M2N68-LA (Narra5) PCI Express x16 video card upgrade (Compaq Presario CQ5603F Desktop PC)
- Thread starter Clangii
- Start date
You have a fairly old system that is limited to AM2+ CPUs. It has a PCIe 1.1 slot but you can use video cards with PCIe 2 or 3 because PCIe is backwards compatible. You aren't limited on Graphics memory.
The motherboard chipset may cause compatibility problems with AMD cards higher than HD4000 series. You should see if anyone else had success with your type of system. I would use a conservative Nvida card. Your power supply is only 250 watts so that would not power most video cards. It should be replaced.
EVGA 02G-P4-2645-KR GeForce GT 640 2GB 128-Bit DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130796&Tpk=N82E16814130796
System Requirements:
Minimum of a 350 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 20 Amps.)
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045
The motherboard chipset may cause compatibility problems with AMD cards higher than HD4000 series. You should see if anyone else had success with your type of system. I would use a conservative Nvida card. Your power supply is only 250 watts so that would not power most video cards. It should be replaced.
EVGA 02G-P4-2645-KR GeForce GT 640 2GB 128-Bit DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130796&Tpk=N82E16814130796
System Requirements:
Minimum of a 350 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 20 Amps.)
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045
Bdawson1234
Reputable
- Feb 11, 2015
- 3
- 0
- 4,510
Only if the BIOS supports it. Early versions of PCIe 16 like the one in question here (1.1) may not be compatible. However there may be a BIOS update that will make them compatible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express
PCI Express 2.1 (with its specification dated March 4, 2009) supports a large proportion of the management, support, and troubleshooting systems planned for full implementation in PCI Express 3.0. However, the speed is the same as PCI Express 2.0. Unfortunately, the increase in power from the slot breaks backward compatibility between PCI Express 2.1 cards and some older motherboards with 1.0/1.0a, but most motherboards with PCI Express 1.1 connectors are provided with a BIOS update by their manufacturers through utilities to support backward compatibility of cards with PCIe 2.1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express
PCI Express 2.1 (with its specification dated March 4, 2009) supports a large proportion of the management, support, and troubleshooting systems planned for full implementation in PCI Express 3.0. However, the speed is the same as PCI Express 2.0. Unfortunately, the increase in power from the slot breaks backward compatibility between PCI Express 2.1 cards and some older motherboards with 1.0/1.0a, but most motherboards with PCI Express 1.1 connectors are provided with a BIOS update by their manufacturers through utilities to support backward compatibility of cards with PCIe 2.1.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vamery-2GB-DDR2-PCI-Express-2-0-x-16-Memory-Video-Graphics-Card-DVI-HDMI-VGA-/311314743637?hash=item487bce0155 this card may work
Specifications:
1. Chipset: NVIDIA
2. Model: For GT630
3. Applicable Type: Desktops
4. Core Code: GF108
5. Manufacturing Process: 40nm
6. Core Frequency: 875mHz
7. Memory Type: Support DDR2
8. Memory Capacity: 2048MB
9. Memory Interface: 128bit
10. Memory Frequency: 3200mHz
11. Memory Bandwidth: 51.2GB / S
12. Directx Version: Directx 11
13. Graphics Interface: PCI Express 2.0 x 16
14. Display Output Interface: HDMI I / DVI / VGA Interface
15. Auxiliary Power: None
16. Maximum Power Consumption: 65W ->>>>>>>> "Under 250 watts"
17. RAMDAC Frequency: 400mhz "this is the frequency of the ram on your ddr pc3200 supported ram 400mhz"
18. Number Of Stream Processors: 192 Error Correction
19. Texture Fill Rate: 281 Billion / Sec
20. Pixel Fill Rate: 13gpixel / S
21. Resolution: Maximum Number Of Resolution: 2560 × 1600
22. Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048 × 1536 ---->"HD Bro"
23. Weight: 365g / 12.88oz
Server ram if you want i can give you up to 8 gb ram
look for pc3200 hp server ram you will find
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDGE-8GB-4x-2GB-PC3200R-ECC-REG-DDR-400-MHz-184-Pin-Server-Memory-HP-DL145-G2-/321741164774?hash=item4ae94490e6 ram it will show as 3.5gb on a 32bit system so upgrade your 32 bit processor
to 64 bit AMD Athlon 64 3800+ cpu 939 socket type will support GTA V min of 2mhz
- link to processor may not work http://www.ebay.com/itm/Good-work-AMD-Athlon-64-X2-3800-1000-2-GHz-Skt-939-CPU-Processor-ADA3800DAA5BV-/151749227776?hash=item2354f57500
running 32 bit processor upgrade so you can get more than 3 gb of ram go for a 64 bit processor
links this will help run the ram the best
Hope i helped you
I am going to do this soon i love my am2 computer ill do a tut on upgrading it later and post youtube links.
Specifications:
1. Chipset: NVIDIA
2. Model: For GT630
3. Applicable Type: Desktops
4. Core Code: GF108
5. Manufacturing Process: 40nm
6. Core Frequency: 875mHz
7. Memory Type: Support DDR2
8. Memory Capacity: 2048MB
9. Memory Interface: 128bit
10. Memory Frequency: 3200mHz
11. Memory Bandwidth: 51.2GB / S
12. Directx Version: Directx 11
13. Graphics Interface: PCI Express 2.0 x 16
14. Display Output Interface: HDMI I / DVI / VGA Interface
15. Auxiliary Power: None
16. Maximum Power Consumption: 65W ->>>>>>>> "Under 250 watts"
17. RAMDAC Frequency: 400mhz "this is the frequency of the ram on your ddr pc3200 supported ram 400mhz"
18. Number Of Stream Processors: 192 Error Correction
19. Texture Fill Rate: 281 Billion / Sec
20. Pixel Fill Rate: 13gpixel / S
21. Resolution: Maximum Number Of Resolution: 2560 × 1600
22. Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048 × 1536 ---->"HD Bro"
23. Weight: 365g / 12.88oz
Server ram if you want i can give you up to 8 gb ram
look for pc3200 hp server ram you will find
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDGE-8GB-4x-2GB-PC3200R-ECC-REG-DDR-400-MHz-184-Pin-Server-Memory-HP-DL145-G2-/321741164774?hash=item4ae94490e6 ram it will show as 3.5gb on a 32bit system so upgrade your 32 bit processor
to 64 bit AMD Athlon 64 3800+ cpu 939 socket type will support GTA V min of 2mhz
- link to processor may not work http://www.ebay.com/itm/Good-work-AMD-Athlon-64-X2-3800-1000-2-GHz-Skt-939-CPU-Processor-ADA3800DAA5BV-/151749227776?hash=item2354f57500
running 32 bit processor upgrade so you can get more than 3 gb of ram go for a 64 bit processor
links this will help run the ram the best
Hope i helped you
I am going to do this soon
i love my am2 computer ill do a tut on upgrading it later and post youtube links.OK so I have the same MB, same spec Compaq in fact, I guess an EVGA GeForce GT 710 isn't appropriate? I got it at a bargain price! I can probably replace the PSU with a 450W version, not sure of the form factor, I've not checked, but from what I read above, the BIOS probably won't support it anyway, am I reading that right?
silversongshelties
Reputable
- Jan 25, 2018
- 38
- 2
- 4,535
I've done a lot of research on this system since I have the same one I want to max out. First off, I'm learning so all is new to me, so if I get something completely wrong, please correct nicely 
Here's what I've learned so far.
1. The M2N68-LA (NARRA5) has an AM2+ socket yet this build comes stock with an AM+2/AM3 socket CPU AMD Athlon II X2 220
- max TDK 95W
- Phenom II X4 series with AM+2/AM3 will work as they are designed for both DDR2 and DDR3
2. This is a 64 bit system.
- The mobo specs only show the max memory for a 32 bit system. Notice their asterisk. Only applies to 32bit.
- Per HP Support, the max memory is 2x4GB for 64 bit systems. I'm getting 2x4GB 800mhz Kingston for cheap off Ebay.
3. The mobo is a mini-ATX, so any CPU upgrades will likely need a new CPU cooler that can fit the AM+2
- The mobo will likely have to be removed to allow access for adding cooler installation brackets...ouch.
- Remember max TDK for this mobo is 95W
- The cooler should be rated to at least 1.5x the new CPU TDK.
- The Phenom II I'm getting has a TDK of 95W, so I'm looking for an easy install 140W or so cooler.
- Check space limitations before buying - some may interfere with RAM placement and others could jam up against PCi-e installations.
4. Power supply of 250w is not going to be adequate with the addition of a more modern GPU and cooler.
- I'm heading to at least 450W Bronze, maybe higher.
5. This is going to be more expensive than I first thought! If I hadn't already ordered the Phenom II X4 955 I'd stop now
6 Do all research before committing to buy online *sigh*
If I think of anything else, I'll add to this list. Hopefully this will help the next poor soul who gets the bright idea to upgrade this old system.
I'm looking at video card upgrades at the moment. These are the price point blocker right now, so this may have to wait until prices come back down.
Here's what I've learned so far.
1. The M2N68-LA (NARRA5) has an AM2+ socket yet this build comes stock with an AM+2/AM3 socket CPU AMD Athlon II X2 220
- max TDK 95W
- Phenom II X4 series with AM+2/AM3 will work as they are designed for both DDR2 and DDR3
2. This is a 64 bit system.
- The mobo specs only show the max memory for a 32 bit system. Notice their asterisk. Only applies to 32bit.
- Per HP Support, the max memory is 2x4GB for 64 bit systems. I'm getting 2x4GB 800mhz Kingston for cheap off Ebay.
3. The mobo is a mini-ATX, so any CPU upgrades will likely need a new CPU cooler that can fit the AM+2
- The mobo will likely have to be removed to allow access for adding cooler installation brackets...ouch.
- Remember max TDK for this mobo is 95W
- The cooler should be rated to at least 1.5x the new CPU TDK.
- The Phenom II I'm getting has a TDK of 95W, so I'm looking for an easy install 140W or so cooler.
- Check space limitations before buying - some may interfere with RAM placement and others could jam up against PCi-e installations.
4. Power supply of 250w is not going to be adequate with the addition of a more modern GPU and cooler.
- I'm heading to at least 450W Bronze, maybe higher.
5. This is going to be more expensive than I first thought! If I hadn't already ordered the Phenom II X4 955 I'd stop now
6 Do all research before committing to buy online *sigh*
If I think of anything else, I'll add to this list. Hopefully this will help the next poor soul who gets the bright idea to upgrade this old system.
I'm looking at video card upgrades at the moment. These are the price point blocker right now, so this may have to wait until prices come back down.
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
Question How can i reactivate my windows 10 after changing my motherboard?
- Started by eziowar
- Replies: 1
-
Discussion What's your favourite video game you've been playing?- Started by amdfangirl
- Replies: 3K
-
Question Window 10 Keeps sending me back to download screen
- Started by fern213
- Replies: 4
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram