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Thread ID: 79553 2007-05-23 22:13:00 Upgrade Advice av4tarnz (5829) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
552541 2007-05-23 22:13:00 I'm looking to upgrade the graphics card on my computer and am wondering what my current motherboard would be able to handle.

Basically my computer is a Pentium 4 3.06GHz with 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM and currently using a GeForce 7300LE graphics card. The motherboard is a ECS RC410-M and I'm hoping I could continue using it for a bit longer.

Short term I'm looking at GeForce 7600GT card with SLI ability so that in the future I could add another one after a motherboard upgrade.
I expect that I will also have to upgrade the PSU to at least 400W, I'm using a 300W unit at the moment.

So summing up, with a PSU upgrade can I use my current motherboard with the graphics card I'm looking at?
av4tarnz (5829)
552542 2007-05-23 22:47:00 I would definitely get a better PSU then you should have no problems. Buy quality ie Silverstone 500w or Enermax etc etc.

It looks like your mobo is PCI-e so any card in that series.
Tukapa (62)
552543 2007-05-23 23:05:00 Thanks for advice Tukapa

Also I want to allow the graphics card as much ventilation as possible. At the moment my computer is setup like this:

Graphics Card, Modem, TV Tuner, Empty PCI Slot.

I'd change it to this

Graphics Card, Empty PCI Slot, Modem, TV Tuner.

Is it a simple as it seems, just moving the modem and TV tuner both down a slot, or is there more I have to do?
av4tarnz (5829)
552544 2007-05-23 23:55:00 That should be it, just move 'em. you shouldn't need to reinstall drivers or anything.
:cool:
wratterus (105)
552545 2007-05-24 00:11:00 I guess you don't need to be told to turn the system off before you make the moves and to make sure the cards are positioned correctly and correctly seated?

Of course you knew that, silly me!
Bryan (147)
552546 2007-05-24 00:31:00 Ask silly questions and you get silly answers :p

What about my current motherboard, will it handle my immediate plans?
av4tarnz (5829)
552547 2007-05-24 02:20:00 What about my current motherboard,

Well...........its ECS.:yuck: :yuck:
pctek (84)
552548 2007-05-24 02:29:00 Well...........its ECS. :yuck: :yuck: Nicely said :thumbs:

It will handle any PCI-E card you put into it...

DEFFINATELY get a better PSU though, I suggest Enermax
The_End_Of_Reality (334)
552549 2007-05-24 04:06:00 Guessed that was the case pctek :badpc:

Maybe there's hope for my glorified paper weight yet . . . . .
av4tarnz (5829)
552550 2007-05-24 11:14:00 if you're really worried about cooling make sure there is some airflow in the case, try putting an intake fan somewhere low down, possibly over the pci slots. this shouldn't be necessary, but it can always help (i suggest getting a dust filter of some sort to stop dust building up on heatsinks, a tissue works fine) motorbyclist (188)
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