Want to buy a new Graphic Card need help

[Molsman]

Ok before I start here is my Dxdiag:

The question I have am I able to add a video card with the below chipset I have now? My graphics are ok in the game but I played on a laptop today and I enjoyed the detailed water graphics and to me the play seemed alot clearer. I am on a budget and this system needs to last me a while any help would be great. If any other info is needed I have the test saved

Thanks
Molsman

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/15/2010, 19:54:15
       Machine name: LARRY-0C18B4D96
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100427-1636)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: Inspiron 530s
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual  CPU  E2160  @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 1014MB RAM
          Page File: 430MB used, 2009MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.
        Sound Tab 1: DirectSound test results: All tests were successful.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
     Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
        Chip type: Intel(R) GMA 3100
         DAC type: Internal
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_29C2&SUBSYS_020D1028&REV_02
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: igxprd32.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4820 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 4/16/2007 21:16:08, 57344 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: igxpmp32.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 4/16/2007 21:16:26, 5760096 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6A82-11CF-4C61-0722A3C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x8086
        Device ID: 0x29C2
        SubSys ID: 0x020D1028
      Revision ID: 0x0002
      Revision ID: 0x0002
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio output
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_1028020D&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5697 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 9/2/2008 17:08:28, 4812288 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: All tests were successful.

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5697 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/2/2008 17:08:28, 4812288 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

[Delirium]

I need more information... is your system capable of running an external video card?

How big is the power supply?

Is your video apeture PCI, AGP, or PCI Express?

What is the most you can spend?

The stats on the 530s say they have a 3850 PCI-E, but looking at your dxdiag, that can't be true. I'd also recommend you get another gig of ram, you can get a lot of 240pin ram for not a lot of money.

[Molsman]

everything is basically stock I really did not do any upgrades when i bought the system I was planning on adding ram also, when I had the system opened i noticed I had a few more spots left to add more also 2 open slots in the back. I used to be somewhat good with pc's but when it comes to this i keep drawing blanks. My cash limited is around a 100 bucks and that is pushing it even funds are tight right now. If I have to I can suffer a alittle longer

[Ghastly]

The specs I saw on the Dell site leave you in a bit of a pickle.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/desktops/inspndt_53xs/pd.aspx?refid=inspndt_53xs&cs=22&s=dfh

Your system will support a PCI-E vid card, but is limited by having a 250 watt power supply.  And even worse, I can't find anywhere listed how much current is available on the 12 Volt rail(s), although "replacement" power supplies for your system that are also rated at 250 watts show 17 amps on the 12 Volt rail.

It was sold with the Radeon X1300 Pro as an option, which supposedly pulled a max of just over 30 watts (2 1/2 amps) according to testing ( linked below), so it's fairly safe to tentatively assume that chances are fairly good that it should probably work with a more modern PCI-E card that draws no more than 2 1/2 amps.  (Note the ambiguity? It's intentional because it's a Dell. There's always potential for a BIOS issue or almost anything else - such as available space - preventing what seems like it should work from working at all. )

Modern cards that pull that much or less "should" be safe, but it would be better to either upgrade the supply, or at least find out conclusively how much current is available on the 12 volt rails rather than "best guessing what should be safe" as I have done.  

From the link below, you can see that only a handful of "modern" (not really, but certainly much more so than the X1300 Pro) would come in at under the 2.5 amp threshold.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-6.html

Lastly, these guys also indicate 2 1/2 amps for the X1300 Pro, as a double check.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_8.html

Some Dells used standard power supplies - some didn't, and I can't see anything that tells me conclusively which yours might be, although from what little I could see it appears as though it might be standard.  If it's not, there are power supply upgrades often available for Dell's that used non-standard supplies, but I myself don't know much about them.

I'd be surprised if you could get a decent vid card and a new Dell specific PS for under 100 - but I'll let other's who've upgraded their Dell's weigh in on that.  

<S>

[katanaso]

I had a 530s for simple office tasks, and I put a low profile 4350 into it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=low+profile+4350

I got my wife a 530s as well because of the tiny footprint and cheap price, and it's running a 4350 as well.

I tried AH on it, and it worked, but it will not be able to run well with the graphics turned up and all of the graphic features enabled.


mir

[TilDeath]

PC Power & Cooling used to make Dell replacement PSU's up to 500 or 550 watts.  If you are seeking a new PSU PM me and I will call them and see if there are any left.

TD
Rich

[Molsman]

thank you all for the info I will be sitting back to way out my options and what I will be doing

[Reschke]

Here is another link for you to take a look at.

I don't know enough about the motherboard in those without some more specs on it but I would bet that you need at least the minimum PSU talked about above to push a PCI-E video card IF you have said slot open or available on the motherboard.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/247634-33-dell-inspiron-530s-graphics-card-upgrade

[mattg6o]

I originally bought a low spec CPA desk top. Better pcu, but not too different. I purchased a card and PS from bestbuy like a year ago. Still works good. Got a 650w supply and a 9800gts. I do not remember the total but I'm pretty sure it was 2-300 total. I upgraded the ram also, 4 gigs for I wanna saw like 60 bucks. Can't remember. Save a little bit. It's worth it

[guncrasher]

you could probably get the better components from newegg.com or tiger direct.  even with shipping most of the time it is cheaper than best buy.  but it work hurt for best buy to match their prices, they have done with me.


semp

[mattg6o]

you could probably get the better components from newegg.com or tiger direct.  even with shipping most of the time it is cheaper than best buy.  but it work hurt for best buy to match their prices, they have done with me.


semp

Totally true. I was antsy and did it on a whim.

[guncrasher]

go back you have 30 days, tell them you will return it and they might, actually u got 2 weeks for date of purchase.


semp

[mattg6o]

I've had it all for like a year. I'm happy with it. No issues.

[guncrasher]

there's always next time?  i bought my first ps from best buy, thought i was getting a great deal, i found out 4 months later i couldda gotten a better one for less from new egg. live and learn  .


semp

[mbailey]

Not to Hijack the thread, but I saw where ur from Mols, I was born and raised in Quakertown PA, Haycock area. Graduated from QCHS. Live in Center Valley (2mins N of Coopersburg ) now. <S> Neighbor