cresing

Hey all, I need some assistance with video cards. I just purchased Dell Inspiron 530 Q6600 pc. I want to add a decent video card to it. It has one pci-e slot. Can I add an 8800gt to this pc? From what I have read is that it doesn't support pci-e 2.0...anyone know if that is correct? If I can put that card in it will I have to upgrade anything else like PSU? Thanks for the help

themisiek1

If the card fits and you put it in I can almost 100% guarentee you would need a powersupply upgrade. Dell gives you powersupplies that BARELY have enough power for the computer.

cresing

Ok, thanks for the info but that still doesn't answer my question.

It has one pci-e slot. Can I add an 8800gt to this pc? From what I have read is that it doesn't support pci-e 2.0...anyone know if that is correct? If I can put that card in it will I have to upgrade anything else like PSU?

themisiek1

You would need a PCI 16x Slot or PCI 2.0 for the 8800GT.

dai

pcie 2 is supported from the x36 m/b's onwards,if it is an older m/b by a 1ver. card

Thimble

hey cresing. i have a dell inspiron 530 e4500.

currently, i'm running with an ATI HD 3850 board (PCI-e).

you should be able to go with an 8800gt providing you install a powerful enough PSU.

and you will have to closely monitor your system's heat because the case is a bit small and won't fit additional fans.

and yes, i did DEFINITELY have to upgrade my PSU. nothing else tho.

*note: i have read that the PSU is decent even though it's only 300w. it should be fine to run a card that requires a minimum 350w psu providing you have the right connectors.

cresing

Thanks for the info everyone. Just so I have this right..I can put in an 8800gt that is pci-e 2.0 into the pce-e 16x slot even though the slot doesn't support 2.0? Is this correct? Thanks again

dai

no
if the chipset does not support pcie2 you have to buy a pcie 1 card
and a quality 650w psu

Thimble

are you sure, dai?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

dai

the h/w team had a discussion on this a few weeks ago when it first came to light in a thread

Re: pcie gen1 gen2
this section here

PCI Express 2.0

PCI-SIG announced the availability of the PCI Express Base 2.0 specification on 15 January 2007.[4] PCIe 2.0 doubles the bus standard's bandwidth from 2.5 Gbit/s to 5 Gbit/s, meaning a x32 connector can transfer data at up to 16 GB/s in each direction.

PCIe 2.0 is not completely backward compatible with PCIe v1.x. Graphic cards and motherboards designed for v2.0 will be able to work with v1.1 and vice versa, however v2.0 cards will not work in v1.0 and v1.0a motherboards.

The PCI-SIG also said PCIe 2.0 also features improvements to the point-to-point data transfer protocol and its software architecture.[5]

In June 2007 Intel released the specification of the P35 chipset which does not support PCIe 2.0 only PCIe 1.1.[6] Some people may be confused by the P35 block diagram[7] which states the Intel P35 has a PCIe x16 graphics link (8 GB/s) and 6 PCIe x1 links (500 MB/s each), for simple verification one can view the P965 block diagram which shows the same number of lanes and bandwidth but was released before PCIe 2.0 was finalized. Intel's first PCIe 2.0 capable chipset is the X38 and boards are already shipping from various vendors (Abit, Asus, Gigabyte) as of October 21, 2007.[8] AMD starts supporting PCIe 2.0 from its RD700 chipset series. NVIDIA has revealed that the MCP72 will be their first PCIe 2.0 equipped chipset.[9]

[edit]
PCI Express 3.0

In August 2007 PCI-SIG announced that PCI Express 3.0 will carry a bit rate of 8 gigatransfers per second. The spec will be backwards-compatible with existing PCIe

cresing

Ok now I am confused as to what will work. I have heard conflicting reports here and else where about whether or not 2.0 will work on this MB. I guess I could just get 1.0 so I don't have a problem. But I will need to upgrade the PSU. Any recommendations of what psu will work with this and will handle the 8800gt. I was thinking of going with one of the cards in the link below which is 2.0 but like I said I don't have too if I may have a problem. Let me know what you all think.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2mb+&x=21&y=39

dai

you will need a 650+ psu
Power Supply Information and Selection