Upgrade: a6345.sc

[DeVitus]

Hello. I bought HP desktop a6345.sc about half a year ago and have noticed the lack of graphic-intensive applications performance (video games, etc.) This is why I decided that it is the time for an upgrade. The performance index gives me "5.4" with the CPU and GPU bringing the number down, as they have the lowest value.

I have faced the problem of deciding whether the graphic cards I was looking at would be compatible with the motherboard. It is even more complicated for me with the CPU.

The current configuration I have is the standard factory one and can be seen here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01077676&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us〈=en&product=3658000

I would like to know some upgrade options that would be reasonable in price and will significantly increase the productivity. Thank You. 

[RasterBlaster · Accepted solution]

Since you have the nForce chipset, any nVidia PCIe x16 card. Please keep in mind that you MUST upgrade the power supply as well to be at least equal or better (preferred) wattage than the requirements for the card.

Replacing a power supply

Replacing a PCI card

Don't know your budget, but as a general rule... just get the highest wattage power supply that you can afford...and then get the best possible graphics card. Make sure you find the wattage requirements for the card - your PC came with a 300W power supply so you will likely have to upgrade it.

[DeVitus]

Thank You very much for the suggestion. This cleared up the things a lot. Just one question: does it have to be PCIe x16 (meaning 1.0) or can it also be PCIe 2.0 x16? Thank You.

Message Edited by DeVitus on 12-19-2008 08:49 AM

[RasterBlaster]

That's a real good question. I had to do some digging but I'm not sure I found an answer that you are looking for.

Your motherboard spec simply states that it supports PCIe x16. I'm pretty sure it came out before the 2.0 spec was a finalized - i.e 1.0/1.1.

Your nForce 430/6150SE can support 2.0.

All this to say that I think a 2.0 graphics card should be compatible - but it might run @ .25GB transfer - not .5GB transfer. (but the 5GB transfer is fairly suspect because we are talking bus priorities and stuff).

[DeVitus]

This all made it quite clear, thanks once again. 

One more specific question, though. The old video card that I currently possess, the 8500 GT, is SLI ready. Does it mean that if I purchace a new nVidia SLI GPU and install it without removing the old one, the performance will increase even more?

Thank You. 

[CHUPAKABRAS]

looks like your mobo is not sli ready,. so, you are not able to run a sli on you pc,.

a sli ready mobo comes with 2 pci express slots available for gpus,. thats why your mobo is not a sli ready.