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6578
November 3rd, 2013 06:00
Replacement Graphics Card
I have a Dell Studio XPS 8100.with an NVidea GeForce GTS 240 Graphics Card, the fan of which has broken. The card works fine till it overheats and shuts down the computer. I was looking for a replacement card and found a GeForce GT 630 card which seems to fit the bill. It has 2GB of video memory so would appear to also be an upgrade to the 240. However when I checked the minimum system specs, it needs a 450 watt power supply. My Dell came with a 350 watt PSU. Strangely however, when I checked on NVidea's website about the minimum power requirements of the original GTS 240 card that came with my Dell, that also needs a 450 watt supply. What gives? Can I then safely use the new GT 630 with my current PSU and not worry about it, on the grounds that a 450 watt graphics card has happily worked for 3 years on the 350 watt PSU? or has the GTS 240 somehow been downgraded to draw less power by Dell before being fitted.
Another option I've considered is just fitting a separate PCI fan to cool the old card which as I said still work fine a long as it's cooled. Or even bodging up a separate CPU fan under the Graphics card, but how would I power this as both fan connectors are taken up. Are there fan power connection splitters available or fan power adaptors available to run straight off the power supply.
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Vikek
7 Posts
0
November 3rd, 2013 10:00
Anybody have any thought on this, please?
Vikek
7 Posts
0
November 4th, 2013 02:00
Sorry if this is bad etiquette but, I'm replying to my own post to bump it up the list as I've had no replies at all to my original post. Please does anybody have any ideas about my graphics card problem?
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
1
November 4th, 2013 10:00
The GT630 is a 25 Watt TDP card it should not be an issue.
I would however recommend a radeon 7750 instead.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002
Vikek
7 Posts
0
November 5th, 2013 16:00
Thank you so much for the reply, SpeedStep. I will check out the Radeon Card. But why does the NVidea box recommend a 450 watt PSU if its only a 25 watt card. Aren't they losing sales?
Vikek
7 Posts
0
November 5th, 2013 16:00
I've just done a search on Amazon for HD7750 and came up with a whole page of variations on that model number. What's the difference between them? I'm in the UK by the way.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/280-6179306-6450168?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=radeon%20HD7750#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=radeon+7750&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aradeon+7750