• New Computer with Mediocre Video Card
    13 replies, posted
I have picked out a fairly decent retail computer, seeing as I lack the time, patience, and know-how to build a computer by scratch. The specs are as follows: -HP 700-414 -Intel i5 Processor -12GB Ram -2TB Hard Drive -Intel HD Graphics 4600 -Budget: ~$600-$700 -Current retail price as is: $679.99 What I need to know is A: Will the graphics card built into the computer be sufficient to run current and soon to be newly released games? B: If it is not sufficient what would you recommend or where would you direct me to search for a replacement? and C: Could replacing said video card be conducted by someone with only the most basic technical knowledge of computers and with basic tools? I am well aware that this is no doubt not the best of the best setups but from the paltry research I've been able to conduct they fulfill most of my needs. Suffice it to say I have not bought this computer yet as I am of two minds about it, one eager to get a more powerful machine than my current desktop, yet unwilling to simply buy something off the shelves with little to no thought. If there is any more information you need I will do my best to acquire it for you in a timely manner.
That GPU is pretty bad ,do you know what the PSU in it is?
Try to get like a second hand 9800 GT. I have one and it handles almost everything pretty alright. It only has dx10 thou, but 1 gb of vram. [editline]6th January 2015[/editline] Also replacing a video card is one of the easiest tasks you can do in pc building. You unscrew the card, pull the cord, pull the card from the socket, put the new one in, screw it in place, and connect the cord.
An HD4600 [I]will[/I] manage rudimentary games or games on low pretty well, but it's integrated so you'd be [I]installing[/I] a graphics card instead of [I]replacing[/I] one. With prebuilts, you probably want a card that doesn't stress the (shitty) power-supply or require much extra cables so [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127769&cm_re=R9_270-_-14-127-769-_-Product"]R9 270[/URL] / [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487028&cm_re=750_Ti-_-14-487-028-_-Product"]750Ti[/URL] would probably be your best bet (although I can't figure out through HP specs if you'd actually have to replace your power supply or if it actually [I]has[/I] a spare PCI-e power / molex cable, so it'd probably be advisable to look at it in-store and check yourself). Installing a card is just a matter of [URL="http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02871896.pdf"]pulling a little tab out on the socket and pushing the card in, then taking two screws by the metal plate and screwing those in[/URL] (and plugging in the power).
build it, save yourself money.
[QUOTE=ClaBrendon;46866090]build it, save yourself money.[/QUOTE] to be fair tho the prebuilt isn't [I]that[/I] bad if you consider the standpoint of a complete newbie at computer builds that has to spend an hour watching tutorials, another hour assembling and another hour or two installing windows, programs and troubleshooting i5-4570: $200 12GB RAM: $125 8.1: $100 (newegg) Shitty PSU: $30 Shitty case: $30 Shitty mobo: $40 DVD drive: $20 2TB HDD: $80 WLAN / Bluetooth card: $20 Sure, I've built more powerful computers with half the budget but that adds up to $645 in parts and this retails for $700.
it's a prebuild HP it's that bad. and building it is half the fun, and never takes an hour, at least when I built my first one it didn't.
[QUOTE=Ol' Pie;46865879]Try to get like a second hand 9800 GT. I have one and it handles almost everything pretty alright. It only has dx10 thou, but 1 gb of vram. [/QUOTE] 2007 called, they want their tech guy back. At this point the 4600 iGPU is almost better than a 9800GT. OP, what do you want to run?
[QUOTE=taipan;46868369]2007 called, they want their tech guy back. At this point the 4600 iGPU is almost better than a 9800GT. OP, what do you want to run?[/QUOTE] Almost better? I'd put it at noteably better at this point tbh.
[QUOTE=Levelog;46868425]Almost better? I'd put it at noteably better at this point tbh.[/QUOTE] Nah, the 9800GT is still quite a bit faster. That's not to say that his suggestion wasn't totally crap.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;46868494]Nah, the 9800GT is still quite a bit faster. That's not to say that his suggestion wasn't totally crap.[/QUOTE] My nephew was happily running a 9800GT till last year. At the low resolution he was running, 1280x720 he was able to run everything just fine at reasonable settings. If your resolution is low enough those cards can still cut it. Now I'd only give $15 for a card like that though.
Jeez, I'm sorry I gave out that suggestion. That's what I get for posting so late. Anyways I said the 9800 GT because it has been a good temporary solution to people having video card problems and still wanting something to use. Sorry.
I recommend the GTX 750Ti. Doesnt require any extra power just plug it in the slot. I have one and it works great! [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024&cm_re=750ti-_-14-487-024-_-Product[/url]
[QUOTE=Ajacks;46868594]My nephew was happily running a 9800GT till last year. At the low resolution he was running, 1280x720 he was able to run everything just fine at reasonable settings. If your resolution is low enough those cards can still cut it. Now I'd only give $15 for a card like that though.[/QUOTE] My little brother is running my old 4830 (512MB) and BF3 runs acceptable enough for him to enjoy it, and obviously there are loads of enjoyable games with much lower requirements out there. He's getting my 6950 when I upgrade, though.
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