Recase an Acer Aspire X1700 X1800 desktop PC

[iamdevlin]

Good day mjf.

I also have this unit and I'm planning to buy a graphics card and ram for it and there are some things that I am not sure of.
1. Since the space is really small I wonder if this graphics card would fit.
2. Is it compatible with DDR3 memory? Since the default one is DDR2.

I hope you can enlighten me.
Thank you in advance.

PS: I'm not planning to get a bigger case because I prefer the small one but if there is no other way then I guess I will not have a choice.

 

[ThrashZone]

That is a wide card and probably won't fit,
Look into the GT 640 it's narrower and has a fan which is the one I got and it's working well for me,
Cost well I can't remember I believe it was slightly more but get it at Newegg.com
Out of stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121771

 

[RoasterMen]

I'd go with HD 7750 all the way in

 

[mjf]

Hi IamDevlin,
I can't answer your question since you want to retain the old case.ThrashZone's suggestion is worth a look.
BUT with the existing case you have a pretty average 220W PSU and the graphics card cooks crammed in at the top with no ventilation. Check the PSU requirements for your graphics card. The HDD also used to get way too hot for my liking.
My old recased unit has 2xHDDs, SSD, DVD upgraded graphics card and the temperatures stay cool! But recasing is still a bit fiddly.

 

[ThrashZone]

Non self cooling cards are not worth considering,
Even this one looks to be too big and it's one of the similar suggestions on the same page just above the stat's
But will take up 3 slots and mine only has 2 so the third vga port would be lost or you would have to modify the back of the case
MSI N640-1GD5/LP GeForce GT 640 1GB 64-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com
But this still looks thinner than the one you posted
ASUS GT 210 1GB DDR3 64BIT SILENT/DI/1GD3/V2(LP) GRAPHICS CARD

 

[iamdevlin]

Thank you for all your replies.

I have two concerns with it comes to recasing:
1. I have no knowledge in hardware area.
2. I am on a very tight budget.

I have seen another Graphics Card. Thoughts about this?

And by the way what about the memory compatibility. Is DDR3 useable? I'm planning to change the DDR2 if possible.

 

[mjf]

Is DDR3 useable? I'm planning to change the DDR2 if possible.

I think not. see my link to the service manual in post 6.
"Supports up to two 240-pin DDR2-533/667/800 MHz DIMM sockets"

If you aren't comfortable with the hardware side of things you are probably best to leave well enough alone. I also provided a link to calculate your required PSU rating. Even if you can get a correct form factor graphics card remember you only have a 220W PSU with some aging by now.

 

[iamdevlin]

So I guess I'll just be giving up on upgrading this one.

Thank you for all your answers.