Installing an additional graphics card?

[SomeDude]

Hello

I am planning to buy a new computer. There's one good offer that I am interested in but I am not sure about the graphics card:

Since that specific computer has an Intel HD card, I am wondering if it is feasible to place/install a 2nd graphics card [I have an ATI card ready for that]?

Link here

 

[_Sushi]

You need to make sure the motherboard on the Asus has the room and a slot for the right interface of the ATI card, but it probably does (assume the ATI card is fairly recent).

You also need to make sure the power supply in the computer provides a source of power feasible enough for the graphics card to perform (less probable but still probable).

 

[Cloakedsphere]

Hello

I am planning to buy a new computer. There's one good offer that I am interested in but I am not sure about the graphics card:

Since that specific computer has an Intel HD card, I am wondering if it is feasible to place/install a 2nd graphics card [I have an ATI card ready for that]?

Link here

Its most likely just an on board graphics chip. Not a card. So yes. Just plug in your card, install the drivers for it using the on board intel card and restart the computer once you swapped the cables to the main GPU. Fairly easy

 

[SomeDude]

Great!
Thank you for the quick replies

 

[Cloakedsphere]

Oh and the PSU on that computer is only 300w. Mostly because you -dont- have a seperate graphics card installed yet. As long as your GPU is a PCI E 2 you should be fine. But do not plan to overclock anything. As you could fry your system.

 

[_Sushi]

It would be better if you told us your graphics card model so we can better help you.

 

[SomeDude]

Well, the ATI card i have is ATI HD 4650.
It isn't new or taxing, i believe. So I don't think it will badly affect the computer [if i get it, still searching]

 

[_Sushi]

You're going to need a 400W or higher power supply.

Your motherboard needs a PCI Express x16 slot (it probably does).

 

[runo]

300w should be enough juice to reliably power a 4650 (It should power up to a 4670 before things get iffy), especially since the rest of his rig is so low-power. As long as he has the PCI Express slot to plug it into, he'll be okay.

Onboard graphics won't interfere with your dedicated card, so you should be good to go.

Out of curiosity, what's your budget? You might be able to get a better deal on a better computer. That computer isn't a very good deal for almost $600, especially with Canadian NewEgg available to you (I'm assuming you're Canadian from the .ca address on the link you provided).

 

[Cloakedsphere]

300w should be enough juice to reliably power a 4650 (It should power up to a 4670 before things get iffy), especially since the rest of his rig is so low-power. As long as he has the PCI Express slot to plug it into, he'll be okay.

Onboard graphics won't interfere with your dedicated card, so you should be good to go.

Out of curiosity, what's your budget? You might be able to get a better deal on a better computer. That computer isn't a very good deal for almost $600, especially with Canadian NewEgg available to you (I'm assuming you're Canadian from the .ca address on the link you provided).

This. 99.9% of the time the power supply calculators you find on the internet and other random websites goes for the BEST RECOMMENDATION. Not an actual estimate for you to save you money. Your PSU should be plenty for such a low power card and your PCI E card should fit just fine inside the case.

Although, As juno said, You can get a way better deal.

 

[Snipeye]

Just an FYI: If it says Intel is the graphics card, it's onboard. Intel doesn't make GPUs. Just plug the card in and you should be good. If you were to upgrade the parts or use a more powerful GPU, you will need a higher PSU.

However, I will temper my statement but saying that a lot of prebuilt systems don't use the best power supply, so even a 300 watt rated PSU may actually be giving you less than that. So it's up to you to decide to stick with the prebuilt PSU or find a more reliable one to use and go with that.

Personally, I don't like to use prebuilt PSU's unless I know exactly who the manufacturer of it is. Had one system go through a bad short that destroyed 4 PC parts (used a pre-built system and the included PSU).