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I have been meaning to upgrade the graphics card in my computer for a long time now. The integrated Intel video card, for the most part, worked fine, but it won't exactly run graphically intensive games (shooters, big diablo-style games).
I knew that I eventually had to upgrade the graphic card, but my main problem is my i5 Gateway DX4870-UB318 computer only came with a 300 Watt Power supply. If you knew anything about modern gaming graphic cards, they usually have a 500+ Watt requirement (in fact, I just saw a card that required 750 Watt the other day).
If I had to upgrade the graphic card, then logically I had to upgrade the power supply, right? Not so! Enter the Nvidia Maxwell Chipset. The GeForce GTX 750 and 750 Ti came out last year, but I finally got my hands on one (EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked) for my computer. The box lists a 400 Watt requirement, but I just installed it on my computer and it ran on my 300W. It should be noted that evga.com only lists a 300W requirement.
Installation was literally a 'snap': as long as your computer had enough room to fit in a PCI Express card, then the GeForce 750 will work. There is no extra cable needed to draw power, so it's insert and go! And the best part: I did not have to restart the computer after I installed the latest Nvidia drivers. The card came with a CD for drivers and software, but I normally would prefer to just download it.
This is my current computer (Sleepergate):
Some key features of the EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked card: 2GB of GDDR5, 640 CUDA Cores, 3 output (DVI-I, HDMI, DisplayPort), 4K ready (4096x2160), low power requirement (300 Watt), and small size (6.7in in length).
NOTE: Are you confused by the EVGA name? There are various hardware maker in this space, they produce these cards based on Nvidia's design and architecture. As a result, you can shop around for the same card from different manufacturer. For example PNY and Zotac produced the same card, but with slightly different outputs (the Zotac offered mini-HDMI and PNY offered the old, outdated VGA port). To be fair, EVGA gave us a DVI-I to VGA adapter in the box.
If I had to upgrade the graphic card, then logically I had to upgrade the power supply, right? Not so! Enter the Nvidia Maxwell Chipset. The GeForce GTX 750 and 750 Ti came out last year, but I finally got my hands on one (EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked) for my computer. The box lists a 400 Watt requirement, but I just installed it on my computer and it ran on my 300W. It should be noted that evga.com only lists a 300W requirement.
Installation was literally a 'snap': as long as your computer had enough room to fit in a PCI Express card, then the GeForce 750 will work. There is no extra cable needed to draw power, so it's insert and go! And the best part: I did not have to restart the computer after I installed the latest Nvidia drivers. The card came with a CD for drivers and software, but I normally would prefer to just download it.
This is my current computer (Sleepergate):
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My Rig
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CPU: Intel Core i5 3450 @ 3.10Ghz
GPU: GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1333 SDRAM
OS: Windows 8 (64 Bit)
HD: 1TB 5,400RPM Hard Drive
DVDRW Drive
Memory Card Reader
10/100/1000 Network
802.11a/b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth
I've tested out various games that previously did not run correctly on my old computer setup, and I have to say the GeForce card handled these games (at max setting) without any problems! Pretty happy with the card at the moment.
GPU: GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1333 SDRAM
OS: Windows 8 (64 Bit)
HD: 1TB 5,400RPM Hard Drive
DVDRW Drive
Memory Card Reader
10/100/1000 Network
802.11a/b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth
Some key features of the EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Superclocked card: 2GB of GDDR5, 640 CUDA Cores, 3 output (DVI-I, HDMI, DisplayPort), 4K ready (4096x2160), low power requirement (300 Watt), and small size (6.7in in length).
NOTE: Are you confused by the EVGA name? There are various hardware maker in this space, they produce these cards based on Nvidia's design and architecture. As a result, you can shop around for the same card from different manufacturer. For example PNY and Zotac produced the same card, but with slightly different outputs (the Zotac offered mini-HDMI and PNY offered the old, outdated VGA port). To be fair, EVGA gave us a DVI-I to VGA adapter in the box.
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