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Gallstaff
Gallstaff asked in Computers & InternetHardwareDesktops · 1 decade ago

Is this upgrade worth it?

My PC specs:

HP P6703w (desktop)

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AMD Athlon II x4 640 @ 3.0ghz

ATI Radeon HD 4200 (Integrated) 2172mb, internal DAC(400mhz)

5gb of ddr3 ram

Windows 7 x64

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I plan on getting a Visiontek 400613 HD 5450 Video Card - 512MB DDR3... equivalent~ to an ATI Radeon 5450 Graphics Card for $37.99

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main reason is that the whole "integrated" thing is bugging me. also i need a better graphics card

Update:

I'm using a 1360x768 32" LCD tv as my monitor right now.

My other 1440x900 19" monitor isn't being used at the moment because the graphics card doesnt get to that resolution. So as long as i can play some games like gta 4 on medium, oblivion on medium/max, and WoW on max with shadows on low its all right with me, i JUST got this pc from walmart not too long ago and the graphics card is annoying me so i want a new one, i can really only get a cheap one because im 17 and am not willing to work along side school. Easter is coming up and thats why it needs to be kind of cheap... this will do until i get my own job in the summer and save up to build a computer I ONLY need to know if there will be a real difference in gaming

Update 2:

For example: im playing on WoW with a 1280x768 resolution at all max settings except for...

texture filtering: 2x anisotropic

Projected Textures: disabled

Shadow Quality: low

Liquid detail: low

Sunshafts: disabled

refresh rate: 85 (not sure what that should be on so its as high as it can go)

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truthfully i only got this computer to play wow on good settings rather than low on my laptop

3 Answers

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  • m8xpayne
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    I wouldn't upgrade to the HD 5450. It's not really that much better than the 4200 chip that's on your mobo. IMO, that's just not worth the trouble. On top of that, the 250w power supply in your HP may have trouble with the HD 5450.

    About the only thing you can do with the 5450 is play WOW on a small 1600X900 resolution LCD monitor,

    You should look at getting a +500w Corsair power supply. That would allow you to get a better video card . You'll want something like the HD 5770, GTX 460 SE or better if you plan to play games on a High Definition 1920X1080 LCD/LED monitor.

  • geek-in-training
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    You do have a PCIe slot for the motherboard, but you only have a 250w power supply. The 5450 requires a minimum of 250w, so you are at your limit unless you upgrade the powers supply as well.

    Almost any video card is better than integrated graphics!

    Source(s): http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docnam...
  • ImScrewed
    1 decade ago

    Yes, it's worth it. However, be sure that the motherboard and the PSU in the HP can handle a PCI-E videocard.

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