Dell Dimension 4600 Upgrade

[Stone_Cold]

My old Dell Dimension 4600 needs an upgrade to extend its life. This computer's meant for basics like entertainment; I watch shows and etc... I've been considering purchasing three additional Nvidia PCI (Not PCI-E) GPUs and I'm wondering if they'll work with the already installed stock Nvidia AGP GeForceFX 5200 GPU. There’s no point in replacing this computer when I can upgrade it around a hundred bucks for good SD/ED video. Will these GPUs all work together?

[keatonatron]

I've been considering purchasing three additional Nvidia PCI GPUs

You can only use one GPU at a time, unless you have multiple monitors (one GPU per monitor) or a few of those hardcore $300 GPUs that support bridging.

So the simple answer is, "no, they won't work together because each one can only work independently".

[Stone_Cold]

Well, thank you for answering. lol I needed to start the computer and technology section somehow. Does something smell fishy to you? nahhh... lol ;p

[keatonatron]

You're lucky I got to it first! The usual geeks that hang out in the Technology Section would have simply berated you for not knowing as much as them.

[Stone_Cold]

I’m humored! lol I created this thread to start this section. I wasn’t serious about the topic I created. That’s what I meant by “fishy”. Besides, I have nothing to prove. X:^P-

[Stone_Cold]

This section's not doing well probably because it’s been associated with geeks. I’m sure the Japanese really aren’t interested in technology right now with their economy in a recession. This section might as well be removed if it doesn’t take off in a week.

[Ryouka]

I've been considering purchasing three additional Nvidia PCI GPUs

You can only use one GPU at a time, unless you have multiple monitors (one GPU per monitor) or a few of those hardcore $300 GPUs that support bridging.

So the simple answer is, "no, they won't work together because each one can only work independently".

you can SLI much cheaper GPUs than $300 ones. You can SLI things as old as the GeForce 8 series(A PCI 8600GT only costs around $40), so long as your motherboard supports SLI.

[keatonatron]

I couldn't find an 8600 that wasn't PCIe.

Wikipedia shows that only the 8400's are available in PCI.

But still, an SLI-capable card for $40 is pretty amazing. But would 2 of those even be as good as a new $100 card?

The only thing I know about SLI is what was in the news when it first came out.

[Ryouka]

two 8400's.... 8400, because it's considered an entry level card, doesn't support SLI. My mistake, I should have been more specfic, only high level cards support SLI, and googling, it doesn't seem as though any PCI cards are good enough to SLI.

2 8600's would be about the same, if not a little better, than a 9800GTX.

[keatonatron]

Apparently SLIing two 8800GT's gives a pretty good performance boost over a 9800, but it is more pricey, and you'd need 4 PCIe slots

Dang, graphics cards are getting BIG.

I used to think they were starting to look a little ridiculous with these huge heatsinks, but now they take up two slots!!

[two_heads_talking]

Apparently SLIing two 8800GT's gives a pretty good performance boost over a 9800, but it is more pricey, and you'd need 4 PCIe slots

Dang, graphics cards are getting BIG.

I used to think they were starting to look a little ridiculous with these huge heatsinks, but now they take up two slots!!

They also now come with their own integrated fans too. Even a small profile fan makes the video card twice its original thickness.

I swear if you want a gaming computer that is quiet, you need a noise dampener now. My friends computer sounds just this side of the noise of a jet engine..

[phreadom]

Apparently SLIing two 8800GT's gives a pretty good performance boost over a 9800, but it is more pricey, and you'd need 4 PCIe slots

Dang, graphics cards are getting BIG.

I used to think they were starting to look a little ridiculous with these huge heatsinks, but now they take up two slots!!

They also now come with their own integrated fans too. Even a small profile fan makes the video card twice its original thickness.

I swear if you want a gaming computer that is quiet, you need a noise dampener now. My friends computer sounds just this side of the noise of a jet engine..

That's how my machine is turning out... 4 fans in the case, a giant fan on the CPU, a fan on the video card (which now also requires TWO power connectors to feed it on top of the juice coming from the PCI Express slot) etc. It's getting a little out of hand.



I've highlighted the video card... just to hold the thing in your hands is daunting. It weighs about 2.5 pounds by itself.

(And to give you a better idea the size of it... http://www.techpowerup.com/img/08-08-05 ... 870x21.jpg )

[keatonatron]

That's why you need one big water cooling system for everything. Efficient and quiet!

[phreadom]

That's why you need one big water cooling system for everything. Efficient and quiet!

I'm starting to consider it if only to cut down the noise level. Just not a priority. WAY down on the list.

[Ryouka]

Not all GPU's are 2 slots huge, the one I've been looking at getting only takes up one slot, an ATI HD3870, and the 3870 will run just about the same as a GeForce 9800GT

As for noise, just get quieter fans, or turn down the speed using something like speedfan. You can change GPU fans.

Phreadom, is that a microatx in an atx case? Why not go full size Atx?