Compatible Graphics Card and Motherboard

[Paskill]

Hey guys I am currently looking at buying a AMD Radeon HD 6450 Silent Graphics Card (1GB, PCI-E) from Amazon, just to upgrade from my ancient ATI Radeon 2400.

My computer is a Dell Inspiron 530 with a Dual-Core CPU at 2.66GHz, 3GB of RAM and a Dell 0RY007 motherboard.

Would that card be compatible with my computer?

Here is a link to the Amazon card.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004XANP0U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A1F8YGP86NG3IP

I really want to upgrade the graphics card, and I'm petrified of getting the wrong graphics card.

 

[rolli59]

Really no need to upgrade by going from one budget no gaming card to another. What are you trying to achieve?

 

[Paskill]

The fact that my current graphics card has 256MB video memory. This one has 1GB. I just want a better graphics card, nothing too bombastic obviously when it comes to picking this card, but still.

 

[vilenjan]

It should works just fine.

EDIT: Rolli the 6450 is much faster than the 2400 ( in the order of 5 times faster). Budget? yes. Big upgrade? Yes.

 

[auntarie]

Yes, a 6450 will be compatible with that motherboard. You could go for something a bit more high-end though, like a 6670, so that you would at least be able to play some games.

 

[Paskill]

It should works just fine.

And say if I were to get this card, would it help me run more recent games a bit better? ARMA II comes to mind, I know I need a better processor for that but even to run it on medium is good enough for me. And to be able to run Empire: Total War without my card reaching 95 degree temperatures.

 

[Paskill]

Yes, a 6450 will be compatible with that motherboard. You could go for something a bit more high-end though, like a 6670, so that you would at least be able to play some games.

Well the games I want to run aren't that new, the likes of Empire Total War, which I can run, I just want to run it a bit better visually. That and ARMA II.

 

[auntarie]

Total war will be fine on high, but Arma 2- you may struggle a bit with medium. Especially with a 6450.

 

[vilenjan]

For newer games upgrading to a 6570 would be ideal.

 

[rolli59]

If you are upgrading for gaming at minimum go HD6570!

 

[Paskill]

That's great with Empire, I know ARMA II is meant to be tough, I'll be building a PC around November this year though, so hopefully then I can run it well enough. At the moment the game I'm aiming to accommodate on it's highest settings for when I build the PC is Shogun 2. Would you reckon my budget of around 650 is good enough? I'll be upgrading it from then on though.

 

[Paskill]

If you are upgrading for gaming at minimum go HD6570!

Well I'll be building my new PC in around November, December or January. This card is just to hold me up until then. I'm not looking for anything amazingly good until then. But thanks!

 

[rolli59]

$50 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161391

 

[vilenjan]

6570 is great because its about 300% times faster than a 6450 but costs about 40-50% more, pretty good price/performance ratio

 

[auntarie]

Well I'll be building my new PC in around November, December or January. This card is just to hold me up until then. I'm not looking for anything amazingly good until then. But thanks!

Well if you can make it until November by playing Empire while your GPU is at 95 degrees, then I'd say don't buy anything and save up as much as you can. But otherwise, the 6570 that rolli59 suggested will do.

 

[auntarie]

Actually, forget what I just said. Get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102988

Also $50 after rebates, but about 150% faster.