Galaxy - GeForce GTX 550 for a Dell Inspiron 530?

[mrnimmy]

Hey there, I'm upgrading my Dell Inspiron 530 (2 quad cpu at 2.4ghz with a qq660 processor and 4gb of RAM) for Battlefield 3

I just want to make sure that the upgrades I'm making will be compatible with the g33mo2 motherboard.

Okay, the upgrades are as follows.

-Upgrading the 350w power supply to a Thermaltake - 430W TR2 ATX Power Supply

-Upgrading the integrated graphics to a Galaxy - GeForce GTX 550


I'll be having it all installed at Best Buy, I just want to make sure everything will fit and be compatible.

Also, the 530 I have is in the wide case, not the slim version.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Install yourselff ( it's not difficult ) and with the money you save get a 500w and a gtx 560ti or non ti ?
Make sure it's not a very long gpu otherwise you might have a problem with the Satas.

 

[mrnimmy]

No can do I'm afraid, parents are paranoid about this stuff so having it installed by "professionals" is part of the deal.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Better get a gtx 460, still a lot faster than the 550 and maybe the 560TI is a bit to much for your cpu.
You have a quad core or a duo core ? When i google i see one with a duo core.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Sigh, parents . . . Anyway 460 is probably same price as 550 and faster.

 

[mrnimmy]

Price isnt an issue, compatibility is.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Btw, i wouldn't take a thermaltake, rather go for Corsair, Antec, XFX, Seasonic.
Good gpu makers for nvidea ; EVGA, Asus, MSI, HIS.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Well you do have a pcie x16 slot. I didn't see yet if it is version 1.0 or 2.0. Have to look into that. Back later.

 

[mrnimmy]

Okay, and it is a quad core. I was talking to a guy on customer service at best buy and he wanted to know about the number of pins in the connectors...

 

[mrnimmy]

Also for the powersupply would a cooler master work?

 

[mrnimmy]

And also the 460 does look pretty good...

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Can't find if it's 1 or 2. Can you download GPU-Z and see for yourself ? You have to hover your cursor over the 'Bus Interface' box for a sec and an info bubble should pop up. ( thanks MM )
I think it's a 1.1 or 1.0 version tho and there is sadly no way of telling than if it will work or not. It probably will, but it ain't sure.

Because of the 2 core i think higher than a 460 makes the cpu bottleneck so no need for a 560. I can be wrong, so forum, correct me if so.

 

[mrnimmy]

Nvidia website says that the 460 is MUCH more powerful than the 550

 

[mrnimmy]

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/product/motherboards/detail_overview.aspx?id=en-us0000319

motherboard specs

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Euh, quad core ? Your sure, i found a couple of the 530 with 2 core. Not your model tho, other models like the e4600.
Cooler Master is ok, but not allways with the cheaper models so i wouldn't.
I have a look at best buy.

 

[mrnimmy]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Cooler+Master+-+Elite+460-Watt+ATX+CPU+Power+Supply/1511293.p?id=1218265768522&skuId=1511293&st=Power%20Supply&cp=2&lp=1


thats what I'm looking at. Also forget what I said about price, I want to keep this under $200 if possible

 

[mrnimmy]

And I'm pretty sure. System specs says its a 2 quad cpu.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Ok, seems to be quad core then.

Maybe ;

PSU
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Corsair+-+Builder+Series+500-Watt+ATX+CPU+Power+Supply/2193223.p?id=1218313325171&skuId=2193223
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Antec+-+EarthWatts+Green+Series+500-Watt+ATX+CPU+Power+Supply/3424201.p?id=1218401505902&skuId=3424201 ( saves on your parents electrical bill :lol: )

GPU
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GTX+460+1GB+GDDR5+PCI+Express+2.0+Graphics+Card/1700638.p?id=1218282102998&skuId=1700638
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/MSI+-+GeForce+GTX+460+1GB+GDDR5+PCI+Express+2.0+Graphics+Card/2596226.p?id=1218338414610&skuId=2596226
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/EVGA+-+GeForce+GTX+560+Ti+1GB+GDDR5+PCI+Express+2.0+Graphics+Card/2389164.p?id=1218324435840&skuId=2389164
If money really isn't a issue you can also think about a 570 but it will bottleneck with your system i think.

Also, forgot to ask, at what resolution you play ?

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

Ah, forget the 570 ( and 560ti ) then.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

It will come above the 200 i'm afraid. I'll have another look.

 

[mrnimmy]

alright thanks

And lets say I get a Coolermaster 460w PSU and that GTX 460, I won't have to upgrade anything else right? I don't want anything to melt...

 

[mrnimmy]

and my monitor resolution is 1680x1050...so I guess I play on that.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

I think this one, altough it's officially 30W lower, is a safer choice. But make sure you don't oc anything and don't put 4 hd and 6 fans in ; 430W is very, very close and really not reccomendeble. ( i wouldn't like to take that risk for 20 or 30 bucks actually )

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Corsair+-+Builder+Series+430-Watt+ATX+CPU+Power+Supply/2193278.p?id=1218313322049&skuId=2193278

 

[mrnimmy]

I don't want to risk it. Thanks though.

 

[GreenDutchAlien]

No way to get the extra money by washing the car or mowing the lawn ?
Nvidea reccomends a minimum of 450W for the 460
Guru states the whole system uses 307W in full stress and also reccomends a 450W. http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-460-review/13

The 450W is reccomended to be completely safe, the 430W should cut it. ( altough it's lifespan will be shortend a bit maybe )