Guide for Selecting a Discrete Video Card

[darthsmoke]

Dear Dave,

I have an important question.

For the last few weeks, I've been desperately searching for a discrete video card which is UEFI enabled. My system fully supports UEFI, Windows 8 Ultra Fast boot is working, but I'm not satisfied with the performance of the integrated VGA-card, so I'm looking for a discrete one.

I found this from HP:

http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product/sku/10402903

Can you tell something about this card's UEFI compatibility? This would be perfect for me, but I don't want to lose Ultra Fast boot.

Thanks in advance,

Gabor from Hungary

[Big_Dave]

Hi darthsmoke,

Please post the HP product number for your PC so that the members of the community can better assist you with your questions and issues.

The specifications for this particular video card does indicate support for Windows 8.  However, the specifications do not indicate support for UEFI mode. If this card is delivered with Windows 8 PCs then there is a good chance that it does support UEFI mode.  Fast boot support is a question that perhaps HP Support can answer.

If you search around the net, you will find some that have improved the boot time with UEFI mode and fast boot while others saw no difference.

[Skafsgaard]

Hi,

I have a HP Pavilion p6-2163eo desktop computer. Now I've been wondering why I get bad FPS in some video games. Well it turns out I have a 'special' radeon hd 7570 that does not take offical drivers - only HP supported drivers, which they never update.. 

PC specs: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03313551

So I want to purchase a new card for my gaming. Which entails a few problems.

1. Brand

2. Space

3. Power

4. Cooling

1. 

So the card I want doesn't have to be a fancy nextgen card. A good decent, couple of years old is fine. As long as it increases FPS by a considerable amount - compared to this strange HD7570 card. So for this, do you guys have any tips for a card? Im probably going to get one already used and so get it for cheaper. There is a guy selling a HD6870 XFX card - is this a good one to run more recent games? Any other suggestions for cards?

2. 

Are there some cards that will not fit into the casing and the motherboard? The HD6870 the guy is actually selling two - will I be able to run them in CrossFire?

3. 

I would prefer gettin a GPU which doesnt need me to upgrade my PSU (300w). Is there any suggestions in regards to what card to go for in order not to replace my current PSU?

4.

How will I know my PC will not overheat in case I replace a GPU? Is it possible to add some cheap cooling system or simply the old way to removing the cabinet casing and having a big ol'e fan blowing into it is sufficent?

So to sum it all up in a line; is there a card currently on the market I can fit in my desktop and not worry about changing psu/motherboard/adding cooling?

Thank you!

edit:

Of these gpu models, which will you recommend for my system?

-  GTX 570 ti

- HD 7750 (read it will run on a 300w PSU)

- HD6870

[milesrf]

2.  Are you able to open the computer and measure how long a card will fit?  That's what I consider the most important spacing detail.

Also, are there two separate sockets for graphics cards so that you can install two cards, with enough space between them to allow both to get enough air?

4.  Choosing a graphics card with a fan designed to blow the hot air out of the case rather than blowing it around within the case helps the cooling.

See here if you want to download new drivers for an Nvidia-based graphics card:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Start here if you want to look up more information about an Nvidia-based graphics card:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_family.html

For example, it says that a GTX 570 should have at least a 550 W power supply, and does not even list the GTX 570ti.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-570/specifications

A GT 630 will run on a 300 W power supply.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-630/specifications

So will a GT 440:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-440-channel/specifications

Start here to find more information on AMD-based or ATI-based graphics boards:

http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/DESKTOP/GRAPHICS/AMD-RADEON-HD-6000/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6000.aspx

An HD 6870 needs at least a 500 W power supply, or at least 600 W if you use two of them in Crossfire:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-440-channel/specifications

The HD 6000 series does not appear to include any boards suitable for a 300 W power supply.  Neither does the HD 7000 series.  Neither does the HD 5000 series.

An HD 7750 needs at least a 400 W power supply:

http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/DESKTOP/GRAPHICS/7000/7750/Pages/radeon-7750.aspx#3

[SalvadorC]

Hello,
Can i have some suggestions on some compatiple gpu's for my a4313w that wont require me to upgrade my power supply(250w)? 128-256mb cards at a cheap price?

[milesrf]

SalvadorC,

I don't believe that either Nvidia or AMD/ATI lists any graphics cards as not requiring more that that for the power supply.  However, there are a few low-end cards where they don't even mention the power supply rating.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=120&prodSeriesId=...

However, that computer is listed as already having a Geforce 6150SE on the motherboard, only usable if you have NOT installed a graphics board.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/gpu_mobo.html

If you get a graphics board anyway,  you'd be taking a chance on whether your power supply is adequate.  Look for boards in the Geforce 7 or 8 series, with the power supply requirement not listed when you go down to the specifications reached from the above web page.

The Geforce 9 series and more recent require a different type of graphics card socket.

[Fisherguy01]

I can't believe haw small the power supplies are HP puts in these things, I guess 20 bucks here, 30 bucks there for better parts just adds to the bottom line these things sell for.
I think my HP is fine for what I use it for, anyone wanting a pc for gaming though would be better off buying a shop built computer IMO.

[milesrf]

Look at the ones they sell as high-performance desktops or gaming desktops.  Some of those can be ordered with a

600 watt power supply, in order to use a graphics card near the high end of what's available.  Not very cheap, though.

[joey0715]

I have an HP P7-1534 and I want to upgrade the graphics card but I am having a hard time finding one that will fit this system. What are the graphics cards that I can buy to upgrade my system with?

[milesrf]

A web page that lists some suitable built-in graphics boards:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c03673337&lang=en&cc=us&taskI...

This page should list boards of that series, but those aren't included:

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/Pages/amd-radeon-7000-series.aspx

All of these are listed as needing a 400 W or more power supply, but that computer came with only a 300 W power supply.

They're also listed as needing a PCIE3 socket, not the PCI2 socket in that computer.

The length of graphics boards is important in determining whether they will fit, so measure how long a graphics board there's room for.

The other main type of boards to consider is Nvidia-based boards:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_family.html

The current Geforce 600 series requires PCIE3 sockets, so not suitable.  The notebook boards are also not suitable.

GT 520 may be suitable - the socket type and the power supply rating fit, but you'll have to check if the length will fit.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-520/specifications

GT 440 may also be suitable.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gt-440-channel/specifications.

newegg.com offers some of those:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519%2040000048&IsNodeId=1&Descript...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709&IsNodeId=1&Description=gt%2044...

Some other companies offer them also, but I don't have the catalog listings for those.