Adding a graphics card to this OEM desktop

Digitalism

Hello. Would it be possible to add this graphics card: http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=56014&agid=1004
to this stock Vostro dell: http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-270/pd?oc=sbds322&model_id=vostro-270&

the vostro has a i3 ivy bridge, with no dedicated graphics card.

Is this possible, and if so is it a big job, or would I run into any trouble or anything else id need to buy/change also. Reason is, thats a good deal for that desktop IMO, and I wouldnt feel comfortable building a desktop from scratch, but feel I can change a graphics card.

U_Fig

It might work depending on whether the PSU is powerful enough and there is a spare 6pin PCI cable in the PSU also if the motherboard has a spare PCIe x16 slot and the card will fit in the case.

It's realy easy it'll slot in and just connect a cable install drivers and that's it.. In fact building a pc is not that hard really.. It's like Lego most connections can only connect one way and if you take your time you'd be find there is a slight learning curve but it'd be worth knowing and it'll allow you troubleshoot in the future.. It'll work out cheaper if you build one.. Hardwareversand will build it for you for €20 if you pick out the parts then you just have to install windows
What's it going to be used for?

Photoshop

It's a 300 watt psu and dell usually under rate there psu's.

Just make sure you get a standard tower OP, not a mini tower, so you don;t have to go low profile cards.

For those specs, i3 3.3ghz, 8gb ram I would go with 7850.

7770 isn't up to much.

Photoshop

U_Fig wrote: »

It might work depending on whether the PSU is powerful enough and there is a spare 6pin PCI cable in the PSU also if the motherboard has a spare PCIe x16 slot and the card will fit in the case.

It's realy easy it'll slot in and just connect a cable install drivers and that's it.. In fact building a pc is not that hard really.. It's like Lego most connections can only connect one way and if you take your time you'd be find there is a slight learning curve but it'd be worth knowing and it'll allow you troubleshoot in the future.. It'll work out cheaper if you build one.. Hardwareversand will build it for you for €20 if you pick out the parts then you just have to install windows
What's it going to be used for?

That dell vostro is a pretty good deal in fairness.

Digitalism

U_Fig wrote: »

Hardwareversand will build it for you for €20 if you pick out the parts then you just have to install windows
What's it going to be used for?

Can you link me to where you select that service when paying for your parts as id be interested in paying the €20 to get it built. I assume they will still send you the computer parts boxes, as you would need them for warranty purposes im guessing.

U_Fig

Photoshop wrote: »

That dell vostro is a pretty good deal in fairness.

Still no harm in speccing a build to compare.

Digitalism wrote: »

Can you link me to where you select that service when paying for your parts as id be interested in paying the €20 to get it built. I assume they will still send you the computer parts boxes, as you would need them for warranty purposes im guessing.

Just add this to the basket with all the parts..

http://www.hardwareversand.de/Service/746/Rechner+-+Zusammenbau.article

You'll still have to install windows n that

ComputerKing

U_Fig wrote: »

Still no harm in speccing a build to compare.



Just add this to the basket with all the parts..

http://www.hardwareversand.de/Service/746/Rechner+-+Zusammenbau.article

You'll still have to install windows n that

What ever you do don't get them to build it just take one look at this thread and you'll see why http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056940939
There is more examples if you do a quick search.
It's just as easy to build yourself.

Monotype

Dell don't underrate their PSUs; they just don't overrate them.

The 7750 would be a reasonable option if there's no PCI-E cable on the PSU as it can be powered from the board. Most PSUs nowadays will throw in at least one though.

What's this PC's job going to be anyhow?

Digitalism

Monotype wrote: »

Dell don't underrate their PSUs; they just don't overrate them.

The 7750 would be a reasonable option if there's no PCI-E cable on the PSU as it can be powered from the board. Most PSUs nowadays will throw in at least one though.

What's this PC's job going to be anyhow?

Well I just think thats a very good deal for a pre built desktop. I personally just dont fancy building one, and the vostro comes with 3 year next day warranty for a few extra quid, which is good. The PC is just going to be used for general use (bitta music, gaming, office, surfing, media playback etc.). If I go on dell chat, what should I ask them to figure out if the 7770 or 7850 would work with it without needing to buy a new power supply etc.?

Monotype

If you go onto the chat, they would most like tell you to upgrade/buy their own cards.
A 7850 maxes at about 120W. The rest of that system wouldn't be even 100W. If it's a 300W PSU, then you'd be fine, so long as you have the PSU PCI-E connector, which it has according to here:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/p/19491066/20297300.aspx


I suppose when you add in an OS, you won't really get better value for money from building it yourself, aside from the upgradability side of it. Unless you were to build around AMD's APUs for an integrated graphics solution.