Problems with preinstalled video graphics and getting a video card

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
E

Eric Stork

Distinguished
Sep 21, 2014
38
0
18,530
All I wanted was to get a system & add a video card just like I had on previous desktops. I did but before opening the GTX650 card, discovered it needed a 400 watt power supply. I call the computer company and they say my system has a 300 watt and I should look at a GT630.

I figure I would do an exchange since I still have time to do so but checking the store website, all their GT630s require 350 or 400 watts while nVidia's site says GT630s only need 300.

Then I discover hardware updates for my existing video in the system, Intel HD 4600. Checking here, I found topics where people compared it to a GT740M except I am not on a laptop. There were 2 updates, one for a Intel driver and one for a nVidia GT700 driver. First one installs, second one fails.

Now what? Is the existing Intel HD 4600 good enough for running games or should I get a dedicated video card like I did on previous systems? What card can I get and why do they modify these things from nVidia specs? If I do an exchange from the store, I may be looking at a GT610 based on what they have in stock unless they can get one from another store in a different location.

I also had someone tell me they once had a 300 watt supply and the store he asked to install a card added one that wanted 450, it ran for over 2 years but I am not sure I want to risk that.

What is this requirement of # amps on the +12 volt rail? Unfamiliar with this term, the label on the power supply is a bit confusing mentioning +12VA and +12VB with different amp values and some kind of time limitation.

I still have a couple of weeks to give back the video card to the store, I just need a definite plan on what to do. Been 7 years since I got a new system so I am lost on some things.

Thanks.
 
Solution
mouse24
Yeah I'd strongly recommend upgrade the PSU. Thats power supplies output is pretty bad.

Also I wouldn't recommend spending cash on a GT 630. Its not worth the price/performance.

Your PSUs absolute max output is about 210w. Now remember thats peak usage, if you use anywhere close to that amount you will kill it quite quickly. Using just your current setup you are at about 130w max. I don't recommend using anymore than about 80% of your total max capacity, which according to my calculator is about 168. Theres nothing I could recommend that would be a performance increase while still only using about 36w.

How much can you spend on this upgrade in total. We might be able to figure something out.
Sort by date Sort by votes
mouse24

mouse24

Splendid
Nov 30, 2010
4,389
0
23,960
What system are we talking about and what power supply are we dealing with? Nvidia lists the card as using 65w max but also requires a 6pin connector so I am not to sure about that.

In all honesty though you are probably fine with the 650 on that PSU.

Bit-tech testing shows that the a system with that GPU + an overclocked i5 2500k @ 4.2ghz uses about 130w in a unigine benchmark.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2012/10/04/evga-geforce-gtx-650-1gb-review/2
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hang-the-9

hang-the-9

Titan
Mar 25, 2010
60,387
1,081
152,940


That can't be right for the full system, that must be just for the overclocked CPU. The i5 2500k is a 95w part, there is no way with it overclocked a full system with a hard drive, DVD drive and video card it will use 35w over just the base CPU when at load.

The GTX 650 uses about 60 watt max, it should run on a 300 watt PSU, but you are likely safer with a GT 640 or a GT 730 64-bit GDDR5. That card is faster than the HD 4600. You may be able to run an nVidia 750 or 750Ti also since you want the system for games. They may also run on your stock 300 watt PSU but will be about 2x the cost of the low end cards. Will be a lot faster running games though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mouse24

mouse24

Splendid
Nov 30, 2010
4,389
0
23,960


Yeah I thought that was odd aswell. I might have been misinterpreting the graphs. Or they just suck at math.

But either way I'd feel better if you posted a picture of your PSU so that we can take a look at the specs.

Considering the 650 is a 65w part and your cpu is (according to google and dells configs) anything in the haswell i5 lineup so lets just say 88w to be safe. + the rest of the bits and bobs (hdds, mobo, fans, etc) thats an added 40w ish.

So at a rough guesstimate you would be using 193w

Unless the stock PSU is competent I am siding with hang on this one. Either upgrade to a 750 or downgrade to a 640/730. I really don't like using molex > 6pin adapters especially not on low end PSUs.

Or you can just buy a new PSU and shove it in the rig assuming its not one of dells slim lineups. Might be able to get a cheap corsair CX 500 for 40 bucks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

Eric Stork

Distinguished
Sep 21, 2014
38
0
18,530
OK, I guess PSU = Power Supply so I figure you want to see the label. Tried taking a picture, here is what I got.

http://rogue1618.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/power-supply.jpg

mouse24's link, all I got was a information page, no test results but I tried downloading the trial version of the Performance Test found there and ran it on the computer setup, next I will show 4 picture links listing where the default Intel HD 4600 compares to some other video including the GT 630, seems the Intel is better in some areas, the GT 630 in others, finally the GT 630 is not listed for the last 2D and last 3 3D tests.

http://rogue1618.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/video-test-1.jpg
http://rogue1618.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/video-test-2.jpg
http://rogue1618.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/video-test-3.jpg
http://rogue1618.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/video-test-4.jpg

Hope that clarifies things.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mouse24

mouse24

Splendid
Nov 30, 2010
4,389
0
23,960
Yeah I'd strongly recommend upgrade the PSU. Thats power supplies output is pretty bad.

Also I wouldn't recommend spending cash on a GT 630. Its not worth the price/performance.

Your PSUs absolute max output is about 210w. Now remember thats peak usage, if you use anywhere close to that amount you will kill it quite quickly. Using just your current setup you are at about 130w max. I don't recommend using anymore than about 80% of your total max capacity, which according to my calculator is about 168. Theres nothing I could recommend that would be a performance increase while still only using about 36w.

How much can you spend on this upgrade in total. We might be able to figure something out.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Solution
S

sora

Splendid
Oct 30, 2013
7,812
0
31,460


Not only what mouse24 said is true, that power supply is pretty low quality.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

Eric Stork

Distinguished
Sep 21, 2014
38
0
18,530
Well, thanks. The overpowered card went back. Not sure about a power supply now.
I have tried running games and programs with the Intel, so far no problems.
Thanks for everything, going to contact the computer company about why the driver downloads did not work.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mouse24

mouse24

Splendid
Nov 30, 2010
4,389
0
23,960


What driver were you trying to install. If you were trying to install an nvidia driver then that shouldn't have worked as you don't have an nvidia card. (unless I misread your first post.)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

Eric Stork

Distinguished
Sep 21, 2014
38
0
18,530
All I know is:
- I had found topics including here where users said they were able to install both a Intel driver and a nVidia one for Intel HD 4600 graphics when I was searching, seems most if not all were laptops.
- The name said, "Nvidia Geforce GT700 Series Driver," nothing else.

I have since sent Dell a message on this and some other drivers that failed. Strange laptops can install both drivers and I cannot.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mouse24

mouse24

Splendid
Nov 30, 2010
4,389
0
23,960


Ah yes thats what happened. Laptops can install both the integrated GPUs drivers (intel in this case) and the dedicated. This is due to laptops needing to save power, integrated GPUs use alot less power than dedicated so most laptops include the ability to seamlessly switch between the two when for instance you either manually enter the lower power mode or unplug the laptop from the wall so its running on battery. for desktops it doesn't really matter since the power usage doesn't impact anything and the built in power saving features of dedicated GPUs are good enough.

AMDs version is called "Switchable graphics" and Nvidias is called "Optimus"
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom