PCI-E x16 mobo w/ PCI-E 2.0 card?

aoilemon

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Mar 12, 2011
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Though not infallable, components built to PCI express specs should work. The 450 should work fine on that motherboard:

http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=571&CategoryID=1&MenuID=16&LanID=9

Though, there have been instances where newer video cards built to 2.0 or 2.1 specs don't work in older systems (your manual says the southbridge ICH7 chipset supports 2.3 spec, but the slot supports 1.0 specifications?).

From a pure wattage standpoint, your power supply would suffice:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/09/13/nvidia-geforce-gts-450-review/7

but it probably does not have the amps on the 12V rail to support the gts 450.

Whether or not it's necessary, the best thing you can do...
Though not infallable, components built to PCI express specs should work. The 450 should work fine on that motherboard:

http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=571&CategoryID=1&MenuID=16&LanID=9

Though, there have been instances where newer video cards built to 2.0 or 2.1 specs don't work in older systems (your manual says the southbridge ICH7 chipset supports 2.3 spec, but the slot supports 1.0 specifications?).

From a pure wattage standpoint, your power supply would suffice:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/09/13/nvidia-geforce-gts-450-review/7

but it probably does not have the amps on the 12V rail to support the gts 450.

Whether or not it's necessary, the best thing you can do to preserve older parts and PCs is to give them new power every few years. For that setup, I'd grab a basic 80plus PSU with enough amps to power the more modern graphics card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182202

Rosewill is not the absolute best brand, but for $45, and 33A on the 12V rail, it gives you the power for that card and your processor with a little to spare.

Here's a review of the video card containing power consumption for a system using this card:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/09/13/nvidia-geforce-gts-450-review/7

I would suggest getting a new PSU. Try the video card in the system. If it works, great. Worst case scenario... You have to pay $30 for a basic video card on top of the power supply. $75 to keep a system running for a few more years really isn't that bad.

I have an old Pentium 4 system where I cleaned it out, changed out the power supply and gave it to one of my kids to use for school, write papers, browse the web etc... It's still clipping along just fine after 8 years.
 
Solution

That's a great brand, it has enough Amps (28) and watts available on the 12V rail for what you need, but it's not 80-plus certified. That's the only reason I didn't choose this one. It will work. If you're not concerned with the efficiency, it will save you $25 with that $20 rebate (Wow! I didn't see that!). That would put your worst case scenario at around $55, if you do have to replace the graphics card. Go for it!