Noob needs advice - GPU and PSU upgrade, if possible?

oPosted this again as the Font is too small on my system specs....apologies.      

  Howdy gang,

I have had numerous responses to previous questions posed via this forum, and the information provided has excelled my computing experience and I hope this time around will be no different.

I am seeking info’ on whether or not I could, and should upgrade my present graphics card to something a bit meatier for the coming year or two?

I am presently running a single 8800GT 512MB, and it performs superbly, but the last few games I have purchased I have noticed a steady decline in the graphic card’s ability to MAX’ out settings.

I am contemplating upgrading to the GTX series, preferably a GTX465.

I am also aware that I would need to upgrade my PSU, dunno how high I would need to go....probably dependant on the GPU?

Any advice on whether my motherboard would be able to handle another GPU and PSU upgrade, and whether my present rig would be able to support a GTX465, or whether my PC could handle any card in the GTX range?

Below are my system specs for your perusal.

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• 550W Power Supply Unit. – Dunno the brand?

All this information you provided is not necessary.  We really only need your system model which is I will guess a Dimension E520 based on the info you did provide.  If that is correct, then I do believe because of the BTX case design you have that dual slot cards such as the GTX 465 will not fit.  Only single slot cards will fit and with the 8800 GT you have, this is probably about as high as you can go as any upgrades past this that would be worthwhile would all be dual slot cards.   Maybe someone with an E520 can verify this, but your alternative is to just not max out your settings with newer games.   A similar card today to replace the 8800 GT would be the 9800 GT with 1GB of memory, but that would really not be gaining you anything except more memory as the two cards are pretty much identical.   

Thanks for the response JMichael,

My Dell E520 has a BTX casing.

Hypothetical question;

If I was to change the casing to an ATX with ample space to fit a double width graphics card, would that suffice?

I do realise also that if I change my Dell casing, it does void any warranty.

I am out of my warranty period anyway, and with my CPU and GPU upgrades  I already assume my warranty is null and void.

Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Thanks for the response JMichael, My Dell E520 has a BTX casing. Hypothetical question; If I was to change the casing to an ATX with ample space to fit a double width graphics card, would that suffice? I do realise also that if I change my Dell casing, it does void any warranty. I am out of my warranty period anyway, and with my CPU and GPU upgrades  I already assume my warranty is null and void. Any further advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 Franj0

The e520 BTX motherboard, will not fit into an ATX case.

Bev.

Your only possibility here is to buy an ATX case and new ATX or Micro ATX motherboard and then transfer all your other parts over.  If you have an Intel motherboard with a 775 socket and DDR2 memory, that is what you would want to look for.  You can probably get a motherboard and mid-size case for as little as $100.  You also might need a new CPU heatsink and fan which are inexpensive, but if you said you upgraded to the Q6600, then maybe you have one the came with the CPU as the stock Dell one would probably not work.  The other thing you would need though is a new copy of the Windows operating system because you will not be able to use the OEM version that came with your Dell system.  However, there is a possibility that it could work if you just transfer your hard drive over with the current operating system on it if the two chipsets and close.  I moved my hard drive from a Dell motherboard with a G33 chipset to a new motherboard with the P45 chipset and it worked, but I already had Windows 7 Ultimate that I happened to get free so I installed it instead.