Solved need advice on video card replacement -- current is Nvidia GT 620

[dale5351]

I am researching the possibility of replacing my video card in my 5 year old DELL 8500. The current card is a Nvidia GT620. The specs I see are DDR3 SDRAM, 64 bit interface, 14.4 GB/sec, PCI Express 2.0, size 5.7x2.7 inch, power 49 watt, needs 300 watt system power.

My system has a 460 watt power supply.

The reason I am considering replacement is that for the past couple weeks the fan has started making much more noise than usual. I am also considering other options, e.g. oiling fan, replacing fan. I am researching those options separately.

I would be interested in specific card recommendations -- at a price of less than US$200. BUT, I am mainly interested in hearing which of the specs above are important to match in a new card, e.g. PCI Express, 64 bit interface, DDR3 (vs. DDR5), etc.

 

[Mellon Head]

DDR5 and getting better than a 64 bit interface are the major things to think about. You have the PCIe slot in your PC, so no worries there.

You might do well with something in the Nvidia 1060 series, assuming that it isn't too large for your case. They are a little over your budget at $200 to $299, but are worth the money.

An alternative which will be cheaper is something in the Radeon R9 or RX series. Here's an example that isn't too bad:

XFX Radeon RX 470 RS Black Edition True OC DirectX 12 RX-470P437BM 4GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Video Card-Newegg.com

I've had great luck with XFX cards. They're solid performers.

You aren't going to get big benchmarks out of either of these two cards, but they will do the job adequately, and play games at reasonable settings and frame rates.

 

[RoasterMen]

Bigger bus width isn't always better. Faster double data rate also helps a GPU to render faster.

 

[Mellon Head]

Bigger bus width isn't always better. Faster double data rate also helps a GPU to render faster.

While that is true in principle, you have to admit that you'll get better throughput out of a 256 bit data bus than a 64 bit data bus.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
ddr5 of course

EVGA has several 1060's in your price range though but yes if it doesn't fit you must acquit
400w psu so you're good there,
EVGA - Products - Graphics - GeForce 10 Series Family - GTX 1060 3GB

 

[dale5351]

How do I know whether or not my mother board will support a card with a 256 bit interface?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Use this tutorial
System Info - See Your System Specs

Don't forget to use the auto upload feature by making ie11 your default browser temporarily till it's done.

Also use cpuid/ cpu-z and post the mother board or I believe Main board section screen shot
CPU-Z | Softwares | CPUID

 

[dale5351]

mainboard pic

Here is the screen shot of the mainboard.
I don't see how this tells me, but I hope that you can.

Some of the newer cards want PCI 3. Can you tell if my system can use that or if I need to stick with PCI Express 2.0 x16 ?

 

[Bat 1]

Stock 460W PSU has 3 +12V rails. 18A + 16A +8A but only have a combined output of 385W

Before going "Hog Wild" on a GPU I'd advise a High Quality aftermarket PSU with a single rail. Pay attention to the connectors on the PSU with what is needed for the GPU as well as the length of the Card.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Actually it's PCI-E for express not PCI-3 and yes your good
You can if you want open the side of the case
Grab a stick ruler set it on the bottom and take a picture and post it here so we can tell how much room there is in the case.
EVGA - Product Specs - EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING, 03G-P4-5160-KR, 3GB GDDR5

Dimensions

• Height: 4.376in - 111.15mm
• Length: 10.5in - 266.7mm
• Width: Dual Slot

Requirements

• 400 Watt or greater power supply.****
• PCI Express, PCI Express 2.0 or PCI Express 3.0 compliant motherboard with one graphics slot.
• An available 6-pin PCI-E power connector
• Windows 10 32/64bit, Windows 8 32/64bit, Windows 7 32/64bit

 

[dale5351]

pictures

Here are pictures showing the video card (5.7 inch long) and the motherboard. The motherboard pic did not turn out too well, but there is one long slot which is where the video card goes and then three very short slots underneath that.

I say again -- some of the cards I am looking at are calling for PCI-express 3.0. Some say either 2.0 or 3.0.
If they do not say 2.0, but only 3.0 -- am I still good?

The card you quoted to me gives me some concerns WRT
a. "6-pin PCI-E power connector", don't know if I have that.
b. "dual slot" -- current card is in only one slot.

 

[AddRAM]

A new Power supply may not work with your Dell motherboard.

The connections may be different.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You have to backup some so we might see the back and front of the computer case too.
Indeed the psu might be an issue replacing AddRam would know although not sure you'd have too as long as you don't go nuts trying to oc the card the default clocks should be fine for the 460w although crappy existing psu.

Looks like you have more slots open so taking up 2 slots is not a problem
Right not we are trying to verify depth
There were two shorter 1060's if you look back at the first link to all of the 1060's if you need one that is shorter

You probably have a 4 pin molex port available for the 6 port plug evga supplies a adapter for a molex connection

 

[dale5351]

full picture

Here is a full side view of my computer.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You have 2 vga cable ends and one molex so you're all set and should be plenty of room for the card I posted directly too

 

[dale5351]

still looking

I have continued to look at possible solutions for my noisy fan in my Nvidia gt620. In case anyone else is watching this thread, I can say that the actual part number for the fan is FY04010M12LNB, and that a web search turns up numerous sources for ordering the fan. Many of those sources are slow boat from China. A few are couple of weeks delivery. Prices from US$5-20.

One potential solution that web searches turned up is to apply oil to the bearings. Some web sites said that sewing machine oil was acceptable, others said to use an oil that was specially designed for this purpose. With this model the bearings are not directly accessible, but I was able to remove the fan and put in some sewing machine oil along the side. My first attempt at this worked for about 12 hours before the fan started making noise again. I have just done a second attempt, putting more oil in and the fan is quiet. The core temp had been running between 35C and 41C. Before the core temp went between 50C and 103C.

I am going to let the oiling try to do its thing for a while, but have decided to search for a reasonable replacement card. In a previous post, I was pointed to the EVGA 1060 series. I have also seen a EVGA 1050 that looks appealing -- and would like ask for opinion on the comparison between two such cards.
1. EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti SC GAMING, 04G-P4-6253-KR, 4GB GDDR5, ACX 2.0 (Single Fan)
2. EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING, 03G-P4-6160-KR, 3GB GDDR5, ACX 2.0 (Single Fan)

Both cards look as if they would easily fit in the PCI-E slot I have.

power specs for 2 say 400 watt, 6-pin connector required. I don't know that I have that.
power specs for 1 say 300 watt, no mention of extra connectors needed.

card 1 had 4GB memory, versus 3GB memory for card 2
card 1 claims memory bandwidth of 112 GB/s, versus 192 GB/s for card 2.

Which is more important -- GB memory or GB/s band width?

Any other comments on the comparison will be appreciated.

 

[RoasterMen]

I'd get the 6GB variant of the GTX 1060. But if it's cutting your budget really close then I'll just stick with the 4GB GTX 1050Ti

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I would not buy the 4gb card = single fan that did not have additional power
It would get all power from the mother board

I already showed you your additional power connections you have and yes you do it is actually a spliced 2-6pin power plus you hav additional 5 pin molex you could use either one.

 

[dale5351]

Hi,
I would not buy the 4gb card = single fan that did not have additional power
It would get all power from the mother board

What is the problem with getting all power from the mother board?

I already showed you your additional power connections you have and yes you do it is actually a spliced 2-6pin power plus you hav additional 5 pin molex you could use either one.

I now see what you were talking about. there is a set of yellow & black wires terminating in a pair of six pin connectors (3 over 3). So -- that would be the 6-pin connector the one card requires.

The other connector (molex?) looks like the type of connector that goes into a hard drive. A flat connector with a lot of copper connectors.

The 6Gig 1060's are more than I want to pay.

What about the question of which is more important, GB memory or GB/s band width?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
On a small 1gb gpu nothing wrong with getting all power from the mobo 2-4 is crazy to unless you'd like to visit this section of the forum that is
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

You said your budget was 200.us so the card I posted was/ is 199.99
There were some close to that but showed "see price in cart" so they would probably be lower than 200.
The molex as I also said evga sends a adapter for a molex too so it can be used or one of the 6 pin plugs that exist.

Additional power only means the card will draw power it needs directly from the psu how could you not see that as a good thing.

Depends on the card low end cards are just that I'd save a little more dough and get one you'd likely not have issues with rather than getting the one I you're likely to have issues with.

GB memory or GB/s band width

Why or a good card would have both