upgrading graphics cards

[Esk247]

i have a standard desktop PC that i bought 6 months ago, it's been absolutely fine until i purchased a few new bits of graphics stuff and video editing software and everytime i try to open those programs they cut out and display a fatal error problem.

seems like the graphics card.

so would this be suitable to upgrade from integrated graphics: http://www.ebuyer.com/264008-asus-h...hdmi-pci-e-graphics-card-eah5450silentdi-1gd2

or do i need to buy a whole new PC with all the extra bits just to use these two new programs?

apparently they need ati h5600 or better but i'm not sure if the above will do it?

 

[Rasta Pickles]

I'd be surprised if the software specifically states that it needs an ATI card?

Unless it's produced by one of ATI's offshoots.

One of the things you will need to bear in mind when installing a graphics card is what it will draw from your PSU. Some pc manufacturers install underpowered PSU's and the moment you install anything with a bit of grunt then the whole system just can't cope.

 

[darren atkinson]

Firstly I wouldn't assume that its a graphics card problem if I were you unless the software specifically mentions that it must have a certain level of graphical capacity to run. Try googling problems with the specific software and see if anyone else has had the same problem and see how they resolved it.

The card you have chosen isn't particularly powerful but would be a step up from most integrated graphics chipsets.

You need to ensue that the motherboard in your current PC has a spare PCI-e x16 Full Length slot available to accept the extra card.

Along with this many PC's now come in slim cases and can only take low profile graphics cards, you'd also need to check you have enough physical room inside the case for the extra card, otherwise you'd need a low profile card.

As already mentioned power supply can sometimes be an issue but I think the card you have selected is fairly low power draw, it certainly doesn't need connecting straight into the power supply so you will probably be okay with it.

Hope this helps,

Darren

 

[Esk247]

I'd be surprised if the software specifically states that it needs an ATI card?

Unless it's produced by one of ATI's offshoots.

One of the things you will need to bear in mind when installing a graphics card is what it will draw from your PSU. Some pc manufacturers install underpowered PSU's and the moment you install anything with a bit of grunt then the whole system just can't cope.

well on the box it says minimum requirement ati x1900 or nvidia7900

i was going to send the software back but with it being xmas i know it will take ages to get back so thought i might pop and get a new graphics card.

i had a quick google and the error code is that pointing to graphics card, other people have had the same problem on other forums. d'oh.

well that upgrade is cheap enough if it works, might help with photoshop and illustrator too i guess.

 

[Chunkford]

Have you tried upgrading your drivers before you start to splash the cash?

 

[Esk247]

Have you tried upgrading your drivers before you start to splash the cash?

yeah, i've run a windows update thing as well and there's nothing else that needs updating on the system.

must be graphics card as it's only the integrated one that came with the machine.

got enough RAM 6gigs. 1 terrabyte hard drive etc.

 

[Rasta Pickles]

yeah, i've run a windows update thing as well and there's nothing else that needs updating on the system.

must be graphics card as it's only the integrated one that came with the machine.

got enough RAM 6gigs. 1 terrabyte hard drive etc.

Another thing to bear in mind is graphics card "memory".

A lot of the cheaper cards leech system RAM......so you think you're buying a 1gig card and you're actually buying a 128mb card which has the capacity to "borrow" 768mb from your installed RAM.

Not an issue if you've shedloads of RAM (and everyone should seeing as it's as cheap as chips these days, I got 16GB of Corsair RAM for less than £80 a few weeks ago) but if you've only got 2gig and your graphics card starts leeching 1gig of it you'll find everything grinds to a halt very quickly.

Bear in mind, as well, IE8 on this machine (together with the relevant svchost dependant) regularly use up 1.5GB of my RAM.

 

[mit74]

that card is an budget version and only slightly better than your built-in card. If you're using professional software then get a decent card. Like the software says ati 56xx or equivalent geforce 4 or 5 series. ATI 6xxx series is out now so probably cheaper than the 5 series.

http://www.ebuyer.com/280038-powerc...i-vga-hdmi-pci-e-graphics-card-ax6670-1gbk3-h

You will probably need at least a 450watt to run this card and 500w+ recommended.

 

[123Simples]

What is the brand of PC Esk?

 

[Esk247]

that card is an budget version and only slightly better than your built-in card. If you're using professional software then get a decent card. Like the software says ati 56xx or equivalent geforce 4 or 5 series. ATI 6xxx series is out now so probably cheaper than the 5 series.

http://www.ebuyer.com/280038-powerc...i-vga-hdmi-pci-e-graphics-card-ax6670-1gbk3-h

You will probably need at least a 450watt to run this card and 500w+ recommended.

would that work on a system that uses DDR2 though?

 

[Esk247]

What is the brand of PC Esk?

custom built, thats why i'm having a few problems. it's been upgraded from the base model 2gb to a 6 gig ram (it can take up to 8 on that board) but the graphics and such haven't been upgraded, haven't needed to until now.

just downloaded a demo game from Rockstar and that doesn't work, says graphics insufficient

 

[mit74]

would that work on a system that uses DDR2 though?

yes the computer memory is not related in any way to the graphics card memory. As long as you have a PCI-e slot and a powerful enough power supply it will be fine. Some top range cards need additional power cable (molex to pci-e 6pin) but they usually come in the box.

 

[Newcott]

What software are you trying to use?

Editing software can be very specific to the type of system it needs - for example AVID Media Compossor can be very fussy.

 

[Bill1954]

Find out what, if any graphics slot is on your MB, there are different types. The person who built the machine should be able to tell you.

 

[123Simples]

It's a custom built machine Bill so Esk should know what is in there. Esk I'd suggest that you try an Nvidia Graphics Card with on board ram - you can buy them fairly cheap and go for 1GB on the graphics card - Novatech do a good range of graphics cards -

http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/nvidiageforcegraphicscards/