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Question

Inspiron 530 Video Upgrade Cluelessness

by Sep 17, 2014 10:42AM PDT

I've been wrestling with this decision since last week. I need to order already but I want to make sure I order wisely.

Budget: $50 (up to $70 if that coupon works)


System: OEM Inspiron 530 Core 2 Quad 0FM586 A00

RAM: 3G (4th slot died?)

Monitor: Single, 2208WFP Analog

PSU: 350W (she's staying put)

PCIE: 1.0 x16

OP: VIsta 64 bit

OEM Card: ATI HD 3450 256 MB (atikmdag error, BSOD)

CLIMATE: 100 -110 F in summer, no AC


Needs: Awesome Streaming Video, Movies, Sports, Youtube video editing, zero gaming, fuss free card that will last for years to come.

Concerns:

1) PCIE versions is giving me fits. What is the latest and greatest upgrade I can get that will work beautifully in my 1.0 x16 slot?

2) Wisdom on Fanless vs Fan COOLING. I'm leaning toward fan but noticed that fanless is much cheaper.

3) Suggestions? Bring the wisdom gurus.

4) Anyone who wants to write an essay explaining and resolving the PCIE version compatibility problem once and for all is deeply appreciated.

I was first looking at HD 6450, then 6570 GDDR5, then someone suggested R7 240 but they are all 3.0 cards that won't work.

And here I thought I would just go online and BUY a card. I hate that I need a PhD in engineering to make this purchase.

Thanks for your help. My first video card purchase.

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Answer
I did what your doing
by Sep 17, 2014 11:17AM PDT

and updated an Dell 530s with a new GPU, a month or so later my PSU died and I replaced that ( coincidental?) , later on that year another usb port quit working and had everything plugged into a hub in 1 usb port.

Here's the GPU I used though because it uses little power => http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062HIQLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Than you'll want to check out Crucial dot com to upgrade your RAM but you said 1 slot is broke, hmmm
I don't think you're going to be doing any heavy video editing with it

Don't forget a bigger , new monitor.. I have a nice 32 in. faltscreen
I guess what I'm saying is draw a line, $70 turns into $200 real fast and soon you want a new computer anyway.

Digger

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Answer
Checkout...
by Sep 17, 2014 12:23PM PDT

My goto gpu is the 5450 which usually installs using the same PSU present w/o any hassles. Of course, you need the proper pcie slot to make it work well or if you have to a PCI only type slot. The 6450 is a step up and should require a better PSU, but it should work until that arrives. The Dell 530 is plain and isn't that super-duper upgradeable, so be aware of that. Either gpu BTW is configured as fanless(big heatsink) or fan cooled, further if you require it, you can look for a low-rise type card as well. The cost is well within your budget, I just got a 5450 for $35. If you're heavy into gaming, then look for the bigger pipeline and ram present and that costs more. Checkout,:

http://www.tomshardware.com

and find the video section or reviews. What do you mean 3.0 cards, you lost me there. If that's a problem then get what your 530 slot will support, period.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Nice advice so far.
by Forum moderator Sep 18, 2014 1:37AM PDT

The PCIe version rarely comes into play so I'll add a little about that. There are long and many tomes on the web why but in short you can put PCIe 2.0 cards in PCIe 1 slots and it should work. It's pretty rare when it doesn't and the one time I thought it was that, it turned out to be the dodgy power supply (the client didn't tell me it had emitted smoke during the year.)
Bob

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So I can put this out of my mind forever...
by LITTLEHELP Sep 18, 2014 7:18AM PDT

What happens to performance if I put a 3.0 card in a 1.0 slot?

What happens to performance if I put a 2.1 card in a 1.0 slot?

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Tomshardware wrote about that a few years ago.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 19, 2014 4:30AM PDT

There are long tests, charts and more.. The answer was "not much" back then. Are you saying you're going to change motherboards?
Bob

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No new board
by LITTLEHELP Sep 19, 2014 4:02PM PDT

The HD 6670 upthread is a low power 2.1 x16 card. Excusing quality control issues, if I buy it will I get a great upgrade that won't cause me headaches?

The R7 240 that someone else suggested is a low power 3.0 x16 card. Excusing quality control issues, if I buy it will I get a great upgrade that won't cause me headaches?

If either of these will work I don't expect to get 100% performance in a 1.0 slot but I do expect to get most of the performance.

Here's my question again. Either generation in an of itself doesn't matter and all will give me an awesome upgrade (keeping in mind the other requirements). Or generation does matter and I can't upgrade to a newer card because it won't boot up or it won't perform any better than a 2.0. If it is the latter then I don't understand how video cards are upgradable at all because then everybody will have to rebuild every few years.

Thanks for your patience with a newbie who really doesn't understand why this has to be so counter intuitive.

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For me, I stay "on the list."
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 20, 2014 12:54AM PDT
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In general
by Bob__B Sep 20, 2014 1:36AM PDT

In general pcie slots and cards...1.0/2.0/3.0 are backward and forward compatible.

Meaning don't fret about it......mix and match.

Yes I'm sure there is some card and some mobo that won't play nice together.

The 6670 has more power than the R7 but it uses more watts and will push your psu quite hard.

Your call if you want to try that.

Either card will be a bump up from the 3450.

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