Upgrading to PCI-E Video

gonracn32 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 03:44 AM

I have an HP 7955 with a P4 1.5 PC 133. It does not support PCI-E. Is there a way to upgrade the MOBO and PS to accomodate a PCI-E video card. I was given a brand new ATI 1650 Pro PCI-E and would like to be able to use it. My current MOBO is ASUS w Brookdale 845 chip

guyladouche · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 04:47 AM

I have some good news and some bad news. The good news first, yes, you can replace the motherboard and PSU, but you'll likely have to replace the CPU as well. I took a quick look at pricewatch.com and couldn't find any socket 845 motherboards that had PCI-E x16 slots. Not surprising though. So in essence, you'd need to build a new computer.

To be honest, despite the fact that you were given that card, the x1650's are not really all that good. They use the same chipset as the x1300 series cards, which weren't that good either. Problem is that when advanced features are enabled (which also make the games look nice) like anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, and dynamic shadows/lighting, performance drops considerably--down to 21fps in games like FarCry and Call of Duty 2--nearly un-playable. I just wanted to let you know in case you want to re-do your system and are expecting a great gaming computer with that card.

So here's the deal--you'd have to basically build a completely new computer if you want PCI-E graphics--likely all that you could salvage from your current computer is the HD's, optical drive, and whatever PCI add-on cards you have. Everything else would need to be replaced--mobo, ram (I'm assuming), CPU, PSU. But if you're going to buy/build a new computer to have PCI-E graphics, you might as well go with something better than an x1650 card. At least x1800 if not higher for ATI (the x1950pro is great, and is quite cheap in comparison to most other cards of the same class--$200 new). If you want Nvidia, at least a 7800 series card or higher. But that's just my opinion.

**Speedboxer** · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 06:20 AM

Plus, you'd most likely have to reinstall Windows too. You may just be better off buying a new computer and saving yourself the trouble.

guyladouche · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 06:30 AM

Reinstallation of the OS would be implied. But building a computer is far cheaper than buying one, and you can get components that you want instead of a "black box" that can be impossible to troubleshoot/upgrade. Besides, commercial gaming computers are exorbitantly priced--you could build a high-end gaming computer (case, mobo, cpu, ram, PSU) for less than a grand. You'd likely pay double for a commercial gaming rig, probably with lower specs.

**Speedboxer** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 06:37 AM

True, but you're basically replacing the whole computer, then you have to install Windows. Sure, if you want to build your computer great, but if you maybe you have never built a computer, you may want to consider just buying one. Although, building your computer will probably always be better then buying one, well, except maybe not if you want a Notebook. :p

guyladouche · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 06:43 AM

Yeah, building a notebook would suck. Troubleshooting one is bad enough...

I don't know--I hate giving my money away for a computer off the shelf when I know I can build a significantly better one for hundreds less. Besides, if everyone who never built a computer before doesn't try to build a computer, then no one would do it. Gotta start somewhere. I guess upgrading a current rig is not a bad place to start.

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