I want to upgrade my HTPC to allow for some gaming. Currently I'm using the i3-3225's onboard Intel HD4000 graphics.
Besides the general question regarding a suitable graphics card there are a couple of restrictions due to the general system design which make the buying process difficult for me:
1. CPU: I'm currently running an i3-3225. Is that enough for gaming if I add a dGPU? Or do I also need to upgrade the CPU?
2. PSU: I'm currently using a picoPSU-160-XT with 192W external PSU. There is already a Digital Devices DuoFlex CT TV tuner card in the system. So would there be enough power for the additional graphics card (and, if needed, an i5 CPU)?
3. Form factor/Heat/Noise: Being a HTPC, the case is rather small, size of an AV receiver. Therefore I can only use low-profile PCI cards. Furthermore the system runs almost fanless (besides a Big Shuriken Rev. B CPU cooler). There's a big hole next to the PCI slots though (where actually an internal SFX form factor PSU would go) which I could possibly use to place a case fan.
So is a gaming upgrade possible?
Besides the general question regarding a suitable graphics card there are a couple of restrictions due to the general system design which make the buying process difficult for me:
1. CPU: I'm currently running an i3-3225. Is that enough for gaming if I add a dGPU? Or do I also need to upgrade the CPU?
2. PSU: I'm currently using a picoPSU-160-XT with 192W external PSU. There is already a Digital Devices DuoFlex CT TV tuner card in the system. So would there be enough power for the additional graphics card (and, if needed, an i5 CPU)?
3. Form factor/Heat/Noise: Being a HTPC, the case is rather small, size of an AV receiver. Therefore I can only use low-profile PCI cards. Furthermore the system runs almost fanless (besides a Big Shuriken Rev. B CPU cooler). There's a big hole next to the PCI slots though (where actually an internal SFX form factor PSU would go) which I could possibly use to place a case fan.
So is a gaming upgrade possible?
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