Graphics Cards

Hi All

Quick question!?! Is it feasible/possible/safe/logical, to put a new Nvidia Geforce 8800 into an Acer Extensa 'E' Series PC? AMD Athlon 64 x Dual Core 4000+ 2.09GHz with 2Gb RAM. Running XP Professional? Thanks in anticipation...

Reply to malcolmm

I don't see any reason why that should be a problem apart from the power supply. Open up your computer and in one corner of the case there'll be a metal box with a load of cables coming out of it. It should have a sticker on it. Write down the total output and the voltages of the +12V rail(s). If you don't know what I'm talking about then just take a picture and put it on here.

Sorry if I'm being really patronising but I don't know how much you know in regards to this

Also, which 8800 were you planning on buying? There are a load of them and they vary a lot in performance and power consumption.

Message quoted 1 times

I still think that if people can't distinguish the hardware of their own PC, they should go and buy a Wii.

It's scary I know. The PC part.

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BoM = Stalin = Communism.
Reply to Vokofpolisiekar

dangerman200k wrote :

I don't see any reason why that should be a problem apart from the power supply. Open up your computer and in one corner of the case there'll be a metal box with a load of cables coming out of it. It should have a sticker on it. Write down the total output and the voltages of the +12V rail(s). If you don't know what I'm talking about then just take a picture and put it on here.

Sorry if I'm being really patronising but I don't know how much you know in regards to this

Also, which 8800 were you planning on buying? There are a load of them and they vary a lot in performance and power consumption.

Thanks for replying in a 'positive way' unlike the latter post!

I hadn't realised there were several versions of the 8800 card. May have to look into that a little deeper!!!! It's been a good while since I even did any research into hardware upgrades, so newish territory for me.

PSU details are...
MODEL - DPS-250AB-22 D
INPUT 220-240V ~ /3.15A 50Hz
OUTPUT 250W maximum

The other relevant lines (and I've typed them as they are printed) on the PSU read as follows...
+5V === /16A +3.3V === /20A
+12V === /15A -12V === /0.5A
+5VSB === /2A
+3.3v & 5v Total output power can't exceed 110W
+3.3v & 5v 110W
+3.3v & 5v & +12v Total output power can't exceed 245W
+3.3v & 5v & +12v 245W

I hope the PSU is capable of handling it?

As it's an 'off the shelf' system, everything is on-board and the graphics suck for any sort of decent gaming!!! All other components are standard, DVD, FDD and card readers, etc., and I'm running 2 x Hard discs. Bought about 4 years ago.

All slots are obviously free, and it appears from the pictures I've seen of the card, (I may of course be mistaken) I'll need two PCI slots to mount it?

Thanks again for your information, it's much appreciated.

Reply to malcolmm

I wasn't offering help. Just a comment in general and like they say, if the shoe fits then wear it.

------------------------------ \(",)/
BoM = Stalin = Communism.
Reply to Vokofpolisiekar

If you read up on the 8800 even the lowest spec ones eat power. A 245W budget PSU will likely not cut the mustard. You will probably need over 450W. The best place to ask about this would be in the graphics card section...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/forum-15.html

Go ask in there, enjoy the numerous conflicting answers from all the 'experts' then realise the answer from Voko was actually a whole load more helpful than you ever realised