disturbingly lacking.
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Best solution

a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
March 21, 2014 4:46:22 PM

Since the monitors have DVI and HDMI ports and so does the GPU, why not hook up two of them via DVI (of which the GPU has two) and the third via HDMI (of which the GPU has one)? That way they are all digital and should provide the same resolution and quality of graphics. No adaptors needed and you can leave the analogue, lower quality VGA out of the equation.
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March 21, 2014 6:11:18 PM

Dom_79 said:
Well, those monitors do have DVI-D ports. Have you considered getting a couple DVI cables and only using one HDMI?

Please correct me if I'm wrong but when you say DisplayPort do you mean HDMI? Those monitors don't have a DisplayPort connector but they do have HDMI.


Dom_79 said:
Sorry, double post.


Dom_79 said:
Since the monitors have DVI and HDMI ports and so does the GPU, why not hook up two of them via DVI (of which the GPU has two) and the third via HDMI (of which the GPU has one)? That way they are all digital and should provide the same resolution and quality of graphics. No adaptors needed and you can leave the analogue, lower quality VGA out of the equation.


I will try that and report back on Monday. Thanks so much!!
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a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
March 21, 2014 6:59:44 PM

You are very welcome! Hope to hear all went well from you soon. ;) 
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March 25, 2014 12:43:53 PM

This worked and was so much easier than replacing the video card! Just got the adapters and a couple of DVI cables and all is working now. Thank you!!! :) 
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a b ) Power supply
a b U Graphics card
a b C Monitor
March 25, 2014 7:35:54 PM

That's excellent twigele, glad to hear it!
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