Upgrading videocard on Dell desktop

[Brad5264]

I have a dell dimension 8400, purchased 2.5 years ago. It has a radeon 300 pci express x16 (128mb) video card. I am running windows xo with media center 2005. Picture quality is poor. I have started looking for better video card. Dell sales rep says, the card to use is radeon x1300 256 mb ddr2 pci express graphics card. Turns out most cards won't fit slot. Is there a better product out there that will fit? i am looking to keep it down to less than $150. Dell is selling the above for $99 + shipping. I am not much of a gamer, this is used 99% for cable tv and recording programs to dvd. Thanks, brad

 

[kimsland]

You can do an online scan
http://www.powerleap.com/downloads/exe/InSPECS.exe

Which may also help you determine the best card sort after

Once you have allowed and ran the scan (you may have to re-run it after installing ActiveX so forth)
You can then select your Video card on the LHS, which will in turn show updates on the RHS.

 

[kpo6969]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/specs.htm#wp1052308

You have 1 PCIe x 1 slot and 1 PCIe x 16 slot
350w psu = 28amps

What that Dell rep told you was rubbish, they recommended that card because they sell it and it was available as an option at origional configuration possibly.
You can do alot better.

 

[malicious]

As long as u have that one PCIe slot u can go all the way upto 1 geforce 8800 ultra or in ur case since you dont do gaming an just want pictures an cable i would go with a geforce 7300 or something you can find them around the same price an get more out of it...dont know much about ATIs ive always had nvidia jus thought i would add my 2cents good luck to you

 

[porsche911r]

yah exactly kpo is soo right u can get pretty much any card u wish because u got the slots but as u said ur nt much of a gamer so look for an average card like the 7300 geforce which will fit ur needs well.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Pick up an HD 2400 PRO and you should be fine.

 

[kpo6969]

Also you could consider the new HD3450 and 3650. Looking at you budget this one looks like a nice fit:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725

Whatever you decide look for GDDR3 as opposed to GDDR2 vram.
The one I linked to is out of stock at the moment but it's GDDR3, 512mb, and $105

 

[malicious]

GDDR3 512MB is nice...for the price

 

[kimsland]

Um too many cooks in the kitchen here!

Out of the 5 or 6 cards suggested, just decide on one, and then go with that.