Resolved Installing new memory modules, upgrading graphics card.

Bill, thanks for pointing out mistake, an over sight.

 

No big deal - as long as we are all on the same page so we understand and don't lead you down the wrong path.

Anyway, the good news is, with 750W, you do not need to get a new PSU.

As far as that AMD Radeon HD6670 PCI-E 2Gb, that is very nice card, but frankly, I think it is more than you need. That will not hurt anything, but maybe your budget. However, it may carry you further into the future too.

Note that AMD does not make their own cards, but rather supply the GPU and associated chipsets to card makers, who then tweak and populate the card (with connectors, RAM, fan, etc.) to make them unique. While all HD6670 cards will have similar specifications, they will differ by the amount of RAM, and type of connectors.

Here are 24 HD6670 cards, all slightly different. So you need to specify the brand too, and make sure it has the necessary connections to support your monitor(s).

 

Bill, I certainly need much more help before buying a graphics card.
I opened up the Compac Presario inners. It shows a 6" (approx) chocolate coloured strip and a shorter white coloured strip, attached to the mother board. I am not sure if these two strips are for a graphics card. My monitor is a packard bell Video 230Ws.

---- --------------------
---- -------------------- Colour : chocolate brown.

---------------- ----
---------------- ---- Colour : white.

 

There is no color coding standard so you cannot go by that. However, if you look at the motherboard image here, the four slots in the lower left quadrant are your "expansion slots ". The long brown (chocolate) one is the PCIe x 16 slot for PCIe graphics cards. The two smaller brown are PCIe x 1 slots, used occasionally by add-on sound cards.

The lower white or beige slot is a PCI slot for all sorts of cards, including PCI graphics cards.

Note that PCIe (PCI Express) is totally different from PCI. So in spite of their similar names, do not confuse one with the other.

Your monitor supports both digital and analog inputs. You definitely want to use digital (via the DVI connection) to take full advantage of your monitor's capabilities.

 

Bill, checked set up again, 1. 5 "(approx) dark chocolate brown.
2. 1 "(approx) dark chocolate brown.
3. 1 "(approx) dark chocolate brown.
4. 4 "(approx) white or biege.
1. and 4. have metal cut outs on computer metal casing.
Mother board: Expansion slots: as detailed in HP information.
1. PCIx16 slot for Graphics card.
2. PCIx1slot (2).
1. PCI slot

PCWorld (UK) advertise the following Graphics Cards:

ASUS Nividia GeForce GT640 PCI-E 2Gb 901Mhz
GTX550 TI 1Gb 900Mhz
GT620 1Gb 700Mhz

PNY Nividia GeForce GT640 2Gb
GT630 1GB 700Mhz

EVGA are available, received bad reports from users.
Your observations will be most appreciated.

 

You can find bad reports for any product - especially from users who typically are totally unqualified to write unbiased reviews.

I never pay attention to user reviews unless they all have the exact same complaint about the exact same model number product. Remember, the GPUs and graphics chipsets are NOT made by the card makers, but rather NVIDIA and AMD. So there is no reason to suspect a GT 640 on an EVGA card is any less reliable than a GT 640 on an ASUS card.

ASUS is certainly a major brand known for quality products. And a major brand name instills confidence - whether fair or not.

Again, colors don't mean anything and length means little - especially with "approx ". Go by the specs.

 

I have alot experience with PNY nvidia graphics cards and never had a problem. I am posting on a computer I built in 2001 in November of 2011 I uopgraded my PNY Nvidia graphics card to another PNY Nvidia graphics card then I installed Windows 7 Ultimate. But it is your choice which graphics card you want and fits your needs..

 

Bill, what you say is absolutely correct regarding magazine reviews, though they can be a guide if one is under decided. I have always listened to people who recommend an item and I then decide to buy or not. Regarding (approx), inside the computers casing there is very little room, and a tape to measure the slots is nearly impossible without causing some damage to components on the mother board - guessing as you would say, my estimate has usually proved accurate to +/- 1/4ins. Specs on the motherboard in question, show no indication to sizes of components, and HP only supply a very large detailed drawn paper map of how to instal computer for the first time.

Ij50, PNY memory sticks and memory modules, I have bought in the past and found them to be most reliable. Graphics Cards made by PNY, carry similar price range to the ASUS Nividia GForce range.

 

Huh? I never said anything about magazine reviews. I was specifically talking about "user reviews" - as seen on Newegg.

Magazine (print or on-line) reviews - the better ones anyway) tend to be done by experienced people, hopefully technicians, and after testing with real test/measuring equipment, and real baselines and/or competing products for real comparative analysis.

As for RAM modules, it is very hard to find a maker that does not warranty the sticks for a lifetime. So brand is less important than the specs.

Again, forget about your tape measure. Slots are distinguished by their type, not length.

 

My preferences are: Intel processors, Crucial technologies memory, PNY Nvidia graphics, and Western Digital Hard Disk Drives. Then again that's just me. It's still up to you which graphics card you want. Asus and PNY are two very good options open to you. Good luck on whichever card you choose.

 

I am still searching for further advice. HP Compac Presario CQ5115uk is very cramped with components, GPU slot + space to nearest component memory modules slot is 5.75 ". One GPU card considered is the ASUS Nvidia GT640 diamensions show as L 5.70" x H 4.38" x W dual width. Is the GT640 powered by the GPU slot or by a cable from the PSU with a 6 pin connector.

 

It does not require additional power. It uses 65W and is well within the realm of pci express.. Hope this helps.

 

Ij50, yes your information is indeed helpful in my choosing the GPU best for my computer. Do you know dimensions for the PNY Nividia Geforce GT640
Gb2. PCWorld in my town have one in stock.

 

6x2.71x1.44

 

Ij50, space very limited, GPU slot is next to the Memory Modules slots and to keep clear Memory Modules is approximately 5.5 ". I do not know if all mother boards are populated in this format.

 

PNY Technologies Nvidia Geforce GT 630 2048 MB Graphics Card Mfr.#VCGGT6302XPB dimensions 5.7x4.4. Dual-width.

 

Ij50, decided to buy the PNY GT630 graphics card, and installed same. Certainly format is greatly improved with a clearer and sharper coloured picture. However, some videos no longer work properly, report that VGA no longer recognised, with sound muted. PNY instructions state VGA driver should be removed, thought by installing GPU it automatically deactivated VGA from the motherboard. Actual fitting of GPU card was very easy.

 

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/page/home.html Drivers\Geforce then use the Automatic Driver Detection Tool. There may be an updated driver available.

 

Ij50, thank you for link to PNY. Not able to use the detect driver scan as it requires java to be installed - Java has given me in the past headaches with Java viruses. I managed to find an update driver for the GT630 and dowloaded it manually, now installed. However still not able to use files or vidios dependable on VGA or MKV format. I am at the present pleased with the PNY GPU card.

 

Did you try updating your BIOS. http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/support-drivers.html