Graphics card - easy to change?

secret_tramp

My son has a Dell PC and he reckons the graphics card is on its way out.

Can these things be bought separately?

Secondly, is this item easy to replace like the extra memory he put in?

If relevant, any recommended places to get this part would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

financequest

Graphic card replacement is fairly easy. However, the type depends on the spec of your existing computer. There are several flavours of cards depending on the vintage of the PC, some cards are not compatible with each other. If you provide the model of PC eg. ( Dell XPS 430 ), then further advice can be given

Inactive

secret_tramp wrote: »

My son has a Dell PC and he reckons the graphics card is on its way out.

.

" On it's way out " they usually work or they don't work, he is possibly trying to get Mum/Dad to pay for an upgraded card..

CHR15

Be vary careful to inspect the requirements of the new Graphics Card.

Dell only install a PSU to cope with what is already fitted.

Go putting in a GTS250 Graphics card and you wont have a cat in hells chance if running it as the PSU will not supply enough power.

There will be a label on the side of the PSU with the current available on each line. Make sure it suits the requirements of the new card, or it will mean a PSU upgrade as well.

kwikbreaks

Inactive wrote: »

" On it's way out " they usually work or they don't work, he is possibly trying to get Mum/Dad to pay for an upgraded card..

My thoughts too when I read the first post.

CHR15

A friend of mine went to help a young Engineering apprentice out at work once who was having problems with his system.

The lad stated he thought one of the Fuses was "on it's way out" :laugh:::laugh:

nitr02007

He probably thinks most old people are "On the way out" too.

esuhl

Just don't do what I did and buy a new graphics card that won't fit. Well... it kind of does fit, but only if I unplug every hard drive, which makes my PC somewhat less useful.

CrazysnipeR

CHR15 wrote: »

Be vary careful to inspect the requirements of the new Graphics Card.

Dell only install a PSU to cope with what is already fitted.

Go putting in a GTS250 Graphics card and you wont have a cat in hells chance if running it as the PSU will not supply enough power.

There will be a label on the side of the PSU with the current available on each line. Make sure it suits the requirements of the new card, or it will mean a PSU upgrade as well.

+ 1 to this. If you install a new Graphics Card, and your existing Power Supply is say only 230Watts. There is no way you can get this to run.

-TangleFoot-

• Video card - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Personal computer hardware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WilliC

GFX cards are very easy to replace, however as stated in this thread remember the following:

Make sure your current PSU has the corrent connecters (somthing which i forgot to check myself, cost me £100 for a new PSU )

Your current PSU can supply enough power to it.

The GFX card can physically fit inside the case (some of the newer cards E.G an 8800 is huge in comparison to some other cards on the market.)

You buy the corrent GFX card for your mobo (there are 2 kinds of gfx card, PCI and AGP. They are non compatable, so you would need to find out which kind your old gfx card is, so you can match it).

To install a gfx card search youtube for "Tiger How-To: Install a Graphics Card in Your PC"

I would post the link, but i can't as im a new user.