Need Help With Video Card Upgrade On Old HP M385C

[xps420]

Hi I have a old HP M385C Media Center desk top I was just given, and I would like a video card with HDMI with 7.1 audio & DVI,VGA Ports. I know it has a 200 watt factory PSU & I'm running Windows XP Professional 32 Bit with 1.5GB ram.

What a quality cheap card that's compatible with this computer?

 

[Helltech]

A Video Card does not come with audio, you need a Sound Card for that, in that case you would need a Sound Card and a Video Card...

I can't in good sense recommend a video card and sound card for a 200 watt PSU.

What are your needs and budget? If gaming is not an issue it will be easier. If your budget it high enough I'm sure I can find all three for you for a decent price.

 

[xps420]

Its not for gaming, it's to old of a computer. But from my research I thought sound could come threw a video card VIA HDMI 7.1. Here is one of the cards I was looking at http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=AT-435HDMI&c=fr&pid=81304765daf014861f094c0b4311640eb9e6a574f65b8f24a2ce48a30dd04216

Do you hook up the sound card to the video card to get 7.1 audio threw HDMI?

Here is another one I like but it needs 300 watts http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131119

 

[Helltech]

For some reason I TOTALLY missed the fact you had HDMI, sorry about that. I guess all I saw was that you wanted VGA and DVI ports.

Yes there are cards that can do sound through HDMI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125251&cm_re=4350-_-14-125-251-_-Product

The 4000 series cards have 7.1 sound. So that would be perfect.

 

[markusaurileus]

Yeah you can run sound through your HDMI video card. There's usually a small connector on the card that's a few millimeters in width, in which you connect a very thin cable to it from wherever your sound is coming from (integrated-on-motherboard or seperate sound card).

I only did this once before, but it was really easy to setup.

Another thing is that it's pretty useless to try unless you're hooking up the HDMI to a monitor with decent speakers.

 

[Helltech]

^ Yup its very simple. Like I said you would have to get a 4000 or 5000 series if you have 7.1 as I think 3000 series only support 5.1 (correct me if I'm wrong).

Also make sure you have a PCI-e slot on your motherboard.

 

[markusaurileus]

I'm not sure of what each series supports for HDMI sound. But, yea the 4000 series card on that link^ should do well.

So long as it's not for gaming. It will suffice for HD media.

 

[xps420]

Ok this is a old side computer and I don't want to spend a lot for what I want & I don't want to upgrade the PSU it's only 200 watt. Can you give me a link for both the proper sound card & video card without upgrading.

 

[Helltech]

That link I gave you up there will work on your PSU without upgrading and has 7.1 surround in the HDMI.

 

[xps420]

Is there one with a heat sink with no fan so it's quiet? What sound card do you suggest and what cable do I need to connect it to the video card? My Motherboard sound card is 5.1.

I will be connecting this to my Onkyo receiver via HDMI.

 

[xps420]

I don't think I have a PCI-E Port. Here is my motherboard specs http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00022505&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=pe&product=373497&lang=en

Do I need to get a PCI or AGP ?

Which card to get now?

 

[markusaurileus]

I underestimated how old your system was lol. Well AGP x8 is much better than regular PCI. So I'd get this card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102862

It has HDMI and a heatsink, no fan. Idk if it's 7.1 like you want it to be though.

Ultimately, it's really hard to find compatible upgrades today with an old machine like that. I would just save up maybe $300 and wait until it's Black Friday and get a new, inexpensive computer you can work with.