AMD desktop and graphics card

[Magnum]

My son in law gave me a AMD desktop computer.

It was missing a hard drive and graphics card.

I have a 160 Gb IDE drive.

I would like to put on Linux and a Windows version.

I am looking for recommendations for a graphics card to get for it that would work well with Windows.

I realize that it is a little old.

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Chipset support


NVIDIA: Nforce Series chipsets

ATI: Radeon Xpress Series chipsets

VIA: K8 Series chipsets

SiS: 75x Series chipsets or greater

Intel: 975, 965, 963, 946

NVIDIA: Nforce Series chipsets


[dedndave]

tell us about the CPU ?
no need to put a corvette engine on a lawn-mower

[Magnum]

AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core Processors

Without being able to get it booting up yet, I won't know the speed or which of the 3 models the chip is.

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Clockrate: 2000 - 2400 MHz

    256 KB L2-Cache:
        3600+: 2000 MHz
    512 KB L2-Cache:
        3800+: 2000 MHz
        4200+: 2200 MHz
        4600+: 2400 MHz (110 Watt TDP)



[dedndave]

it looks like AMD paired it with an ATI radeon 3000 (i think ATI is partially owned by AMD, now)

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/chipsets/7-series-integrated/pages/amd-760g-chipset.aspx

you could probably find a suitable nvidia card of the same "era" (2007-2009)

[Magnum]

Thanks. It has a PCI express slot.

Sticker on the bottom of case has GC660AA-ABA for system number.

Compaq SR5000

Sticker on case has NVidia graphics.

Motherboard has ATA 133 and HT 2000 on it.

There is no hard drive cable but I see a connector for the old style "ribbon cable."
Power connector for hard drive fits O.K.

Andy

Can I power it up without a graphics card, hard drive, or cpu ?

In case it has integrated video which I think it has.

The cpu is disconnected but I have some paste to attach the cpu.

[dedndave]

i wouldn't power it up unless it's complete - although, probably no harm

[MichaelW]

Sticker on the bottom of case has GC660AA-ABA for system number.

Is this it?

Can I power it up without a graphics card, hard drive, or cpu ?
The cpu is disconnected but I have some paste to attach the cpu.

If you mean that there is no heat sink on the CPU, if it lacks some sort of internal temperature control, the safe assumption, under power it will fry in a matter of seconds.

[Magnum]

Bingo, that's the motherboard.

Does the next statement mean that without a video card, I can use the DE-15 connector (Socket) to plug in my monitor and see if the integrated graphics will be sufficient ?

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Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE
*Integrated video is not available if a graphics card is installed.

    Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE

It currently has only 2 Gbs of RAM, but is upgradeable to 8 Gbs.

Andy

[japheth]

Does the next statement mean that without a video card, I can use the DE-15 connector (Socket) to plug in my monitor and see if the integrated graphics will be sufficient ?

Yes. I once had such a MB - with the very same NVidia chipset.

The only thing to take care of: some X2 cpus need more than 89 W - avoid anything beyond 5600+.

[Magnum]

Computer has a 250 W power supply.

I have an additional 400 W power supply.

Would that work better ?

Andy

[dedndave]

bigger isn't always better - but if it fits the same foot print, go for it - it may also have better cooling
it sounds like a decent little machine

[FORTRANS]

Hi,

   If you are supplying 250 watts (or 400) into something that
looks rather small, make sure your fans are adequate, cleaned,
up and working.

Regards,

Steve

[sinsi]

250W is OK for one hard drive, one dvd and using the internal graphics.
A lot of PCI-E video cards need more power, via a 6-pin connector, so 250W won't be enough.

I just worked on a PC with two GTX-780 cards, each card needs an 8-pin and a 6-pin power connector and uses 250W.
Cards at $850 each and a PSU (1200W gold) for $500. Crazy little rich kid with a $7000 computer. Plays games nicely though three monitors.

[Magnum]

Steve,

You are right about getting good cooling.

The cooling fan for the cpu had a lot of dust in the heat sink.

I used some heat sink paste leftover from a previous job and threw the rest away.

Despite being thoroughly sealed with the tip and tape, I think it dried out a little.

Andy

[Magnum]

Sinsi,

I will keep your advice in mind in case I decide to use a PCI card.

It does not have a DVD burner.

It has  2 unused SATA cables.

Andy