Need help on video card upgrade

cougar1973 · 10-19-2008, 04:50 PM

I have a Windows Media Center m7470n desktop and would like to upgrade the video card. It comes with an integrated ATI Radeon X-press 200 card. I want to upgrade to a better card that can handle todays games with intense graphics (is it even possible given the specs?). Please give me your recommendations? My budget is around $50-$70. Thanks!

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 06:01 PM

The catch to upgrading video, is that you more than likely need to
upgrade the power supply. So that adds a addtional $100 to $200+ to
the upgrade. Does not pay to buy a cheap power supply. I always
recommend buying a power supply with alot of overhead. You may
not need the extra power at the time, but it is there when you upgrade
down the line, kind of a future proof thing.

cougar1973 · 10-19-2008, 06:10 PM

Can you suggest the right power supply? What can I do at my end to identify the power supply without opening the unit?

**manic** · 10-19-2008, 07:03 PM

Im not sure if HP uses proprietary power supplies. With home built
pc's any standard atx power supply will work. But that is not always
the case with box store pc's. Maybe someone else will chime in with
the answer. Sometimes they are standard atx, but just wont fit,
so you have to go back the HP, thats what sucks when buying
a box store pc. The machine you have is pretty fast, and does have
a pci-e slot for a better video card, which is good, but you will have
to research on the power supply issue.

**grimx133** · 10-19-2008, 07:05 PM

Well if you plan on putting in a video card, you'll need to open it up for that. The product specifications at HP don't list the power supply, oddly enough. I guess HP is too embarassed by the low wattage junk they tend to put it. You do have a pci-e x 16 slot, which is good as most cards are in that format. Your cpu and ram will be something of a bottleneck, but video is the biggest factor. Your specs from HP - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...1843651&dlc=en
I'll look around and see if there's anything on your power supply, but, can pretty much guarantee that the output won't support a half decent card.

cougar1973 · 10-20-2008, 10:04 AM

manic and grimx133,

Thank you folks for your insight. I'll open the case sometime today to see what info I can provide regarding the power supply. What should I be looking for? I'm a complete noob wrt these components so the dumb questions. Also, if I jack up the ram will that help? I believe there is one slot still open for the ram upgrade

10-19-2008, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
cougar1973 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp sp2	Need help on video card upgrade I have a Windows Media Center m7470n desktop and would like to upgrade the video card. It comes with an integrated ATI Radeon X-press 200 card. I want to upgrade to a better card that can handle todays games with intense graphics (is it even possible given the specs?). Please give me your recommendations? My budget is around $50-$70. Thanks!

10-19-2008, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,241 OS: xp	Re: Need help on video card upgrade The catch to upgrading video, is that you more than likely need to upgrade the power supply. So that adds a addtional $100 to $200+ to the upgrade. Does not pay to buy a cheap power supply. I always recommend buying a power supply with alot of overhead. You may not need the extra power at the time, but it is there when you upgrade down the line, kind of a future proof thing. __________________

10-19-2008, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
cougar1973 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp sp2	Re: Need help on video card upgrade Can you suggest the right power supply? What can I do at my end to identify the power supply without opening the unit?

10-19-2008, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,241 OS: xp	Re: Need help on video card upgrade Im not sure if HP uses proprietary power supplies. With home built pc's any standard atx power supply will work. But that is not always the case with box store pc's. Maybe someone else will chime in with the answer. Sometimes they are standard atx, but just wont fit, so you have to go back the HP, thats what sucks when buying a box store pc. The machine you have is pretty fast, and does have a pci-e slot for a better video card, which is good, but you will have to research on the power supply issue. __________________

10-19-2008, 07:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,142 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Need help on video card upgrade Well if you plan on putting in a video card, you'll need to open it up for that. The product specifications at HP don't list the power supply, oddly enough. I guess HP is too embarassed by the low wattage junk they tend to put it. You do have a pci-e x 16 slot, which is good as most cards are in that format. Your cpu and ram will be something of a bottleneck, but video is the biggest factor. Your specs from HP - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...1843651&dlc=en I'll look around and see if there's anything on your power supply, but, can pretty much guarantee that the output won't support a half decent card.

10-20-2008, 10:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
cougar1973 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 OS: windows xp sp2	Re: Need help on video card upgrade manic and grimx133, Thank you folks for your insight. I'll open the case sometime today to see what info I can provide regarding the power supply. What should I be looking for? I'm a complete noob wrt these components so the dumb questions. Also, if I jack up the ram will that help? I believe there is one slot still open for the ram upgrade