Upgrade Graphics for Gateway SX2803

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kerripace

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Apr 27, 2014
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Can anyone please recommend a solution? I have a Gateway model SX2803. It has one PCI Express X16 slot available. It has a 220 watt power supply. I would like to upgrade the graphics capability. My son is using the machine to play Minecraft and the graphics are kind of slow & jerky. Can anyone suggest a solution?
 
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AgentTran
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AgentTran

AgentTran

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Jan 21, 2014
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There is no real solution here. You will need to upgrade your PSU to be able to accompany any suitable gaming GPU.
Your CPU is alright for just gaming on Minecraft, but if one day your son wants to start playing Battlefield 4 and Crysis 3, you will have to upgrade that too. That, will correspond to upgrading the motherboard if the socket's on the old and new CPU's are not compatible.

That might be for the future though. What is your current budget? For about $250 you could set your son/you with a pretty decent, capable computer. (if you do any gaming at all.)
 
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kerripace

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Apr 27, 2014
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Thank you AgentTran. I realize I am limited by the small case and power supply, and I know the machine will not be viable for higher-end games, but even a modest improvement would do for now. Isn't there a card that will work / suffice for the time being?
 
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AgentTran

AgentTran

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Honestly, for any upgrade at all your first restriction would be your Power Supply.
Here's the cheapest and most modest upgrade I could find for you.

It features a decent-enough PSU and a capable-enough Graphics processor.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 250 1GB Video Card ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $113.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-06 23:37 EDT-0400)
 
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kerripace

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Apr 27, 2014
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Thanks very much for you advice! I really do appreciate it.
 
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K

kerripace

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Apr 27, 2014
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AgentTran, just one more question - will these components fit in this small case? The Gateway SX 2803 has a small, slimline case. The video card didn't explicitly say "low profile". Do you know if it (and the power supply) will physically fit in the case?

This is another one that was suggested to me:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Radeon-Silence-Profile-PCI-Express/dp/B004X8EO6Q/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_i
 
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