Help with system update....

jam3s1701

Hey guys... I need some advice..

I want to start upgrading my system...

currently have a Fujitsu ESPRIMO E920 E85+ system I'm looking to upgrade.

I have been told this is not the best system out there which I am aware of but due to financial resources I needed a new PC and had to get one through my brothers work.

Anyway I digress I am looking to upgrade the GPU on my system (I currently have an AMD RADEON HD7350 1GB but its tbh fine for videos etc but just doesn't cut it for gaming)

I know I will need a new PSU for what ever new GPU I get but I am not sure what GPU to get that will fit into a mini tower.

I really want a Gtx 960 but I am almost certain it's a big no no for the tower I have.

So guess I'm asking for some help in what to get.

I am based within the UK and would welcome any and all advice you can give me (short of a new rig).

Many thanks in advance.

:-)

starkaos

A new power supply, video card, and RAM should fix any immediate concern for STO, but certain games require a 64-bit system which might mean a new motherboard and CPU.

What is the problem with purchasing a GTX 960? As long as you have the space in your tower for it, a decent power supply, and the right connections for it, then it should be fine.

jam3s1701

starkaos wrote: »

A new power supply, video card, and RAM should fix any immediate concern for STO, but certain games require a 64-bit system which might mean a new motherboard and CPU.

What is the problem with purchasing a GTX 960? As long as you have the space in your tower for it, a decent power supply, and the right connections for it, then it should be fine.

I have windows 8.1
Intel i5 3.2ghz

And 4gb ram

So I want 2 - 4 extra ram its the GPU I really wanna update.

Won't the mini tower restrict the cooling that's what I'm worried about with the tower.

steamwright

Possibly (regarding the cooling). I've worked with many business brands/models, but not Fuitsu. Wish I could get a good look under the hood (don't open the case just for a snapshot if it is still under warranty. Get a Comptia A+ certified tech to do it, so there's no voided warranty). I might yet find a pic online.

You said "mini tower", right? Because images show two forms, a small form factor (sff) and a tower. I'm assuming the former. The images online that I've seen of that device suggest a casing similar to some business computers I've worked on in the past. If true, one of the challenges might be space. Some of the current video cards, due to thickness or length, might not work in that case. But if it does have room, then you might check to see if it also has room, a strong enough power supply, and power hookups for another internal fan (in addition to the GPU fan).

jam3s1701

steamwright wrote: »

Possibly (regarding the cooling). I've worked with many business brands/models, but not Fuitsu. Wish I could get a good look under the hood (don't open the case just for a snapshot if it is still under warranty. Get a Comptia A+ certified tech to do it, so there's no voided warranty). I might yet find a pic online.

You said "mini tower", right? Because images show two forms, a small form factor (sff) and a tower. I'm assuming the former. The images online that I've seen of that device suggest a casing similar to some business computers I've worked on in the past. If true, one of the challenges might be space. Some of the current video cards, due to thickness or length, might not work in that case. But if it does have room, then you might check to see if it also has room, a strong enough power supply, and power hookups for another internal fan (in addition to the GPU fan).

I know I'll need a new psu as the one I got now is around 300w from what I can work out from the main specs page on the model I have, even thou they all come with different cards and cpus the power supply is constant.

The tower is vertical if that helps so it's not one where you can sit the monitor on. (Not sure that helps lol)

steamwright

jam3s1701 wrote: »

The tower is vertical if that helps so it's not one where you can sit the monitor on. (Not sure that helps lol)

It does help. Vertical mini-towers have a bit more room than Small Form Factor computers (the "sit the monitor on" type.)

Apologies up front if anything I say sounds patronizing. It is not meant to. I just don't know your skill level.

The guy on the geforce.com forums, greybear, gave some good info in response to your query there. I'm personally having problems pulling up any data on the mini-tower version. Fujitsu's own page only displays the SFF unit. Assuming they use similar parts, it appears that the power supply may be inadequate to the challenge, and you might need to also upgrade that. What I was able to find suggests that the power supply may be around 230V, okay for certain business functions, but pretty low for gaming needs. A video card box or stats page should state the minimum needed voltage.

Assuming the power supply issues are resolved, the mother/main/systemboard has one PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot (again using the stats I found here.) The other long slot is a PCI-Express 2.0 x4 (mech. x16). See a quick, excellent vid here giving a clear, concise explanation of the differences. Basically, if you can afford it, and the sizing is right, you'll want to put a 3.0 card into the 3.0 slot. Any variance between the two, and the computer downgrades the speed to the lower of the two.

Another issue I've seen people forget to check before purchase is the monitor interface connections. There are several types. Whatever card you select needs to have the appropriate connection(s) your monitor has already. My 7 year old monitor, for example can choose two: either classic VGA (blue end, 15-pin), or DVI (white end). A mismatch will require the purchase of an additional connector to translate. Here's a link with more info under point #7, including pictures for quick reference.

jam3s1701

steamwright wrote: »

It does help. Vertical mini-towers have a bit more room than Small Form Factor computers (the "sit the monitor on" type.)

Apologies up front if anything I say sounds patronizing. It is not meant to. I just don't know your skill level.

The guy on the geforce.com forums, greybear, gave some good info in response to your query there. I'm personally having problems pulling up any data on the mini-tower version. Fujitsu's own page only displays the SFF unit. Assuming they use similar parts, it appears that the power supply may be inadequate to the challenge, and you might need to also upgrade that. What I was able to find suggests that the power supply may be around 230V, okay for certain business functions, but pretty low for gaming needs. A video card box or stats page should state the minimum needed voltage.

Assuming the power supply issues are resolved, the mother/main/systemboard has one PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot (again using the stats I found here.) The other long slot is a PCI-Express 2.0 x4 (mech. x16). See a quick, excellent vid here giving a clear, concise explanation of the differences. Basically, if you can afford it, and the sizing is right, you'll want to put a 3.0 card into the 3.0 slot. Any variance between the two, and the computer downgrades the speed to the lower of the two.

Another issue I've seen people forget to check before purchase is the monitor interface connections. There are several types. Whatever card you select needs to have the appropriate connection(s) your monitor has already. My 7 year old monitor, for example can choose two: either classic VGA (blue end, 15-pin), or DVI (white end). A mismatch will require the purchase of an additional connector to translate. Here's a link with more info under point #7, including pictures for quick reference.

http://www.fujitsu.com/fts/products/computing/pc/desktops/esprimo-p920-e85/index.html

That's my system.. Obviously specs for this are interchangeable such as CPU etc but power supply and basics are same.

My monitor is dvi but looking to get a HD one soon when card is changed.

steamwright

okay, thanks for that.

First a correction on my part. I got in a hurry and mentioned voltage for power supply, not wattage. Its the watts you need to focus upon. Sorry for the mix-up. The vid card specs should be able to tell you what wattage it will want. That may be your biggest hurdle. The specs at Fujitsu don't appear to specify wattage. I don't know Fujitsu, but I've worked with other brands before where the power supply varies from unit to unit within the same model, as long as it meets minimum manufacturer standards. So, yeah, long chat to say you'll need to look at the power supply for the wattage.

Second biggest, from what I know so far, will be your desire to upgrade from DVI to HD. It might be good to get the card with the connection you want, and buy an adapter (usually under $20 USA) to allow the old monitor to work until upgrades.

Third hurdle is the card's dimensions vs. the space in the mini-tower. I agree with the guy over at geforce.com: you may need to open (or get an A+ tech to open) your tower and measure the dimensions around the PCIe 3.0 slot. Be sure to consider any built-in fan on the gpu.

The mini-tower would likely have space for another internal fan. You might wish to look for that while under the hood/bonnet. You'll need to consider the power supply again. Another fan won't be a massive drain, but you'll need a power connection from the supply, so be sure it has enough wires, otherwise you might need to get a splitter wire.

Greybear over at geforce.com mentioned possibly needing a BIOS update. I suspect the current BIOS will already have everything needed, but you never know. Most BIOS updates nowadays from the manufacturer's website are pretty painless.

jam3s1701

steamwright wrote: »

okay, thanks for that.

First a correction on my part. I got in a hurry and mentioned voltage for power supply, not wattage. Its the watts you need to focus upon. Sorry for the mix-up. The vid card specs should be able to tell you what wattage it will want. That may be your biggest hurdle. The specs at Fujitsu don't appear to specify wattage. I don't know Fujitsu, but I've worked with other brands before where the power supply varies from unit to unit within the same model, as long as it meets minimum manufacturer standards. So, yeah, long chat to say you'll need to look at the power supply for the wattage.

Second biggest, from what I know so far, will be your desire to upgrade from DVI to HD. It might be good to get the card with the connection you want, and buy an adapter (usually under $20 USA) to allow the old monitor to work until upgrades.

Third hurdle is the card's dimensions vs. the space in the mini-tower. I agree with the guy over at geforce.com: you may need to open (or get an A+ tech to open) your tower and measure the dimensions around the PCIe 3.0 slot. Be sure to consider any built-in fan on the gpu.

The mini-tower would likely have space for another internal fan. You might wish to look for that while under the hood/bonnet. You'll need to consider the power supply again. Another fan won't be a massive drain, but you'll need a power connection from the supply, so be sure it has enough wires, otherwise you might need to get a splitter wire.

Greybear over at geforce.com mentioned possibly needing a BIOS update. I suspect the current BIOS will already have everything needed, but you never know. Most BIOS updates nowadays from the manufacturer's website are pretty painless.

So i found out that my tower will fit all I want. . .

But. . .

Do I go for gtx 960 or pay more for the 970/980?? Not sure what would be the most future proof as this will be a expense I won't be able to afford again for a long!!! Time. . Advice would be great. .