HP Bios Lock-Down?

[_driver51]

Hello all,

So I was searching the forums and figured I'd asked on here: so we got a new machine and the kids want to play games but the internal graphics won't allow for certian games. I want to install a graphics card but not sure if the motherboard (Bios) will allow it. It does have a PCI slot for one but don't want to buy and install have the fans spin but have the Bios lock it out.

I have PSU to upgrade the factory installed one. I plan on purchasing XFX Radeon R7 240 2GB DDR3 PCIe 3.0x16 Video Card. Anyone think once I unstall the drivers for the factory graphics and install the new driver the Bios will lock it out? Thanks in advance.

Joseph

[A4Apollo]

Hello,

              To be honest it is really hard to install one. The new processors from Intel and AMD have integrate graphics built into the processor. The higher priced and gaming machine will come with discrete ATI or Nvidia cards. The new laptops if Intelgraphics is listed it's integrated.

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[A4Apollo]

Hello,

                 I am sorry for the previous reply i thought it was a laptop however i have went though the specifications of this unit and found out that Nvidea GforceGTX645 is compatible with this PC. You can go ahead purchase this card.

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[JoshLuevano · Accepted solution]

Hi _driver51,

I can't find the product specs for your model, are you sure it's 500-150? or it's 550-150.

I can suggest you only to focus on the PCIe speed, the BIOS is not an issue when changing the graphics card, but you need to make sure that your motherboard has the correct port for the graphics card. In this case, chetanrao_tech sugested the GeForce GTX645 which is PCIe 3.0x. You are looking for a Radeon R7 240 which is also PCIe 3.0x.

I was looking for your model and I found 2 options:

• The closest is the Pavilion 500-164, this one supports PCIe 2.0x. and the graphic cards mentioned before are *NOT* supported, be careful.
• The other model close to yours is the Pavilion 550-150, this one has one PCIe 3.0x available. and both graphic cards mentioned before are fully supported.

Can you take a look to your model number again just to be sure that it was correct?

[_driver51]

Thanks,

I accidently labeled the model wrong, sorry for the confusion. I truly appreciate the help though.

Joseph

[_driver51]

Thank you very much, I truly appreciate the help in the matter, Gonna see if I find it in stock after work. 

Joseph