New graphics card for an old idiot
Discussion
I bought my current PC from PCSpecialist in 2013 at which stage it was a pretty good spec, IIRC the graphics card is an Nvidia 650 GTX.
It has done a perfectly good job playing nothing but Civilization VI all that time, but some lockdown game purchases (particularly XCOM 2) appear to be testing it.
Looking on Amazon, £150 will get me a pretty good card, but looking at the images modern cards appear to have (new to me) PCI-Express x 16 interfaces, that look like they need two adjacent PCI slots to fit, which I do have, though without opening the case I couldn't say how tight space is.
A. Is it as simple as that, or do you need a PC with a dedicated slot in?
B. If the latter, are one-slot PCI-E cards even a thing any more?
C. In view of the above, with a budget of no more than £200, any recommendations, or specific metrics to look out for?
D. Last time I did this, you just took one out and put the there in and bingo; I know a very good PC repair guy, would it be easier to just pay him to do it?
If it helps I can photo the back of my Tower.
It has done a perfectly good job playing nothing but Civilization VI all that time, but some lockdown game purchases (particularly XCOM 2) appear to be testing it.
Looking on Amazon, £150 will get me a pretty good card, but looking at the images modern cards appear to have (new to me) PCI-Express x 16 interfaces, that look like they need two adjacent PCI slots to fit, which I do have, though without opening the case I couldn't say how tight space is.
A. Is it as simple as that, or do you need a PC with a dedicated slot in?
B. If the latter, are one-slot PCI-E cards even a thing any more?
C. In view of the above, with a budget of no more than £200, any recommendations, or specific metrics to look out for?
D. Last time I did this, you just took one out and put the there in and bingo; I know a very good PC repair guy, would it be easier to just pay him to do it?
If it helps I can photo the back of my Tower.
Bunch of single-slot GPUs listed here: https://graphicscardhub.com/single-slot-graphics-c...
But I would suggest you do some research to work out if it's worth it. A 2013 CPU may well end up being the limiting factor so upgrading the GPU will be a bit of a waste...
But I would suggest you do some research to work out if it's worth it. A 2013 CPU may well end up being the limiting factor so upgrading the GPU will be a bit of a waste...
robbieduncan said:
Bunch of single-slot GPUs listed here: https://graphicscardhub.com/single-slot-graphics-c...
But I would suggest you do some research to work out if it's worth it. A 2013 CPU may well end up being the limiting factor so upgrading the GPU will be a bit of a waste...
Thanks for that Robbie, and CPU comment noted. I'm currently working from experience of having prolonged the life of previous PCs by changing the graphics card mid-life. But I would suggest you do some research to work out if it's worth it. A 2013 CPU may well end up being the limiting factor so upgrading the GPU will be a bit of a waste...
Looking at most of those single-slot cards, it appears they have the fan at the back and are thus quite long.
Returning to my original query, is fitting a dual slot card like most now appear to be as simple as having a vacant PCI-e slot adjacent to my current position? Or indeed any two slots (as it seems to have about six vacant)?
Johnnytheboy said:
Thanks for that Robbie, and CPU comment noted. I'm currently working from experience of having prolonged the life of previous PCs by changing the graphics card mid-life.
Looking at most of those single-slot cards, it appears they have the fan at the back and are thus quite long.
Returning to my original query, is fitting a dual slot card like most now appear to be as simple as having a vacant PCI-e slot adjacent to my current position? Or indeed any two slots (as it seems to have about six vacant)?
2 slot cards only connect to a single slot internally: they just use thick coolers that cover two slotsLooking at most of those single-slot cards, it appears they have the fan at the back and are thus quite long.
Returning to my original query, is fitting a dual slot card like most now appear to be as simple as having a vacant PCI-e slot adjacent to my current position? Or indeed any two slots (as it seems to have about six vacant)?
I was in a simiar situation, with a marginally newer system from PC Specialist...
Bought this :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M66IJ55/ref...
Runs the latest COD fine, and is compact in size.
Bought this :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M66IJ55/ref...
Runs the latest COD fine, and is compact in size.
Graphics cards physical slots, haven’t changed for over a decade - they all fit. Whether you get max performance is a different question. I’ve just resurrected a 2006 AMD machine (I needed a computer, it was there, amazingly it works fine), it had a 7900 GT card in it - I swapped it for a 550 Ti, and there is no reason why my 1660 Ti off the gaming machine wouldn’t work.
I’d get something s/h off eBay for it. It’s dirt cheap and you’re well protected from getting a dud. I’ve upgraded the AMD machine to ‘God spec circa 2006’ for a laugh and £40 using eBay, 6400+ processor and 8 GB which would have cost about a grand back in the day.
I’d get something s/h off eBay for it. It’s dirt cheap and you’re well protected from getting a dud. I’ve upgraded the AMD machine to ‘God spec circa 2006’ for a laugh and £40 using eBay, 6400+ processor and 8 GB which would have cost about a grand back in the day.
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