I need help determining if this graphic card will work on my computer.

DeltaScuti · 09 Jul 2013

I have my eye on this card here. I have put my computer specs in my profile so you could view them with ease and you can see the computer I have here (except my power supply is now 600w and I have a GeForce GT 240, again which can be found down where I have put my specs). I also want to upgrade my 8gb ram to 16 gb, so i plan to replace one stick of RAM with this.

So, will that graphic card work with my computer? Will there be conflicts?

Faladu · 09 Jul 2013

Hello Delta,

8 to 16 by replacing one stick does not compute.
8 is more than enough for 7 btw unless you suddenly become a developer and won't improve system speed at all unless you get faster memory (all same sticks) and motherboard supports it.

You have a PSU that can handle higher tiered cards, let alone that baby 630.

Windows 7 handles IRQs and such differently, so conflict, not likely assuming replacing the 240.

I suggest you confirm the PCIe 16 slot version on that motherboard BEFORE buying anything, compatibility issue.
If it's v2.0 or higher you are fine, ugly if it's 1.x

DeltaScuti · 09 Jul 2013

Thank you very much for your reply! I'm not entirely sure what it means by version 2.0 of PCI-e 16, but I know that I do have that, because every time I turn on my computer, black screen with a few lines of text about my graphic card appears, and one of the things I see is "PCI-Express 16 v.20" so it is that.

Also, thank you for clearing up about the memory. I did my math wrong

. So that's why I said 8 to 16. Feel free to make fun of my (lack of) math abilities.

Faladu · 10 Jul 2013

OK, cool, you're set then, easily for that 630, I would go to a 640 or consider a Radeon HD 7790 though, if you can afford it, performance jump will be very noticeable. (Go higher tier further if budget allows)

I'd save for a month or two longer if need be that's how wide the performance difference gap becomes from the low end to higher tiers.

They can raise the version numbers but the 2nd # on the Nvidia cards is the important one. A 210 is just lucky to be working... good performance wise a second digit of 6 (or higher) is start of the sweet spot, 4/5 is OK, 3 and lower, bottom tier fare, lucky to run the games and be playable at 800 by 600 res with low settings, in general.

I digress...

PCIe x16 has multiple revisions, 2.0 and higher is backwards compatible from the newest cards, 1.x likely wouldn't be, could, but likely NOT. (That info is usually printed on the BOX).

see hwcompare.com for comparing video cards.

GeForce GT 640 DDR3 vs Radeon HD 7790 – Performance Comparison Benchmarks @ Hardware Compare

Didn't see 630 listed, it's that bad, promise.

640:
EVGA 02G-P4-2645-KR GeForce GT 640 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

7790:
Newegg.com - MSI R7790-1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7790 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

A 650 is about double a 640 in price.
Radeon HD 7750 is about same cost as the 640, and the 7770 is $20 less than the 7790.

I did assume you wanted this for improved gaming performance, btw. :) muhaha

Higher tier than 640 and 7790 you start to get into the more power hungry cards as well, although a 600W good PSU would handle MOST of them.

DeltaScuti · 11 Jul 2013

Thank you, thank you very much. That was a really helpful reply! I'll start looking into the 640, I can wait to save up (I mean, I've already been living with my current set up for quite a while. I can wait :)). Yeah, this is for gaming. I'm not necessarily looking to play max graphics on currents games, but I definitely don't want low settings.