Windows 7: Want to upgrade video card, do I need a power supply?

Tyrven · 22 Nov 2012

I want to upgrade my video card from Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
Memory 4294967059 MB
to something with more dedicated video RAM. I pretty much only use this computer to play online games and want a little more from my system. As far as I can tell I currently have 64mb which leaves me below or at the bare bones settings for almost anything. I would like to get that up to 258 and I am 100% in the dark about how to do that and hopefully not have to get a new power and cooling supply for my computer.

NikDorado · 23 Nov 2012

Hi,
look in the BIOS of your pc, there should be a option to configure to have more video shared RAM.

If you post your complete pc specs, I can help you more...

Note that increasing video RAM will not boost graphics performance, since this is a integrated GPU.

whs · 23 Nov 2012

When you upgrade a stock PC with a dedicated graphics card, you need a new PSU most of the time. The stock PCs usually have only minimal PSUs of 250 to 300 Watts and video cards can use as much as 450 wats alone.

What you have to do is to find out what the wattage of your PSU is (from the on-line specifications or open the PC and look). Then compare that to the wattage requiremants of the Graphics card you plan to install - but don't forget to add all the other components in your PC, they need power too.

Switching a PSU is not a big deal. This was last time I did it:

Tyrven · 25 Nov 2012

I have tried over a dozen ways to access Bios and each time when starting my computer it just flies straight to windows, esc, tab, pause break or anything else doesn't stop it or open the F key options. It might be an issue with a usb keyboard as I have been told in the last few days or I am just missing something. Thanks for the replies the info has helped some this just might be a PEBKAC issue.

Windows 7: Want to upgrade video card, do I need a power supply?

Want to upgrade video card, do I need a power supply? problems?