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Upgrading a prebuilt computer

FazeyFazey Registered User regular
edited January 2010 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
I just bought an acer desktop from ncix because my old one is 3 years old and obsolete.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=40788&vpn=PT%2ESC10X%2E018&manufacture=Acer&promoid=1130

I usually build my own but I've been playing less and less, so I bought it because it seemed like a decent deal and I don't need a high end computer anymore. I bought it mostly just the surf the internet and do some video editing and encoding, but I occassionally play a few games as well.

I might try using it to play L4D2 with friends and was wondering what video card you guys would recommend. I'd like to avoid replacing the PSU, but I can if I need to. I don't really need it to run on high settings, just moderate or low-moderate settings would be fine.

Thanks!

Fazey on

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    CabezoneCabezone Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    You'll need to crack it open and take a look at the PSU, they probably won't list it's specs anywhere.

    Cabezone on
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    ScooterScooter Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Actually it does list it right there, Power Supply: 220W.

    Which does limit you from a lot of the higher end stuff. I'm in sort of the same boat, mine is 300W which I think limits me to a GeForce 9600.

    Scooter on
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    travathiantravathian Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Even replacing the power supply, you have to take into account the amount of physical space you have inside the chassis to accommodate a video card. You'll want to open it up and measure before buying anything, just to be sure.

    travathian on
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    CronusCronus Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Wow, 220W. I was going to recommend a 5770 as those are very low power requirements and are relatively cheap and will last you a long time. However a 220W power supply is too low.

    Antec has a power supply calculator that's pretty good and should help you decide on a card/power supply. http://www.antec.outervision.com/

    Cronus on
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    CabezoneCabezone Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Scooter wrote: »
    Actually it does list it right there, Power Supply: 220W.

    Which does limit you from a lot of the higher end stuff. I'm in sort of the same boat, mine is 300W which I think limits me to a GeForce 9600.

    I was actually thinking of more along the amps per rail and such, but that's so low it doesn't really matter. New power supply is in order.

    Cabezone on
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    FazeyFazey Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay, new power supply it is. I have a few spare Antec ones lying around anyways.

    Fazey on
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    xYUUBINKYOKUxxYUUBINKYOKUx Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    That looks like a slimline style case. Make sure a full size video card will even fit in there.

    xYUUBINKYOKUx on
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