Video Card requirements

Forums › Desktop computing › Video Card requirements

kiwis

837 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#261743 12-Dec-2019 18:44

As per my other post my GTX 750 ti card is stuffed, yeah it's not the best. My system was old but was going to renew it mid next year.

I've put an even older one in, but if I want to replace it now for 6-9months, maybe a second hand on trademe or another geek from the zone:-) just until i upgrade my system

My question is... given I'm not a super geek.. how can i tell or what do I look for to know it will work on my current motherboard?

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2374411 12-Dec-2019 19:15

What motherboard is it ? I assume it was a PCI-e video card that you previously had.

Basically power requirements is the main physical thing to check - some cards can be quite hungry and want dual PCI-e power connectors to run and not all power supplies have these. You can get adaptors to allow the connections from a molex connector but these are not recommended.

What CPU do you have as well ? This can have influence on the video card being used to its potential etc.

My specs are in my signature and theyre a pretty good combo, yet running the same card on an older CPU could cause the system to bottleneck and create poor game performance etc.

No point buying a $500 card if its going to run like a $50 card due to bottlenecking ;)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

Jase2985

13730 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2374416 12-Dec-2019 19:48

we have no idea what your current system is nor what your budget is. what do you plan on using the PC for?

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2374458 12-Dec-2019 21:44

Yup, let us know full specs, usage, and if youre planning on upgrading in new future (ie: next 3 months)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

kiwis

837 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#2374466 12-Dec-2019 22:25

xpd:

What motherboard is it ? I assume it was a PCI-e video card that you previously had.

Basically power requirements is the main physical thing to check - some cards can be quite hungry and want dual PCI-e power connectors to run and not all power supplies have these. You can get adaptors to allow the connections from a molex connector but these are not recommended.

What CPU do you have as well ? This can have influence on the video card being used to its potential etc.

My specs are in my signature and theyre a pretty good combo, yet running the same card on an older CPU could cause the system to bottleneck and create poor game performance etc.

No point buying a $500 card if its going to run like a $50 card due to bottlenecking ;)

100% agree. May not even get one, it will be down to if I can find one.

Motherboard ASIS M5A97 R2.20, now have a GTS 250

So all old. I may just bring my upgrade forward.

shrub

790 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 272

ID Verified

#2374471 12-Dec-2019 22:39

Any pci-e card will work on that motherboard but not really any point. Might be time for a Xmas gift to yourself

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2374514 13-Dec-2019 07:50

kiwis:

100% agree. May not even get one, it will be down to if I can find one.

Motherboard ASIS M5A97 R2.20, now have a GTS 250

So all old. I may just bring my upgrade forward.

Yup time for an upgrade ;)

Depending if you can re-use the case, PSU etc, an upgrade to a decent modern system is not as expensive as you would think.

I just (past month) upgraded to a new board, CPU and ram for $600 - spent the bulk on the CPU, wanted something to last a while. Everything else I already had.

Video card is one of the most costly items these days, especially if your'e a gamer.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

kiwis

837 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#2374549 13-Dec-2019 09:01

xpd:

kiwis:

100% agree. May not even get one, it will be down to if I can find one.

Motherboard ASIS M5A97 R2.20, now have a GTS 250

So all old. I may just bring my upgrade forward.

Yup time for an upgrade ;)

Depending if you can re-use the case, PSU etc, an upgrade to a decent modern system is not as expensive as you would think.

I just (past month) upgraded to a new board, CPU and ram for $600 - spent the bulk on the CPU, wanted something to last a while. Everything else I already had.

Video card is one of the most costly items these days, especially if your'e a gamer.

I'm well aware I need an upgrade.

I see this has gone away from my actual question as usual.

Ruphus

469 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 181

#2374559 13-Dec-2019 09:13

I've got a couple of R9 270 cards at home not being used. Let me know if you're interested.

richms

29097 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10205

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2374584 13-Dec-2019 10:05

People on youtube put modern cards into old hardware for the lolz and the views. They work. PCIe will be compatible with older versions, and will also work in partially wired slots like many old boards had.

It will be a powering it and cooling it situation that matters. Both in having the right connectors and the power supply actually being powerful enough. I have a 1060 in my stupidly old AMD athlon 64 machine just because it was the cheapest with the outputs I needed on it. Anything cheaper had only one displayport on it. Works fine, all screens at 1440p but gaming is not possible on it because of the age of it.

Richard rich.ms

concordnz

492 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 277

Trusted

EMT (R)

#2374704 13-Dec-2019 12:23

A key unanswered question = What Operating System version? & 32bit or 64bit? are you running on that old machine & how much RAM?

Both these will factor in to what Gfx card you can put in that old box.

& are you wanting a Gfx card you can move to your new box? - or one just to carry you over 6months.

Ruphus

469 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 181

#2374728 13-Dec-2019 13:17

concordnz: A key unanswered question = What Operating System version? & 32bit or 64bit? are you running on that old machine & how much RAM?

Both these will factor in to what Gfx card you can put in that old box.

& are you wanting a Gfx card you can move to your new box? - or one just to carry you over 6months.

Not really, the motherboard is not even that old. I've got an old x58 LGA1366 motherboard still ticking along without any issues.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

1101

3141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1143

#2374777 13-Dec-2019 13:53

Ruphus:

Not really, the motherboard is not even that old. I've got an old x58 LGA1366 motherboard still ticking along without any issues.

AM3 , thats pretty old spec.
I'd agree it should be OK (not great) if the CPU is reasonable . And he can allways use the replacement Vidcard in his new system.