Switching from integrated graphics to a dedicated GPU?

Hey,

I picked up a cheap PC on sale a while back thinking I could just slap a better graphics card in there later. But after doing some digging online, now that I'm actually ready to pull the trigger, I’m starting to feel like that might not even be possible.

Intel Core i3-4130 with Radeon R7 240, 10 compute cores 4C +6G 3.10 ghz, 16gb ram
motherboard is an ASUS Prime A620M-A

Look, I'm clearly no hardware expert, so I guess I'm asking for some advice here. Can I actually switch from integrated graphics by installing a dedicated card? And if that's a yes, what kind of series or specific model would make the most sense for this setup?

Thanks!

Of course you can. As long as your monitor is plugged directly into the motherboard's video output, you're running on integrated graphics. Once you grab a dedicated card, just pop it into an available PCI-E x16 slot and plug the monitor straight into the card to actually use its power.

I’d personally recommend this one or this one. You didn't mention which specific power supply model you're running, but honestly, this GPU shouldn't be an issue even for most budget-friendly "big box store" rigs.

Double-check whether your monitor uses a DVI or HDMI port. If it only has a VGA input, you'll need a VGA to DVI or VGA to HDMI converter—and make sure it's a true converter, not just a cheap adapter.

Yeah, makes sense I guess 😁

The sticker on the case says 230 Watts
So I plug the card into the motherboard, free up some space on the back of the case for the ports to plug in the monitor. Cool.

Monitor uses HDMI, so no issue there.

Great, thanks!

An NVIDIA GeForce GT 730? It’s cheaper, and you can just pair it with an identical one integrated into the processor.

There is a very logical reason why the GT 730 is priced so much lower than other options. Honestly, once you spot that it’s running on DDR3, you can pretty much stop looking right then and there; it's a clear indicator of its tier. That being said, I would suggest keeping a close eye on your power supply, as it might cause some unexpected headaches for you, though it isn't an absolute certainty.

Wait, isn't it 230V? 😬

It's pretty rare to find power supplies rated at exactly 230W. Anyway, I'd probably go with that RX 560 for $275; it seems like a solid deal, and the CPU and GPU should be well-balanced.

crimsonstag84 said:Wait, isn't it 230V? 😬

It's pretty rare to find power supplies rated at exactly 230W. Anyway, I'd probably go with that RX 560 for $275; it seems like a solid deal, and the CPU and GPU should be well-balanced.

yeah, right 😁

crimsonstag84 said:Wait, isn't it 230V? 😬

It's pretty rare to find power supplies rated at exactly 230W. Anyway, I'd probably go with that RX 560 for $275; it seems like a solid deal, and the CPU and GPU should be well-balanced.

ordered, thanks for the help 👍

To get the exact model of your power supply, you'll need to check the label on the unit itself. You'll have to pop the side panel off your case and take a look at the sticker on the PSU to be sure.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:To get the exact model of your power supply, you'll need to check the label on the unit itself. You'll have to pop the side panel off your case and take a look at the sticker on the PSU to be sure.

Opened it up; it's an EVGA 500 W1

The power supply is low-end, but it should technically handle the listed components. That said, this budget GPU doesn't seem to have a 6-pin slot, so you won't even need to pick up any Molex to 6-pin adapters (10-$5.00)