Best Graphics Card For My System??

[IaskQuestions]

Hi,

I just bought an EVGA GeForce 210 1GB DDR3 graphics card as an upgrade from ATI Radeon 2400.

Whenever i remove my old graphics card and put in the new one, i get the dell loading screen, then the computer beeps and restarts. Never gets to windows loading screen. I cannot get to safe mode to try and install the drivers.

I've read an article here Best video card upgrade for Inspiron 530 (Q6600, 2.4ghz) - Machinima Forum - Gaming - Dell Community with someone having the exact same issue. Within the responses were the recommended graphics card for his system (Which is exactly the same as mine)

The recommended cards are all PCI-E 2.0 X16.... the same as the GeForce 210 that i just bought. Am i to assume that the card is bad or is there a feature about the recommended cards that make them compatible?? Or is my motherboard just not compatible with PCI-E 2.0 x16?

After doing a little research on my system i'm sure i have a PCI-E, but is it 1.0 or 2.0 x16? I cannot seem to find the exact specifications on the expansion slots for my Dell Inspiron 530 (Q6600 Quad Core).

I need to know what the heck is compatible with my computer so i can max it out for around 60 bucks, which is what i paid for the 1GB Geforce 210 at a local Fry's Electronics. I didn't think it was a bad deal.....

I want to be able to play Starcraft 2, Oblivion, Batman Arkham Asylum, etc. at max settings.

Notes: The power supply requirements for the Geforce 210 are 300W and i have 350W.

Thanks for all responses! If i can get enough information it might save me 2-3 trips back and forth from the store! http://www.sevenforums.com/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1199888

 

[acurasd]

Maybe that is just it. That card is just sucking more power than the whole unit can handle. I would suggest getting a bigger PWS in consideration of budget.

You have to take into consideration.

When you buy a system off the market from retail, they put in a PWS just big enough to handle what the default configuration is.

sorry for the grammar.. i just suck.

 

[thefabe]

This program will give you just a basic idea of how close you are to using up all your power supplied by your 350 watt PSU. But you have to consider it's not so much the wattage as it is the voltage rating on the +12 rail(s) that really matters.eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

On another note if you think you'll be playing Batman Arkham Asylum or any other game on Max settings with a 210 it's just not going to be enough. Without a PSU upgrade and a much better graphics card.

Here is a Graphics card to PSU comparison http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/135087-planning-upgrade-your-graphics-card-read-first.html

Your 530 also came with 2 different motherboards one that would only use the Core 2 Duo and the one you have that will accept the Quad Core.
These specs show it as only having PCI-e 1.0A http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/en/om/html/appendix.htm#wp1052310
Fabe

 

[stormy13]

I want to be able to play Starcraft 2, Oblivion, Batman Arkham Asylum, etc. at max settings.

I can 100% guarantee that you will not be playing any of those games at anything on even remotely high settings. Just to give you an idea seeing as you mentioned Batman AA as one of the games, here is a review with that card and only on medium settings,

PC Perspective - Galaxy GeForce 210 and GT 220 Review - NVIDIA 40nm GPUs hit consumers

and that is with a much faster i7 965 over your Q6600. Unfortunately despite the smoke and mirrors marketing speak on the product page for that card,

Every PC needs good graphics.

if you want to run those games at high max settings you're going to have to look much further up the video card food chain, which will definitely also require a PSU upgrade as well. $60 is not going to get you max settings in any of those games.

As for why it isn't working in your system, it could be that it is a bad card out of the box. Looking at the power draw of that card here,

Video Card Comparison - GPUReview.com

it is only a few watts more than your old card (25W vs 30.5W). For what it is worth that Geforce 210 isn't really an upgrade over your old 2400, more like a side-grade than anything.

After doing a little research on my system i'm sure i have a PCI-E, but is it 1.0 or 2.0 x16?

That doesn't matter as 2.0/2.1 is backward compatible with 1.0 (Q3 here),

PCI-SIG - FAQ - PCI Express 2.0

 

[bobkn]

A question for "Iaskquestions":

What procedure did you follow to replace the card? If you get a startup screen with the new card, but can't get into Windows, it sounds like you have a driver problem.

The normal way to replace a graphics card is:

Have the drivers for the new graphics card in hand. (CD, or download them. I'd recommend the latter.)

With the old card in place, uninstall its drivers.

Shut down the PC. (Don't restart.)

Turn off the power switch on the PSU, or unplug the PC.

Swap cards.

Turn the power back on and start up.

Install the drivers.

You may need to reboot.

 

[diehrd]

Ditto to bobkn

 

[IaskQuestions]

Sorry, I've been busy lately just now getting back to the forums.

Anyway. I settled with the Galaxy GeForce 9500 GT because i didn't have to upgrade my power supply (the original card i bought GeForce 210 didn't require an upgrade of the PSU either tho), it is compatible with both PCI-E AND PCI-E 2.0 (which was where i was having problems), and it was only $50.00. I am able to see a difference in performance and can run SC2 on slightly higher settings. Prototype now works like a charm as well. I did upgrade to 3GB of ram from 2GB, tho.

I wont be able to play the games i listed at max settings simply because upgrading a Dell Inspiron 530 to that point just isn't worth the money or effort. Might as well build from ground up.

Regardless, good info. Especially the PSU and Graphics Card links. The wattage and voltages always throw me off a little bit when it comes to finding out what works with what.

Thanks.

 

[ezeht]

Ha ha most all them said guides are or was written back in the days of p3 or p4. The facts are you can not have a over powered psu - you can have a under powered psu.

your system is good now- great.

Good luck to ya..