Upgrading video card for HP m7250n desktop.

[Wolftarvis]

I have an HP media center pc, model is m7250n. I have downloaded Everest to look into my computer specs to see if I could possibly upgrade the video card. I show that the slot is a PCI express x16. I was wondering if I can only use PCI express x16, or am I able to install other versions of PCI express as well. My processor is an Intel Pentium D820 2.8ghz. I will post some links with the mobo and computer specs. I believe the power supply is 630 watts.

Computer:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00503720&dlc=en

Mobo:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...4946/en_us/c00379616/loc:2&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us

Thanks.

 

[Wolftarvis]

This is the video card I was looking at...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

 

[wa1]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00379616&tmp_track_link=ot_recdoc/c00864946/en_us/c00379616/loc:2&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us#N1255
Is that your mobo, right?

it has PCI-E slot, so you can use almost any PCI-E card...
Seeing your proc is pent.D then HD5670 DDR3 is more than enough, any card higher than that would be bottleneck by your CPU.

A normal card would fit into your case, so get a card like this one:
HD5670:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871

or if you don't care about dx.11 the go with HD4670:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855

 

[wa1]

HD5770 is a good card, MUCH faster than HD5670, but that card would be bottlenecked by your CPU, so you will waste your money if you buy that card...

 

[Wolftarvis]

Would a 1gb 5670 work better, or is it the difference between 512mb and 1gb that bottlenecks my computer? I am trying to get as high of settings on Starcraft 2 as possible with a good fps.

 

[wa1]

No need go with 1GB, HD5670 is hard to use all of 1GB, so you will be fine with 512MB version...
like i said before, your CPU is the biggest bottleneck here, so as long as you still on Pent.D then any card higher than HD5670 is an overkill...

 

[Wolftarvis]

Sorry to bombard this forum with so many questions. But, I figure I know what you are talking about.

I see my processor runs at 2.8ghz standard. I have read some forums that people have been able to overclock the processor up to around 3.3-3.5ghz with proper cooling.

 

[wa1]

Yes, you can OC your CPU to 3.5GHz if you want/can, but your CPU is Pentium D (dual core), so any speed above 3.0GHz is useless (not help).
Pent.D is different from Core 2 Duo/Core 2 Quad or even i5/i7.
For now get that HD5670 and save your money to build a whole new PC later...

 

[Wolftarvis]

Alright, I am wanting to save up and build a new computer eventually. So for the time being I will stick with an HD5670. One last question in regards to my current computer. I am currently running 1GB of RAM. Would it be worth it to add 1 more GB of RAM while waiting for the money to build a new computer?

 

[Wolftarvis]

Thanks for all the help, by the way.

 

[wa1]

sorry if my answer disappointing you, i just want to tell you how it's work, pent.D is low for today's standard, so for now you'll better with your current system+HD5670.

Add another 1GB of RAM would help a lot, so your RAM are running on dual channel (1+1 GB), make your PC faster...

 

[lupinesithlord]

make sure that the ram speed matches. I had a hp that came with 667, but would take 800 as long as it was only 2 banks...4 banks the 800 dropped in speed. their support answer was the board came with 667.

 

[dr frantz]

Hey, I got the same computer, HP m7250n.
Upgraded RAM to 2GB and power supply to 750watts. I also upgraded the video card to a NVIDIA 7800GT, but now was the time to upgrade to a more powerfull video card. So I went out and bought the ATI 5770. I actually bought it twice...

First time, a couple of months ago. Installed it and nothing shows up on the screen. Computer doesnt even boot, as I can tell by the sound of the fans, so I simply returned it and bought a used 7800GT for 40$.

Second time: today. I was fixing an old computer for a friend and updated the BIOS, and that got me thinking. Perhaps my BIOS only needed to be updated as well in order to make the 5770 working? So I upgraded the BIOS to version 3.17 and bought another 5770, hoping for the best... Dissapointement, it still does not work.

Any success with yours?
Any suggestions ?

I'm contemplating the idea of spending 1500$ on a new tower. Maybe that would solve my problem....