Graphics card for HP 280 G2 MT

[Wrdtrggr]

I hope it's ok to ask about older hardware.

I've a HP 280 G2 Microtower and the product information page here suggests it can accept a NVIDIA GeForce GT 720 2GB.

Should it be as simple as plugging and playing? I slotted one into my motherboard, kept the lid open and noticed the fan span up when the PC was powered on but the monitor output was completely blank. This happens whether I hook the VGA cable up to the card or the regular VGA output.

Anything I should be doing here? Can't even access the bios setup on startup.

[NonSequitur777]

@Wrdtrggr,

Welcome to our peer-to-peer HP Community Forum!

Firstly, make sure that your BIOS has the most recent (A0.58 Rev.A) upgrade version:

And yes, it should be as simple as plug-and-play.  Are you sure the GT 720 is not defective?

Your choice of graphics card depends on the wattage of your power supply. According to the manual, there are two different power supplies available: a 180-watt PSU (only good for something like a GT 720), or a 300-watt power supply, which would allow graphics cards such as a GTX 750 Ti.

The part numbers for a 300-watt power supply are either 759764-001 or 759766-001. You could purchase one of these online, such as via this eBay-United Kingdom Seller: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393226230831?hash=item5b8e1c1c2f:g:R4sAAOSwUWtkDwvD&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA....

Hope this was helpful.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Wrdtrggr]

I picked up the graphics card from a place that inspects them visually, but gives refunds very quickly at least. No idea about the capability of the card at all 

I just went with the basic card HP suggested themselves, I'd seen mention of needing a better power source for anything fancier.

Updating the bios just needs internet access then and a file download? Sorry for basic questions, it's been ages since I used anything that wasn't a laptop.

[NonSequitur777]

@Wrdtrggr,

Updating your BIOS should be easy-peasy: either allow the "HP Support Assistant" -assuming you run Windows 10- to assist you or download the BIOS upgrade manually via the driver download link I referenced in my previous response.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777