Upgrading Video Card

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

I am wanting to upgrade from the stock video card in my PC I own a Lenovo that is fairly old now. Specs are as such:
Windows Vista Home Premium Service pack 1
Pentium Dual-Core CPU E5200 @ 2.5 GHz
6 GB ram
with Intel G33/G31 express chipset video
64 bit OS
I am looking at this graphics card, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127799&cm_re=gaming_video_card-_-14-127-799-_-Product I am sure that my system will "bottle neck" the card, but may be building another PC later so I could simply gut this back out of my current tower in the future. I was simply wondering if this card would still work with my current system. And just looking for any and all advice I can get on the subject. I am wanting to game more on my PC, but most games wont even load up for me. I have been trying several games through Steam (such as Warframe, Ascend: Hand of Kul, and Path of Exile) yet NONE of them will load up. Thanks to all who are willing to help me.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

what is:
ur psu (powersupply watts and make)
computer make and model #
ur budget

The graphics card you have selected is going bottleneck too much. Would u mind if I tell u another graphics card?

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

Sorry, I have no clue what the psu is nor where to find the info.
manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: Lenovo Vista PC (no model#... that I can find)
Would the card not work at all being bottle necked? Please do share your insights on what may be a better option. Budget is pretty much just whatever I think will end up being the best working and pricing option. probably cap at $200.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

ok can u check the side of your desktop and the model number will be on there.

It is very hard for me to tell u which gpu will work for u since we don't know whats your psu

If u are unable to find type dxdiag in the search box in the startup menu. Save it and post it here

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

alright, I had the side panel off and hiding from me, but I found it finally! it's and Idea Centre K230 57093706, but the diagnostic tool says system model 8702z, so sorry I couldnt figure out how to just link that.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

ok now I have looked at ur pc specs . You have a 280W powersupply. The card you are wanting needs minimum 400W and I have a good feeling it cannot fit in ur pc case. Even if it did work it will bottleneck much and give u a hard time if u are playing games. Since this is a old computer I would suggest some older gpu;s all in ur budget this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121645 or this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UB1J73211&cm_re=radeon_2gb-_-9SIA4UB1J73211-_-Product. Both these cards are good and they will work. These will also provide a low chance of bottleneck.These are the best budget cards that will suit your needs.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

if u want GeForce equivivilants u can also ask me.

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

I am guessing you are a AMD fan? I don't really know the difference, although always heard that nvidia has the better graphics cards. I would be happy to look at what you could link me with if you would be willing to do so. What is the stream processors pertinent to? I'm guessing the higher the better? Again sorry I know I suck with all this tech stuff

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

Its ok. I am glad to help u . I am a amd fan, I have always used their products and never GeForce. Don't know why but I just like amd products, I have never had any trouble with them. Anyways the GeForce ones are http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600007855&IsNodeId=1&Description=geforce%202%20gb&name=PCI%20Express%202.0%20x16&Order=BESTMATCH Any of these will work.
And yes the higher the number of stream processors the better

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

If u ask me, this is the best and also the most recent card out of the list of both GeForce and NVidia cards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121645&cm_re=hd_6670-_-14-121-645-_-Product
I am not being biased or anything I am just telling u based on the specs.
Don't worry too much abt the stream processors because they don't matter much and moreover the rest of the specs on this 6670 are good.

Any more questions? I will be glad to help.
If you are satisfied with my solution hit the best answer button on the right hand corner.
Thanks

LucoTF · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

That card is DDR3, there are much better options out there for OP.

thisnoob the power supply in your lenovo is pretty poor, I'd suggest something like this:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100w10430kr

Cheap but serviceable, there are better quality PSUs out there - but not in that price bracket.

As for the graphics card, this would be a nice upgrade:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r7250x1gd5

or as you said you may upgrade the CPU later you could consider something like:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n750ti2gd5oc

Both of these are current generation GDDR5 cards and while the 750ti may bottleneck you can always just turn up the graphics details to try and level things out

The 750ti is a bit faster than the 750 you listed, and cheaper too.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

These Are options but i m sure these graphic cards wont run nicely. Plus he has a old pc so Gddr5 will be A overkill n it not necessary. The best card is the one i have listed. Its best for his currenttt build plus he wonnt have to upgrade anything.

LucoTF · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

This is so wrong. It's not overkill, there is no reason to use ddr3 cards in almost any system. The E5200 is old but it's more than enough for a ddr5 card.

GDDR5 is twice as fast as ddr3, and the power draw of the 750ti is the same as the 6670 so even with the card you picked I would suggest a PSU upgrade.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

As u say

U mmaybe rigth Sir.

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

aasimas :

LucoTF :

I think I may just got with the 1 GB Radeon one from here plus still upgrade the PSU. I don't entirely think I need THE top of the line in this PC since I still want to build a totally different PC later. But this will be experience to be had installing a new graphics card as I have only done RAM swap outs before. I realized my current graphics card is only 286 MB so the 1 GB GDDR5 would still be a huge upgrade from that. I am honestly surprised the current OEM graphics works as well as it does

However, what do you mean by turning up the graphics details if I went with the 2 GB GeForce drive?

I still need to figure out how to fix my step father's PC that I had upgraded from XP to 7, his graphics went all sorts
of retarded after that and I may need to upgrade his graphics card, so doing this to my own will be a bit of a practice run before going and screwing his system up anymore.

LucoTF · Jul 14, 2014

LucoTF :

Turning up the graphics - if your current CPU is a bottleneck then the 750ti won't be used to it's full potential. You can reduce this by turning up the effects and details in the games, making the card work harder and thus reducing the bottleneck

thisnoob · Jul 14, 2014

LucoTF :

Turning up the graphics - if your current CPU is a bottleneck then the 750ti won't be used to it's full potential. You can reduce this by turning up the effects and details in the games, making the card work harder and thus reducing the bottleneck

Alright, I still think I'm going to go with the Radeon card you suggested, save that extra money for my monsterous gaming PC later. I usually always want the best I can get, but for now I think the Radeon will serve the purpose I want it for at the moment. Thank you for all the help.

aasimas · Jul 14, 2014

thisnoob with no disrespect to you or the other guy , that radeon r7 260x is new technology and I am sure it wont work nicely with your pc. As much as you like it the 260x wont gel with your other components. Even if you do change your psu it wont make a difference. If u want it then there is nothing I can do about it but you are taking a risk. The radeon 6670 I suggested is a perfect gpu for you at this time. The choice is yours.

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