Graphics Card Replacement

[TheChef96]

I am looking at upgrading my graphics card from an Nvidia Geforce GTX 550 TI to a Geforce GTX 1060. I am not very good with computers on the hardware side of things and was wondering if the 1060 has any additional requirements from what the 550 TI has, as I would like to just take out the old card and pop in the new one. (does the 1060 need any additional cables that the 550 ti doesn't, etc.)

These are my system specs, and I am running Windows 7.

System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Model h8-1241
Total amount of system memory 12.0 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz

Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total size of hard disk(s) 1863 GB
Disk partition (C:) 1249 GB Free (1846 GB Total)
Disk partition (D:) 2 GB Free (17 GB Total)
Media drive (E:) CD/DVD

Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter type NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
Total available graphics memory 4095 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 1024 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 3071 MB
Display adapter driver version 21.21.13.7306
Primary monitor resolution 1920x1080
DirectX version DirectX 10

Network
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Network Adapter Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller


Here are links to my old card and the one I'm looking at.

Old Card:
https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Mini-HDMI-Graphics-01G-P3-1556-KR/dp/B004S5CCP4/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493829331&sr=1-2&keywords=geforce+gtx+550+ti

New Card:
https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Support-Graphics-06G-P4-6161-KR/dp/B01IPVSGEC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493829360&sr=8-1&keywords=geforce+1060

Thanks for any help you can give.

[TheChef96]

I tried updating the BIOS and removing one of the sticks of RAM, still having the same problem.

[Squirrell]

Here is another post about the mobo that is probably the one in your pc -

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/bios-freezes-on-Hp-IPISB-CH2-with-new-graphic-card-installed/td-p/4631736

btw, I have an i7-2600 and a gtx970 in an asus mobo. The cpu is more than sufficient to run even a gtx 1070. A new mobo might be the answer if funds exist.

Here is another post about needing a bios level 8

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Pegatron-s-IPISB-CH2-motherboard-BIOS-update/td-p/5504701

[Omega]

Here: http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Problem-installing-a-new-Video-Card-on-HP-Pavilion-HPE-h8/td-p/3426807

Similair problem same PC model.

[TheChef96]

So if that article is correct, it looks like my motherboard is too out of date. How much would an update cost and how difficult are they to replace? This is my first experience doing anything with computers on the hardware side, so I have no clue what I'm doing.

[Omega]

Publicado originalmente por TheChef96:

So if that article is correct, it looks like my motherboard is too out of date. How much would an update cost and how difficult are they to replace? This is my first experience doing anything with computers on the hardware side, so I have no clue what I'm doing.

You will need to look for a used lga1155 motherboard because the are not sold anymore. But some big retailers might still have them new in stock.

[TheChef96]

What I am really confused about is that the card works find with an older computer, and it uses an even older BIOS than my machine uses.

[Omega]

Publicado originalmente por TheChef96:

What I am really confused about is that the card works find with an older computer, and it uses an even older BIOS than my machine uses.

The problem is the motherboard. BIOS version doesn't really matter. For some reason the HP motherboard just doesn't like the 1060.

[Squirrell]

Search ebay for "lga 1155" mobos. Go for a new one if possible.
Check the manufacturers website before buying.
(Or post back here and ask.)

Publicado originalmente por Omega:

Publicado originalmente por TheChef96:

What I am really confused about is that the card works find with an older computer, and it uses an even older BIOS than my machine uses.

The problem is the motherboard. BIOS version doesn't really matter. For some reason the HP motherboard just doesn't like the 1060.

Other posts say that it needs a UEFI microcode update which comes in a ver 8 bios, which HP hasn't released. The mobos are Pegatron which are associated with ASRock.

[TheChef96]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/252401304742

Is this the mother board you are talking about? Thanks for all the help by the way, I feel like I'm in way over my head.

[Squirrell]

Your current mobo seems to be a micro ATX form factor (= small size). Can you measure it?

Is it 9.5 x 9.5 inches?

Most mobos are ATX which is 12 x9.5 inches.
You can only buy ATX if you have spare room in the case.

[TheChef96]

Looks like a 9.5 x 9.5

[Squirrell]

OK, then you need a micro form factor.

Next step - mobo's have different chipsets as explained on this page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1155

To allow the installation of an SSD drive at full speed, a SATA 3 port is needed.
This means mobos with H61 chipset are out if you want an ssd in the future. Mobos have the chipset type in the product name.

There is a refurbished ASUS P8H67-M PRO on newegg for $109. It ships from China.

On ebay there seems to be an Intel B75 LGA 1155 supposedly new in the US for $130.

From the chart, the B75 is the better choice as it has pcie ver 3.

There may be other mobos available on ebay, amazon etc.

(I'm in Australia, there are new lga1155 mobos in online stores here.)

A potential other problem is the version of Windows. You have a HP pc. WIndows might protest that it is unlicensed if you change the mobo. I believe (as posted on this forum) that you can get around this by phoning microsoft but I am not certain.

Other than that, I think you should be OK.

[Kitai]

Publicado originalmente por LTT LinusFTW:

Look at the RX 570 4GB or RX 580 8GB.

i would say an r10 470 or 480 since the 5xx cards are pretty much rebrands

[Big Boom Boom]

Definitely RX 480 8Gb, if you can get one for cheaper price. Overclocking and flashing BIOS will give you RX 580 if you want that 5% performance.