Upgrading graphics card on an old Dell Precision - Teh Forum

<body> <div id="header"> <span class="left"> <span class="back"><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT"><span class="image mobile_back" title="Back"></span></a></span> <span class="image mobile_logo" title="Beehive Forum Logo"></span> </span> <ul> <li> <a class="reply_all" href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.0&return_msg=42853.3"> <span class="image mobile_reply_all"></span><span class="text">Reply to All</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navigation" href="#"> <span class="image mobile_navigation"></span><span class="text">Show messages</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="main" href="#"><span class="image mobile_menu" title="Menu"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu main"> <ul> <li><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Messages</a></li> <li><a href="lpm.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Inbox</a></li> <li><a href="lsearch.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Search</a></li> <li><a href="llogon.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu navigation"><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">1–10</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.11">11–20</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.21">21–22</a></div> <div id="page_content"> <h3 class="thread_title"><a href="index.php?webtag=DEFAULT&amp;msg=42853.3">Upgrading graphics card on an old Dell Precision</a> </h3> <div id="messages" data-navigation="42853_3_22_10"> <a name="a42853_3"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_3"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: patch<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 08:51</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">3 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3">42853.3</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> If work can specify minimum OS levels, do they not offer some assistance which may make buying a laptop and dock a bit less painful?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.3&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.3"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_4"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_4"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Dave!!<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 11:14</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">4 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.4">42853.4</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Bear in mind that the motherboard only supports PCI Express version 1, and presumably the BIOS will be fairly old as well. In short, you'll need to make sure that the system can support a graphics card before buying one for it. You may find a lot of modern cards may have issues.<br /> <br /> After a bit of Googling around, I did find this page: <a href="https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=5b5a2bb70f&upgrade">https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=5b5a2bb70f&upgrade</a><br /> <br /> It suggests that the Nvidia GT 730 is compatible, and eBuyer do still sell this card. Nvidia also support it for Windows 10, so might be a budget option?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.4&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.4"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_5"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_5"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 13:44</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">5 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.5">42853.5</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> I can let you have an Nvidia GT 710 (2GB TBH) if you want to give it a try. It has 1 DVI, 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port and should be able to ouput from all 3 simultaneously. It has Windows 10 support but there's a separate driver. I <em>think</em> it should work with later versions of Windows 10 just fine (i.e. they should now have the driver), although earlier versions had a problem.<div class="edit_text">EDITED: 12 Mar 2022 13:49 by WILLIAMA</div> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.5&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.5"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_6"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_6"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 17:56</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: ALL<span class="message_count">6 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.6">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Thank you all. <span class="emoticon e_smile" title=":)"><span class="e__">:)</span></span> <p><br /><b>Chryon</b>:<br /> That's exactly the type of site I expected to exist but couldn't find before. </p><p>It's a full sized tower case and other slots are empty, so I think only power draw would be a potential issue... although those cards do look a little long - what's with the weird fin/handle things? </p><p><br /><b>Patch</b>:<br /> Yeah I tried pointing that out - the full situation is a bit more complicated (and I don't know how much she'd be ok with sharing), but it does boil down to a no-win situation and them being useless arseholes. </p><p><br /><b>Dave</b>:<br /> I think I've seen that site recently, from a Linux perspective - didn't occur to me that it'd be a good way to check general hardware compatibility too. </p><p><a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gt-730.c2590">This page</a> says the GT 730 is a PCIe 2.0 x16 - so presumably it is still backwards compatible with PCIe 1.0 too? </p><p><br /><b>William</b>:<br /> That'd be great! I think both screens also have VGA, and according to <a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gt-710.c1990">this</a> it has the same 200W for "Suggested PSU" and half the TDP of the <a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/quadro-fx-550.c1333">existing card</a> so should good be PSU-wise. </p><p>I'll send a PM.</p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.6&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.6"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_7"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_7"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Dave!!<span class="message_time">13 Mar 2022 11:18</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 13 Mar 2022 14:46"></span></span> <span class="message_count">7 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.7">42853.7</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_6" target="_self">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Most cards can operate at slower PCIe bus speeds, but compatibility isn't guaranteed.<br /> <br /> Many years back when I had an Athlon X2 system, my GeForce 8800 packed in, I bought a Radeon 5770 replacement and the system simply wouldn't boot with it. Ended up in a choice between replacing the graphics card with a poorer one that was compatible, or upgrading the mobo/CPU to a new Core i5. I ended up going the latter route in the end, but it did highlight that older boards don't always work with newer graphics cards.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.7&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.7"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_8"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_8"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: graphitone<span class="message_time">14 Mar 2022 16:17</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 14 Mar 2022 16:17"></span></span> <span class="message_count">8 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.8">42853.8</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_5" target="_self">42853.5</a></div> <div class="message_body"> The GT710's are a great cheap card that works well in Win10. I've whacked them in the workhorse HP Elitedesks I've got 2nd hand from various jobs. Never had a display issue across two screens and they even <br /> handle some older gaming titles well. <br /> <br /> Depends on manufacturer, but the MSI ones always come with the option of a half height bracket. </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.8&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.8"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_9"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_9"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">14 Mar 2022 16:29</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 14 Mar 2022 16:31"></span></span> <span class="message_count">9 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.9">42853.9</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_6" target="_self">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> PM'd a reply. Just need an address and it's on its way.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.9&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.9"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_10"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_10"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">22 Mar 2022 13:46</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 22 Mar 2022 13:47"></span></span> <span class="message_count">10 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.10">42853.10</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_9" target="_self">42853.9</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Thanks again - received, installed, and working. <span class="emoticon e_smile" title=":)"><span class="e__">:)</span></span> <p>Debian just worked with no issues (using built-in drivers), whilst for Windows only the DVI port worked initially - wouldn't even send a low-res signal over either VGA/HDMI ports. </p><p>After maybe half an hour of waiting for an update (which spent most of that time at 20% with no indication of progress) and the driver download apparently stuck behind it sitting at 10%, it eventually completed the update and installed the driver, but still seemed not to work for a couple more minutes, then suddenly the HDMI screen blinked into life. </p><p>Anyhow, a couple of restarts later, both screens have correct resolutions, no flickering or glitching, menus look as they should, etc.</p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.10&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.10"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_11"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_11"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">22 Mar 2022 13:58</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 22 Mar 2022 21:40"></span></span> <span class="message_count">11 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.11">42853.11</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_10" target="_self">42853.10</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Glad it got there in the end. The card would have just sat in my desk drawer for ever, so it's good to see it put to use. It was in my Plex machine for about a year but that was mainly run headless so it didn't see much action (and the free version of Plex is all CPU not GPU), so hopefully it's got some life left.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.11&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.11"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_12"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_12"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">22 Mar 2022 15:46</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 22 Mar 2022 21:40"></span></span> <span class="message_count">12 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.12">42853.12</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3#a42853_10" target="_self">42853.10</a></div> <div class="message_body"> What de are you running on debian? I'm having some issues with the open source nvidia drivers on Ubuntu w/xfce periodically hanging after about 3-4 hours of assorted browsing/editing/file managing stuffs. I'm able to then ssh in from another pc, kill some processes (notably xserver) and reboot it. It otherwise stays up reliably for weeks, so I'm assuming it's an xserver/driver issue.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.12&return_msg=42853.3" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.12"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="message_page_footer"> <ul> <li class="right_col"><form accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" action="lmessages.php" target="_self"><input type="hidden" name="webtag" id="webtag" class="bhinputtext" value="DEFAULT" dir="ltr" /><input type="hidden" name="msg" id="msg" class="bhinputtext" value="42853.13" dir="ltr" /><input type="submit" name="submit" id="keep_reading" value="Keep reading…" class="button" /></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> </body>