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| Is This a Hardware U P G R A D E ? | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 9 2012, 03:27 AM (508 Views) | |
| Trotsky | Aug 9 2012, 03:27 AM Post #1 |
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Big City Boy
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I have a new (this year) computer running an Intel i-5 processor, 8 gigs RAM. I have integrated video called INTEL HD GRAPHICS 2000 Tiger is having a sale on Video Cards and this one looks appealing (read CHEAP.) Video Card Is this likely to be much of an UPGRADE to what I have now? Any liklihood that I will notice any difference. I DO play some games but relatively simpleminded ones. Thanks. (It will give me the chance to output DVI to my monitor...I only have VGA and HDMI now.) Edited by Trotsky, Aug 9 2012, 03:32 AM.
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| Dialtone | Aug 9 2012, 04:04 AM Post #2 |
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Gold Star Member
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Unless you're a serious gamer, I doubt you'd notice much difference. If you decide to upgrade, just make sure you have an open slot to plug it in, then I imagine you'll have to turn your integrated video off. I use integrated video on my main PC, my grandson plays the odd game, it works great for my uses. Can't go too far wrong for $34. |
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| Oldsalt | Aug 9 2012, 05:19 AM Post #3 |
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Small Star Member
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If you have HDMI now why would you want DVI? DVI requires an extra audio lead. To install the GT card a computers power pack must have at least 400W, I believe yours has only 300W. Edited by Oldsalt, Aug 9 2012, 06:46 AM.
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| wildie | Aug 9 2012, 02:02 PM Post #4 |
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Veteran Member
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In a similar scenerio, I bought a video card that was on sale. It was for my XP machine and I wished to use the DVI feature on my new (at that time) LCD monitor. All was well, until I decided to upgrade from XP to Win7. I found that the manufacturer had no interest in writing Win7 drivers for this card. In due course, I was able to manually install Vista drivers that worked with Win7. Its my opinion that these cards are sold at a major discount, for a specific reason. And that is that the manufacturer doesn't want to invest resources in supporting hardware that is soon to be obsolete. Its conceivable you may decide to upgrade to Win8 at some future time and then find out your video card won't work it. |
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| Dialtone | Aug 9 2012, 02:18 PM Post #5 |
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Gold Star Member
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Good point Wildie, drivers, software, and support are the expensive parts of a card, the hardware is cheap. |
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| Oldsalt | Aug 9 2012, 02:27 PM Post #6 |
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Small Star Member
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A lot of hassle with this card if the power pack has to be swapped. Edited by Oldsalt, Aug 9 2012, 02:29 PM.
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| Trotsky | Aug 10 2012, 02:03 AM Post #7 |
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Big City Boy
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My computer outputs HDMI and VGA. My monitor inputs DVI and VGA. So I bought a heavy duty HDMI-DVI cable that falls out of the vertical HDMI slot...so I have to use VGA or buy ANOTHER converter cable and hope it stays put. So a DVD video output would be a plus. Yes, my power supply is rated 300 W. Is that 400 W. requirement for a video card just a nicety or an actual reality? Certainly I won't entertain any possibility of switching power supplies. (So how much wattage does one of these cards actually CONSUME?) You guys scared me a bit about the software compatibility even though I KNOW that unless Microsoft offers Win 8 for free, unlikely, this computer will take Win 7 to that great slicon valley graveyard. Edited by Trotsky, Aug 10 2012, 02:11 AM.
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| Oldsalt | Aug 10 2012, 05:45 AM Post #8 |
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Small Star Member
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It has to do with total wattage, the video card and the power requirements of the other components. You may get away with a 300w psu but if you do any amount of gaming and/or heavy graphics it may require more power than the 300w psu can handle. USB gadgets will also add to power consumption. Some techies say to be on the safe side your power pack should have 20-25% more wattage than what your computer is using. The card you are considering is classed as mid range so Im assuming it may use more power than low end graphic cards but I dont know how much power it will use during regular use or at peak watts. As dialtone said previously, if you arent into gaming you probably wouldnt notice any difference with the new card installed. HDMI cables must be really cheap now. I bought several 6' cables and 1 HDMI-DVI for a song, shipping included, about 4 years ago. Cant think of the retailer at the moment but its Mono something or other and is located in California. This may solve your HDMI problem This Port Saver helps to put less stress on the internal ports of your devices. Very snug fit which will help to prevent HDMI® connection problems of having cables come loose. Port saver users comments here: http://www.avsforum.com/t/817037/port-savers Edited by Oldsalt, Aug 10 2012, 09:26 AM.
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| Trotsky | Aug 11 2012, 01:40 AM Post #9 |
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Big City Boy
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Oldsalt, I don't quite understand the virtues of that "PortSaver" except to protect a port from frequent plugging and unplugging. (And it's ad say "protects INTERNAL ports on the motherboard." I just want to plug it in and forget it forever. What am I missing here? (I even thought of a tiny drop of epoxy on the plug...but that sound more than a bit too risky. signs081 Anyhoo, I buy all my cables from monoprice too and I LOVE their prices and my only gripe is that as soon as I buy one I think of ANOTHER I need and could have saved on shipping had I done both at once. ohmy 03 I guess what I shall try is to buy a very high gauge (thin) HDMI-DVI converter to replace the Godzilla-sized cable that falls out of the HDMI socket from its own weight and hope for the best. What dimwit would ever design a systen with vertically mounted HDMI sockets...Sockets like HDMI are already fraught with loosening problems, why enhance them? I have seen some HDMI tighteners that screw mount onto the socket but they are not cheap and look difficult to install. Okay, thanks guys, you have helped me nix the idea of the new video card. |
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| Oldsalt | Aug 11 2012, 03:01 AM Post #10 |
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Small Star Member
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After reading just a few of the reviews the impression I get is this gadget has a slightly tighter fit than the regular HDMI plug and is used mainly to prevent the HDMI plug from coming loose. As the port saver is 8" in lenght the bottom connection where you would plug your HDMI cable into should be resting on your monitors stand or computer desk and there should be very little pressure or pull at the monitor connection. |
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| Trotsky | Aug 13 2012, 02:29 AM Post #11 |
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Big City Boy
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Salty, It's just the sheer WEIGHT of the HDMI cable that pulls it out and that is only the weight from the socket to the desktop...a foot. The only way this worked was to jam the cable against the wall so that the pressure of flexion pushed INTO the socket. But as you might have guessed, a good SNEEZE or the opening of a desk drawer was enough to jar it loose again. I think that port saver is just that, an extension cable that allows frequent plugging and unplugging without risk of damage to the computer port (or worse, the motherboard HDMI port.) Not a dumb idea given the inherent fragility of HDMI design. I think this flimsy connector is the way I'll try: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2661&seq=1&format=2 instead of the one I bought that is about 5 times as thick...like friggen ROMEX! Okay, just ordered the 6 foor length of the thin gauge. I may regret the extra weight but as soon as I get the computer off the desk I will need more than 3 feet. Geez, I HATE paying the same for shipping as for the item itself. blink 000 Edited by Trotsky, Aug 13 2012, 03:47 AM.
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| Oldsalt | Aug 13 2012, 05:59 AM Post #12 |
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Small Star Member
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Im sure the 6' thinner cable will do the trick but Im having trouble understanding where your monitor is positioned and what kind of a monitor stand you are using. I have a 19" monitor and my wife has a 22" and the HDMI connector on those monitors is only about 6 or 7 inches above the bottom of the stand. If I had the loose cable problem I would tie or wire the existing cable to the upper portion of my monitor stands center column which is about 4 inches or less from the monitors HDMI port. Securing the cable in this fashion would take the weight off the monitors port and I believe if it was bent slightly it would create an upward pressure towards the monitors HDMI port. Edited by Oldsalt, Aug 13 2012, 06:01 AM.
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| Trotsky | Aug 13 2012, 08:16 AM Post #13 |
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Big City Boy
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To clarify: Monitor (23 inch LCD) is immediately adjacent to the computer on the desk...a situation that must soon be corrected because I cannot tolerate the computer taking desk space. It is the MONITOR that is DVI capable and tightly screws to the cable... and the COMPUTER that has the HDMI output SIDEWAYS that falls loose in a light breeze. And any stress onto the cable, with the aid of gravity will cock the connector ever so lightly up or down, just enough to lose the picture, sound, the works. The only way to tie it down might involve Scotch tape around the entire computer...a less thann exciting design statement. |
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| Oldsalt | Aug 13 2012, 08:42 AM Post #14 |
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Small Star Member
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I should have realized that a dozen posts ago but it doesnt surprise me as I've been doing a few strange things recently that I put down to tiredness. Hope its just that. |
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