Solved GPU Advice For Replacing ATI Radeon HD 5450 On Dell 0c2kjt Mainboard

Further to determining - http://www.sevenforums.com/pc-custo...t-overhauling-noisy-dell-inspiron-580-mt.html - that my present ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card has just about had it, causing an obtrusive and irritating noise I have no option but to replace. So having browsed where I usually buy:
Cheap Computer Components Low Prices UK Deals | Ebuyer.com
And considering I am stuck with the Dell MoBo which provides:
1 x PCI Express x16 (2.0)
2 x PCI Express x1
1 x PCI

I seem to be stuck for any choice. What I can't figure out is the interface type requirements. If the best slot available to me is a PCI Express x16 (2.0) and the majority of the cards on the linked website require interfaces that are 2.1, 3.0, 3.0 (x8) / (x16) then as far as my very limited understanding can comprehend this leaves me with very little options?

Is this right or am I totally getting it wrong?

What I wanted to do was purchase a fairly low end card here in the UK for say £30 - £40 ($45 - $65) which would be a slight upgrade on the existing and if need be replace the existing 300w PSU with the following 400w PSU:
Be Quiet Pure Power L8 400W Fully Wired 80+ Bronze Power Supply - Ebuyer

So if anyone could clarify the BUS interface issue, and/or recommend a graphics card to fit PCI Express slots available I'd be most grateful.

I realise this is one banal query for you guys to spend time on and like before in my previous thread I know a lot of you might be thinking scrap the Dell and build a new rig, yet with my lack of knowhow and funds I am reluctant to take the gamble.

Anyway I'd appreciate any advice or information provided. Thanks in advance.

For example would the following card be compatible though it is stated that the Bus Type is PCI-E 3.0:
XFX R5 230 1GB DDR3 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Agent Orange said:

I seem to be stuck for any choice. What I can't figure out is the interface type requirements. If the best slot available to me is a PCI Express x16 (2.0) and the majority of the cards on the linked website require interfaces that are 2.1, 3.0, 3.0 (x8) / (x16) then as far as my very limited understanding can comprehend this leaves me with very little options?

Click to expand...

It can be confusing, can't it?

However most numbers you see are what speed the card is - not what's required to run it.

PCI-E 3.0 cards are backwards compatible, so you can run a newer PCI-E 3.0 card in a PIC-E 2.0 slot. The card will simply run at your slots fastest speed - ie PCI-E 2.0 x16

(Even if you only had a PCI-E x4 slot, a PCI-E 3.0 card will work, albeit at reduced capability. The bandwidth (speed) of PCI-E 2.0 x16 is the same as PCI-E 3.0 x8. In real world terms of performance, you wont notice a difference.)

So basically you're only limited by the cards size (whether it fits your Dell) and if your Powersupply is enough to power the new card.


Backwards compatibility also affects devices like USB 3.0 flash drives, external hard drives and internal drives. For example, if you had a USB 2.0 port and a USB 3.0 external hard drive, it will still work, but only at USB 2.0 speeds.

Hope that makes sense.

smarteyeball,

Your explanation makes perfect sense.

Many thanks for taking the time to respond and enlighten me.

All the best,

Agent Orange

i agree with what was said about PCI-E, don't worry about the graphics card being PCI-E 2.0, 2.1, or 3.0.

the problem you will have is finding a new card that
(a) fits in your current tower and on your motherboard, especially if you go to a double height or dual slot card which many are.

(b) the power connectors from your power supply to the new graphics card. Having a power supply large enough to support the new card is the main thing obviously but you most likely won't have the required 6-pin or 8-pin pci express power connectors from your oem dell power supply. if your current graphics card doesn't use the supplemental 6-pin or 8-pin power then you most likely don't have those on your current power supply, dell is cheap like that and build their boxes specifically with no ability to upgrade which is why i stopped buying them years ago and build my own using standard ATX parts. be sure to verify any new graphics card you buy if it requires supplemental pci-express power connectors, some require just 1 6-pin or just 1 8-pin, some may require one of each, or two of each. you may have a hard time finding a power supply from dell that supplies those, and last i knew dell motherboards were a one off and did not comply completely with ATX specs meaning their main 20+ pin motherboard connector was different... so if you go buy a standard ATX power supply which will work with any graphics card and supply the 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors it then might not fit your dell motherboard. i could be wrong, but verify that before buying new parts.

if you buy another low end graphics card that's powered by the pci slot and needs so supplemental power connectors then you should be fine.

http://www.techspot.com/community/t...this-before-replacing-your-powersupply.55531/

ron7000,

Thanks for replying.

You make a good point regarding the limitations of Dell motherboards. Alas I have already gone ahead and ordered a new card and PSU:
Card
SAPPHIRE R7 240 1GB DDR3 WITH BOOST
PSU
Leises Netzteil PURE POWER L8 | 400W be quiet! Silent PSU & Cooling for your PC

And considering the specs for the Dell 0c2kjt Mainboard:
Dell 0c2kjt Mainboard Specs

I am just hoping after all the fail safe google limited cross checking I did that it all fits together.

If you can see any glaring issues and would let me know I'd appreciate it, for after unboxing I don't think the returns policy will be in effect.

Many thanks,

Agent Orange