vid card shopping for an older PC

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  1. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    vid card shopping for an older PC


    I have a Dell Optiplex 745 desktop model(motherboard info- Dell MM599/0MM599 OptiPlex 745 Desktop Motherboard) that seems unwilling to support low resolutions. The TV supports 640 x 480 and 800 x 600, but it seems the video drivers do not- any game I try to run at 640 fullscreen gives me an "invalid" error and even 800 doesn't seem to work(same blue TV screen with "invalid" error). I can't use Intel's own drivers as only the Dell package will install on this PC. This is a strong problem for running many older games, and even games like Cave Story only run at 640 x 480. I can run them windowed but it's too small a screen to play properly.

    Likewise, while the TV supports various resolutions, the PC only supports a few of these, and certain resolutions only work at certain settings- 1280 x 1024 only works fine at 75Hz, whereas at 60Hz the screen has to refresh constantly after switching modes. 800 x 600 only works at 75Hz. It seems to prefer to be set at 1920 x 1080.

    I'm thinking a way to bypass this is with a video card. Preferably cheap, something I won't need to slap a new PSU in. It also has to be a low profile PCI slot type card. Can I reasonably get a new video card that will offer better resolution support? HDMI/DVI out would be nice but not 100% necessary.
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  2. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2
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  3. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I don't think I need anything that high end. This PC runs Windows XP and I use it for older gaming(even with a high end video card I still only have 2 GB of RAM and a Pentium D processor- if I was going to upgrade anything I'd upgrade my W7 PC). I also have a 280W PSU in it, with no idea if I can even stick another one in because Dell used a proprietary PSU.

    If I put any video card in it'll have to be something older.
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  4. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    High End ??????????

    It costs $35.00

    OK, good luck then.
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  5. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    AddRAM said:
    High End ??????????

    It costs $35.00

    OK, good luck then.
    Price isn't the issue, that one needs a 400W PSU and I don't have that. I have 280W and due to the proprietary PSU and case I can't just swap in a new PSU.

    Yes, I know, it's been suggested to swap to a new case. I don't have that kind of cash as it is, my budget's been strained due to dental work. I use this Dell PC for old games and Windows XP, it doesn't need to be current gen. I really want a cheapo vid card that can work off my current CPU, offering more desktop resolutions than the onboard Intel does, including 640 x 480 resolution which I need for certain games.
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  6. Posts : 1,269
    Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Box (64-bit installed) + Service Pack 1
       #6

    Howdy,
    Here's where I would go then:

    Compuvest Corp.

    DVI and HDMI and it's general use card and $29, Compuvest is reliable, I have ordered from them.

    Generic OEM specs for that card you can find here:

    GeForce 405 (OEM) | Specifications | GeForce

    Power requirement: 25Watts! ...and notice it's resolutions, should be satisfactory.
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  7. Posts : 1,711
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit 7601
       #7

    Diosoth said:
    Price isn't the issue, that one needs a 400W PSU and I don't have that. I have 280W and due to the proprietary PSU and case I can't just swap in a new PSU.
    400W for a 5450, lol . The makers usually massively overestimate the psu needed because they assume their card will go in a high-end system, and because they don't want trouble.

    The card itself needs a meager 20 watts under full load. Here the relevant specs.

    I've seen people that run HTPCs with it and 200-ish watt PSUs. Trying to guess your system and compiling this PSU calculator (I gave you a Core duo E6800, two 7200rpm hard drives and a DVD read/burner plus the 5450), and the result was that with everything running at max (with an aged PSU) you would need 240-ish watts TOTAL to run it.

    Btw, if you slap a decent PCI soundcard on it you can make a good HTPC.
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  8. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    Ya, but the OP doesn`t want to hear it.
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  9. Posts : 1,711
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit 7601
       #9

    none told him this detail. You talked of price, not that the 400w "requirement" is nonsense.
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  10. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #10

    And I wasn`t even gonna try, you can lead a horse to water but....
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