Buying Pre-built and Adding a graphics card?

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Mcknight2017

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Oct 13, 2014
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Are there any good deals($400-$500) for buying a pre-built PC with a good gaming CPU and simply adding a solid GPU like a R9 270. Trying to keep the total price under $500. IE. $300-$350 for PC and $159 for R9 270. Thanks!
 
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some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked or fixed'' bios and may not allow you to change certain hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warranty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you really need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work in your model first before you invest money in it .. there are a lot of these threads here at toms to look at some models will allow upgrades and some dont.. and a lot of guys here say ya ya ya when is really no no no...it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. then get told its your psu and you spend more and end up right back where you...
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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The problem you will likely run into is that those inexpensive PCs often do not include a power supply capable of running the higher-end graphic cards. So you're need to replace the existing power supply as well, if you wanted to add a higher-end graphics card.

-Wolf sends
 
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junkeymonkey

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Nov 11, 2013
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some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked or fixed'' bios and may not allow you to change certain hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warranty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you really need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work in your model first before you invest money in it .. there are a lot of these threads here at toms to look at some models will allow upgrades and some dont.. and a lot of guys here say ya ya ya when is really no no no...it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. then get told its your psu and you spend more and end up right back where you are now, but its up to you good luck..


you got to know the the boards in these computers are not like the ones we use to do custom builds witch are open to upgrading with in the boards compatibly . the bios is custom made for there design and just for the parts they authorize to be used on there computers there only guaranteed to work as is out of the box as you bought it ,..
 
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nick779

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Apr 23, 2012
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Ill second what everyone is saying. Its far easier to just build your own provided you get a decent case. If you want something better, just go through ibuypower or cyberpower pc and get a GPU less build and add it yourself. the main problem here is that $500 isnt a whole lot to get everything but a video card.

This is one of the cheaper builds thats a healthy foundation for most any build http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kyVCMp

Granted, you can swap the 750W Psu for something less wattage and cheaper, but its also 80+ Gold and under $80. I wouldnt really cheap out on the mobo though
 
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junkeymonkey

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one thing I seen and learned with prebuilts is the boards don't have to meet atx standard and like the pci-e slot may not be set to the full 75w a higher end card requires to work ... as most find out so it wount matter if you go with a 5000w psu the boards fixed slot power will stop it from working [ most put the pci-e slot power at 45w ]


 
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