No, the slot has nothing to do with DDR2 or DDR3. The slot is PCIe, which is a completely different standard. Can you post your current card? (I mean the exact card, not another one in the same family)

I meant that my motherboard can't handle a DDR3 graphics card there to powerful for the outdated PCIe Slots

It's kinda like RAM sometimes you can only have 1gb per slot but others you could have 4gb per slot

I meant that my motherboard can't handle a DDR3 graphics card there to powerful for the outdated PCIe Slots

It's kinda like RAM sometimes you can only have 1gb per slot but others you could have 4gb per slot

Can you link to your motherboard's specs somewhere? Because a DDR2 slot will probably not be able to handle ANY modern game. I have an old DDR2 in my other PC from like 2003, and that thing hardly runs Age of Empires 3.

I meant that my motherboard can't handle a DDR3 graphics card there to powerful for the outdated PCIe Slots

It's kinda like RAM sometimes you can only have 1gb per slot but others you could have 4gb per slot

PCIe is not outdated. It is the current spec. Also, current graphics are GDDR5, not DDR3 (DDR3 is a RAM spec).

But remember, there's more to it. There's PCI-e 2.0 and 1.0, as well as DDR2, GDDR5, etc. The card he linked is 2.0 DDR2, so I have no idea if his MB can take 2.0.

All that matters is the PCIe thing (which is a legitimate potential issue). The MB doesn't care what's on the graphics card, and vice versa. The graphics card has its own processor that handles graphics; the MB talks to that.

All that matters is the PCIe thing (which is a legitimate potential issue). The MB doesn't care what's on the graphics card, and vice versa. The graphics card has its own processor that handles graphics; the MB talks to that.

I may not be right, but I think 2.0 video cards aren't backwards compatible with 1.0 slots, so if you put a 2.0 card into a 1.0 slot, it'll probably burn out.

But remember, there's more to it. There's PCI-e 2.0 and 1.0, as well as DDR2, GDDR5, etc. The card he linked is 2.0 DDR2, so I have no idea if his MB can take 2.0.

I have found a similar one with the same specs just with a PCIe 1 because like Marine831 said maybe my motherboard is a PCI-e 1.0 which it is

On that note my pc is old but It has 8gb of ram a quad core 3.6ghz cpu and good quality components that I have changed over the last year. So my computer may be old but it's quite powerful

EDIT: PCI 2.0 graphics cards aren't backwards compatible with a PCI 1.0 MB

Edited April 14, 201214 yr by Sgt. Ace

I have found a similar one with the same specs just with a PCIe 1 because like Marine831 said maybe my motherboard is a PCI-e 1.0 which it is

On that note my pc is old but It has 8gb of ram a quad core 3.6ghz cpu and good quality components that I have changed over the last year. So my computer may be old but it's quite powerful

Well if your MB is 1.0, then you'd need a new motherboard before you get a 2.0 card.

Well if your MB is 1.0, then you'd need a new motherboard before you get a 2.0 card.

I'm getting the exact same card except it's 1.0 not 2.0 (It's not the exact same but it has the exact same specs)

I may not be right, but I think 2.0 video cards aren't backwards compatible with 1.0 slots, so if you put a 2.0 card into a 1.0 slot, it'll probably burn out.

According to WP, they mostly are backwards compatible. You can use PCIe 2 cards in 1.0 slots, and vice versa. The data rate is less, but it still works (and, AFAIK, the data rate isn't critical to performance; the card itself handles most of the work).

According to WP, they mostly are backwards compatible. You can use PCIe 2 cards in 1.0 slots, and vice versa. The data rate is less, but it still works (and, AFAIK, the data rate isn't critical to performance; the card itself handles most of the work).

Maybe I read it was 3.0 not BC... Meh. Most MBs are 2.0 now, and I'm gonna be putting in a 2.1 card, so I guess he can try the 5550 in a 1.0 slot... Even though such a low end card is a bad idea...

Sgt. Ace, I'd have to agree with Marine831 on the card. It's too weak a card to be great for this role. Get a better graphics card.

Edited April 14, 201214 yr by cp702

The thing with most people coming on here is, they wanna play GTA with 15-20 FPS minimum. I currently play that with my 4350, and this is a pretty good budget card. After a while, it gets irritating. Save up your money, get a new MB and GPU. Alright cards start at around $140, and a motherboard should be maybe $50-120, depending on if your case is ATX or uATX.

Also, what happens when GTAV comes out, or Battlefield 4 or something? You'll find yourself in the same exact situation, needing a new video card. I'm getting a 6850 for $150 off newegg, and that will handle games for at least 5+ years from now.

Edited April 14, 201214 yr by Marine831

Yep. I use a 5770, because it was a reasonable price and works fairly well (I used to use a 4770 or so [can't remember], but it overheated and shut off my computer when playing Portal: Prelude and HL2:E1)

Yep. I use a 5770, because it was a reasonable price and works fairly well (I used to use a 4770 or so [can't remember], but it overheated and shut off my computer when playing Portal: Prelude and HL2:E1)

I heard the 6850 has a good fan, but the FX-4170 has a crappy one. Seeing as how it's a 4.3 ghz quad core CPU, I'm gonna buy a new heatsink/fan and put some more holes and fans into my case to improve the airflow. I shouldn't have that problem :)

The cooling is card-dependent (5770, 4350, 6850, etc., all just designate the GPU, memory, ports, etc. Basically, it determines the "system specs" of the card. The rest, including cooling, is done by the card manufacturer.)

The cooling is card-dependent (5770, 4350, 6850, etc., all just designate the GPU, memory, ports, etc. Basically, it determines the "system specs" of the card. The rest, including cooling, is done by the card manufacturer.)

I meant my entire case, I know you can't swap the card's. Running a high end card like that with a high ass CPU with all the other parts down there, it'll get HOT in there. Right now my GPU runs at about 110 degrees F (I think). My room is pretty hot, so I need more ventilation when I get new parts.

I heard the 6850 has a good fan, but the FX-4170 has a crappy one. Seeing as how it's a 4.3 ghz quad core CPU, I'm gonna buy a new heatsink/fan and put some more holes and fans into my case to improve the airflow. I shouldn't have that problem :)

The cooling is card-dependent (5770, 4350, 6850, etc., all just designate the GPU, memory, ports, etc. Basically, it determines the "system specs" of the card. The rest, including cooling, is done by the card manufacturer.)

How about this I currently have a NVIDIA GeForce

How about this I currently have a NVIDIA GeForce

I was responding to the "6850 has a good fan" comment.

Also, you've reminded my of my first attempt to build a system. Protip: Pentium D chips run hot. If you don't cool them right, your system will shut down every 5 minutes or so, and you'll wind up with permanent damage. :yes: