Low profile graphics cards?

[TehBuddha]

Okay, im looking for a new graphics card...

Ive got an Acer Aspire x3200, and right now im running with a GeForce 8200, wich can barely run fallout 3. As the x3200's cas is small, i need a low-profile graphics card... maximum of £110. Id also need to buy a new PSU (the one i have now is 22watts), i have enoughmoney to buy a 400 watt( after spending £110 on the graphics card, that is).

 

Does anyone hav any suggestions?

 

I was thinking of going twith the geforce 9500gt (low-profile)

http://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productdetails.asp?ProductID=6163&categoryid=478

 

But im not sure...

[Illiad86]

ehh it could work...but I think ATI makes better low power low profile graphics cards. You could go for a 5570, pretty godly for low profile. I would not buy the 9500GT...they are old and really actually pretty crappy. And wow, that's a horrible horrible price :sad: There's a GT 220 on the front page of the site you linked for the same price...and that's a new card haha :smile: The 5570 is nice though, it's twice as fast as the 9500GT,

 

Unless your CPU is 150W, you can run the 5570 without having to purchase a new PSU.

[bben46]

A 22 watt power supply is unbelievably weak. That is barely enough to run a motherboard, let alone a hard drive and Video card. A typical motherboard with a CPU (no RAM) requires about 125 to 150 Watts. With Ram & a hard drive it will be about 200W minimum. So, I am guessing that you probably have a 220 Watt supply and not 22 Watt. 220 watts is still weak for a new Video card though.

 

Many of those low profile cases use a custom power supply and a bigger one might not fit. Be sure to measure to be sure before ordering a power supply. Also, one of the tricks the video card makers use to get a low profile card is to make it longer. So be sure any card you do get is not to long to fit your case.

 

Edit: I checked the specs on the Acer Aspire x3200 and my guess was right. It shows 220 Watts. And the power supply is not a standard form factor. They made it longer and narrower, with a notch to fit snugly in that cute little case. A standard power supply will definitely not fit.

 

The existing Video is also an on board - meaning it is built into the motherboard and is not a separate board. There is a single PCI express slot available, so be sure any video card you pick will fit that type of slot.

 

This is not a very good system for upgrades.

 

You might be able to gut the case and put the motherboard and other components in a more standard sized case that will support a standard sized power supply. Only do this if you are confidant in your ability to build your own system.

[Illiad86]

He won't need to get a new PSU....5570s and most low profile cards barely even use 50W

 

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_5570/27.html

[hoshi23]

The 5xx series is pretty good. Alternatively you can look up the 4xxx series aswell. They draw more power but overall it is way cheaper. There are also passive versions out there without an active cooler keeping it nice and quiet in your case. For benchmarks you can check tomshardwareguide.com to actually get an idea on what you getting for the money. And then dont forget to check ebay aswell. You will never know what you might have missed otherwise. Good upgrades can come cheap. It does not have to be expensive. Good luck!

[RedVexHK]

my computer is an HP Office Pro Small form Factor PC it has an ATI Xpress 200 onboard with 128 megs max of shared ram.. useless to even try playing Fallout3 on.. however the board supports a X16 PCIE add on card.. tricky with an odd sized 200 watt PSU.. try finding a more powerful one that will still fit... Sooo.. I did some digging around and researching.. $85 plus tax bought me a new ATI Radeon 4350 Silent HDMI card with 512 megs of ram and able to run easily on a 200 watt PSU .. This card fits any standard case and with the included low profile brackets any small form factor PC.

[CommanderCrazy]

@Vex.

 

Never get a HP again.

If you want to hear my page-long rant, ask.

[bootsox]

ehh it could work...but I think ATI makes better low power low profile graphics cards. You could go for a 5570, pretty godly for low profile. I would not buy the 9500GT...they are old and really actually pretty crappy. And wow, that's a horrible horrible price :sad: There's a GT 220 on the front page of the site you linked for the same price...and that's a new card haha :smile: The 5570 is nice though, it's twice as fast as the 9500GT,

 

Unless your CPU is 150W, you can run the 5570 without having to purchase a new PSU.

+1 for 5570