Graphics Card Installation Help

In a thread from some time ago, I asked this community for some help in finding a sufficient graphics card for running BeamNG. Since then, I managed to attain such a graphics card, attempted installation once, failed, and promptly let the card sit in random corners of the house for months on end. Seeing as it's been nearly a year since I recognized my computer's shortcoming, I figure it's time to try my hand at it again.

The problem is that the card comes with a power input, but nothing to put in it. The current card seems to get its power from the slot into which it is plugged, so it seems the new card is left hanging for electricity (note: I don't know a thing about computer hardware. My diagnosis may be completely off).

The computer is a three-year-old stock Dell XPS 8300 with an AMD Radeon HD 6450, and the card is a Gigabyte Geforce GTX 650 ti Boost. I don't have a non-cellphone camera that I can use to take pictures, but here's a rough glimpse inside the guts of my machine, courtesy of Bing Images:



If my diagnosis is correct, and I may need a power supply upgrade as well, I'd like to know as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'll see if I can't get photos from my not-so-smart phone to my computer.

 

You need at least a 450w PSU(i think) with an additional 6 pin plug.

 

I'd recommend you to just dump that pre-built crap in the bin, but if you really just want to upgrade the GPU...

1. Search for your CPU model, this can be found in your PC's information.
2. Look inside your PC for the amount of RAM sticks, hard drives (SATA or IDE? Important), CD/DVD drives, and case fans.
3. Once you've gathered all the information, use a PSU calculator to find out what you need. You might be running short on the power side.

Pre-built computers usually have junk PSUs running at peak power. Get a good brand PSU with a 50-100 watt headroom, as you'll still want to have an extra 50 watts if you upgrade something else. Your PSU will also last longer if it isn't running at peak power.

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Also, WTF is that cooler in the picture. It looks like an Intel stock heatsink with a regular square fan slapped on top of it, unbolted. Whaat?

 

Looks exactly like the cooler on my pre-built shit AMD rig.

 

Yeah, I can't quite recall what I have in this thing. Sadly, dxdiag doesn't cover that, and I never have a screwdriver handy.

When I say I don't know a thing about hardware, I passionately mean it. I know I'd screw something up along the way if I attempted to do this solo. Makes me regret not taking a computer tech class in college. But thanks, for thinking I have the knowledge and skill to build a computer.

I have the info on my CPU, but you lost me on RAM sticks and the type of hard drive. There's a CD/DVD tray that I never use, and a single fan hindside.

Yeah, in the aforementioned thread, I was advised to get a new PSU, even if I don't really need it. For safety's sake, I planned to do just that.

I have no clue. Again, this isn't a picture of my computer, and [hopefully] isn't an immensely good demonstration of what's in it.

 

A 500W 80+ Bronze power supply should be enough for the graphics card. There should be connectors at the front of the card with either 6 or 8 large pinholes in a 2x3 or 2x4 configuration. You could try to find a matching connector not currently plugged into anything from your PSU, but I doubt you will. Most OEM PSUs won't have PCI-E power connectors unless the system originally needed them.

 

Look up basic PC components, you'll learn a lot very quickly and you'll find out it's much simpler than it looks.
If you want to know the hard drive type, you look at the connectors. Search SATA vs IDE to see what they each look like.

If you're changing PSU, remember to buy a good PSU. If you have absolutely no idea what you're doing, have someone install it for you, you don't want to screw up on the PSU and fry the board.
Search for a proper PSU brand and model, and remember to keep a 50-100 watt headroom above what you actually need. My PC uses 500W, but I have a 700W PSU for upgrade headroom.

 

I have the XPS 8500. It is the pretty much the same apart from the motherboard and processor. I've been running a GTX 660 ti on the stock 460w PSU for about a year and a half. (Your is the same PSU as it was and is standard on the XPS 8xxx series.) You'll be fine to run the 650 on that setup. When you installed it and it didnt work last time, did the PC boot and POST? Because there is incompatibility with the XPS series of BIOS and non-reference GPUs. Its the luck of the draw whether some will work or not.
Just remember to seat the card correctly and plug in the power connectors and you should be good!
EDIT: There should be two 6 pin power connectors coming from the PSU. You have to plug one of these into the new graphics cards for it to work.

 

Im going to cry...... 500w for a 650ti.. this gpu take like 60w max

i can run my 7950 and fx 6300 on a 450w both overclocked.... I mean Occt PSU test 100% load of death and i will stay under 400w

 

You'll want to change that PSU, it won't last too long at peak load like that.

 

Sorry for the delayed response. I figured that the comments would just simply taper off, and that I could exhume this thread in the event that I needed further advice or clarification.

Be that as it may, I want to get as much mileage out of this thing as I can. Seeing as nearly all of my work up to this point is on this computer, and I have neither an external hard drive or membership to any online backup service, I'd rather not risk using the same aging PSU with a newer, thirstier card.

As for power connections, I was nervous enough when trying to install the card the last time that I didn't bother to rummage around for any loose cords. It looked like every cord coming from the PSU was occupied by something in the machine. Again, I don't have any clear memory of the last time I looked inside, so I'll have to wait and see when I can get ahold of a screwdriver and crack the case open.

 

And this is why I use a single thumbscrew to hold my sidepanel on.

 

My 2 year old 480W PSU powers two HD7870 in Crossfire and an i5 3450
Whatever PSU is in your pc, it should be sufficient.

 

That its 2 years old says nothing about a power supply.

 

I shouldn't write posts before 10:00 AM
Nonetheless, at least PSUs can be upgraded seperately from other parts (unlike the cpu, which needs a motherboard with the right chipset), so it isn't a bad investment, if you plan to upgrade other parts in the future.

 

I don't know why you are so worried about the power supply failing. I have a 7870 on another XPS 8500 thats the same age on my one which came pre-installed. Dell wouldn't sell them with a 7870 if they thought the PSU would fail after a few years. Use the money you would spend on a PSU on a new HDD instead and keep a backup of your files. Its more important to do that as you seem worried about them anyway

Oh and I have 6 HDDs running on that PSU on my one so dont worry about the power draw from adding another HDD anyway

 

Dell might use different PSUs for different models.

 

They used the same ones in all the XPS 8300/8500/8700. I remember having a conversation with the Dell reps