Graphics card upgrade for Pavilion p6-2053de?

[JosefM]

My trusty old P6 is running fine.

However, I would like to replace the included GeForce GT 530 by a model that supports UHD. Not for gaming - just plain office works.

I tried a GeForce GT 1030 which is the "lowest end" card I could find while still supporting UHD.

But unfortunately, after installing that card, the PC no longer boots after the POST. I just beeps periodically.

Is this an issue with the BIOS which is CUP_714.rom v7.14?

Any workaround possible?

Or a suggestion for a different graphics card?

[TheOldMan]

What you are posting is very common topic on the HP forums.  The reason the PC stops in the boot-up is because the graphics card is not compatible with the BIOS, being that it is a 7.14 version.  It needs to be a 8.** version or higher for that series of graphics card to work.

Here is a youtube video where the posting has the same motherboard as yours buy using a slightly older card version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkBTSlBW2oc

Not everyone can get that trick to work.  Otherwise check out this site where they should which GPU's will work.

https://www.pc-specs.com/mobo/HP/Foxconn_H-CUPERTINO2_H61uA_TX/3534/Compatible_GPUs

Forgot to add a link to a thread where it is discussed by @wb2001 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/What-graphics-cards-are-compati...

[JosefM · Accepted solution]

Thanks for posting these references.

Actually, I had checked the previous discussions before, especially the video on Youtube. However, it was driving me nuts that no one was taking a systematic approach, but instead just referred to pressing various key, counting beeps, ‘white characters on black’, etc. And of course, none of these “voodoo tips” worked for me.

But finally, the comments by ‘The Gaming Restoration’ and ‘Jaime Antonio González’ pointed me in the right direction and I was able to fix the problem!

First of all, I upgraded my BIOS to v7.16, although I don’t know whether this is really required:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp58001-58500/sp58264.exe

Now to my explanation of the actual problem and the resolution approach: Using a modern UEFI-based graphics card on an old PC with a legacy BIOS will result in an error during the boot process. The video on Youtube is about how the get around this error. But instead, the root cause can simply be resolved by not using the UEFI card for booting but the internal Intel GPU!

Here’s what I did:

1. Unscrew the plastic covers ‘Do Not Remove’ over the DVI and VGA connectors on the motherboard
   (I always wanted to do this! 😉)
2. Connect the monitor to the DVI port on the motherboard
3. Power on and immediately press ‘Esc’ during POST to open the ‘Startup Menu’
4. On the ‘Startup Menu’, choose ‘Computer Setup’ (F10)
5. Under ‘Advanced’, ‘Device Options’ set ‘Integrated Video’ to ‘Enable’
6. Save configuration and reboot
7. During reboot immediately press ‘Esc’ during POST to open the ‘Startup Menu’ again
8. Under ‘PCI VGA Configuration’ set ‘Intel VGA controller’ to ‘Primary’ (F5)
9. Save configuration and reboot – now Windows uses the Intel GPU!
10. Configure graphics setting in Windows to something appropriate such as 1980x1080
11. Shutdown Windows
12. Remove the old Nvidia GT 520 card – it’s no longer needed
13. Insert the new graphics card
14. Power on – the new graphics card is ignored during POST and Windows startup
15. In the Windows Device Manager, there are two graphics cards now: the ‘Intel(R) HD Graphics’ and an unknown or generic device – uninstall this
16. Download the latest driver for your new card and run the installation
17. Now the new graphics card is available in Windows!
    (sorry for the German):
    

The only annoyance I have not eliminated yet is that after a reboot the Nvida is deactivated in the Device Manager and it has to be activated again before it can be used. But as it is connected to an optional UHD monitor – in addition to the Intel HD Graphics connected to the main FHD monitor – I can live with this.

[TheOldMan]

Congratulations.  I have not seen anyone get that done for those older PC's.

Hopefully others can use this as an example.