External GPU on Desktop Setup

[BrassPatriot]

I feel like my setup is kind of awkward. I have a two-year old non-gaming PC that runs Windows 8 and has an Intel Core processor. I was hoping to update it by getting a decent graphics card to run more recent games, however my computer does not have a power supply; it has a 90 W AC adapter, like a laptop. So I was thinking maybe I could get an external GPU to work with my system, but after some research, I have not seen anyone discuss using an external card with a PC. Would it work to use an external graphics card with a desktop? Is there a way to swap the adapter with a proper Power Supply?

[CursedPanther]

What kinda PC is that? Is it one of those all-in-one models?

[BrassPatriot]

No its a plain old desktop PC with tower.

[Fluffy]

you have to have some sort of interface to connect it to such as mini-pcie for example.. such as this one but if you do it will work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/V8-0-EXP-GDC-Beast-Laptop-External-Independent-Video-Card-Dock-Mini-PCI-E-Vers-/291688406245?hash=item43e9fbdce5:g:jegAAOSwI3RW~Lri

also there is no way to swap out the 90w dc power adaptor as this is built right into the motherboard.. you cant convert it to atx power supply

[_I_]

post a cpuz validation link
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
cpuz -> validate button -> submit button
it will open a browser, copy the url (address) and paste it here

if its a notebook build, odds are it will not work very well with an external dedicated gpu

and if it is good enough and has a port with enough bandwdith for a gpu (thunderblot), the adapters and equipment required will cost as much as a good gaming pc

[BrassPatriot]

CPU-Z Link: http://valid.x86.fr/fvdb55

I figured there wasn't a way to swap the adapter out anyway.

Also is there a way to get a GPU to run off of an adapter, because as far as I am aware there isn't.

[Fluffy]

there is ones that turn a pcie-x1 into a x16 full size slot if thats what you mean.. saw those on ebay as well (not sure where else you could find them if anywhere) but if thats what you mean your limited to low power cards 75w and under.. 750ti would be the best you could do there.. they also run on external power but on a pci-e x1 slot your limiting your bandwidth

[[☥] - CJ -]

Whats the model of the PC/Tower?

[Marble]

I think you're totally stuck then.

External GPU's require a Thunderbolt connection (USB won't cut it).

Also your mothrboard has no PCIe slots at all, so you can't add anything new to the system anyway.

[_I_]

even pci-e x1 converted to a x16 port with x1 bandwidth will not offer enough for a decent gpu

[Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc]

Yeah that won't cut it you'll need a new setup

[BrassPatriot]

Alright, thanks for the help everyone.

[Rove]

EDIT: I see now that your motherboard apparently has no PCIe x16?
Will add a CPU and otherboard to my first recommendation then:

Option 1: Lower cost system overhual.

ASRock FM2A88X PRO3+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard
Raidmax ATX-404WU ATX Mid Tower Case
Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory
AMD A10-7860k 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor
Base Total: $290.85
Mail-in Rebates: -$50.00
Shipping: $7.56
Total: $248.41

Runs integrated graphics about as powerful as a dedicated R7 250 which is why it needs the super fast DDR3-2400 RAM to help power them. Can be upgraded with the same graphics as seen in the more expensive build later on as the PSU is enough at minimum. This APU is unlocked for overclocking on both the GPU and CPU portions, a better performance custom cooler is advised before attempting too much overclocking or you may overheat and break it. Overclocking does void the warranty but done properly can be safe. Thus it's best done later after you've had time to study it and get a good custom cooler.

Option 2: Proper system overhual.

AMD FX-8300 3.3GHz 8-Core Processor
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 R5 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
XFX Radeon R9 380 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card
Raidmax ATX-404WU ATX Mid Tower Case
Deepcool 650W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TZDKFT
Base Total: $579.83
Promo Discounts: -$24.98
Mail-in Rebates: -$55.00
Shipping: $3.99
Total: $503.84

This dedicated graphics card, the R9 380, has about 3500~ GFLOPS of processing power compared to the 800~ GFLOPS of the APU in the first build, the 1300~ GFLOPS of the Xbox One or the 1840~ GFLOPS of the PlayStation 4 just to give you a idea of it's power. The graphics card can also be overclocked as can the AMD FX 8300 8 core CPU. In fact with a good enough cooler it can overclock just as high as a FX 8350 could (when overclocked on the same cooler) and reaching the 4GHz of the FX 8350 at stock should be easy. Again though it doesn't come with the same stock cooler as the FX 8350 which aside from factory settings is basically the only difference between them. So you should get a good custom cooler before overclocking, even just to 4GHz.

Personally I'd say it's really coming time for a system overhual and at this point it would also be ideal to throw a 240GB to 256GB SSD in there as a boot drive or at least a 1TB or 2TB SSHD. It comes down to what you can afford though.

Here's a SSHD and a SSD recommendation if you want either:

Seagate 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st2000dx001
OutletPC $89.88 $89.88+
Amazon $89.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime In stock $89.99
( 135 new from $89.99, 6 used from $76.76. Last updated 7 hours ago. )
B&H $89.99 +FREE s/h $89.99
Newegg $89.99 +FREE s/h In stock $89.99

Patriot Blast 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-internal-hard-drive-pbt240gs25ssdbk
NCIX US $69.99 In stock $69.99

[BrassPatriot]

Yeah my motherboard doesn't have any additional ports. I didn't realize how bare-bones it was until I opened it up the other day. I'm just reluctant to get a new setup because its a fair chunk of money to build my own PC and the fact that my computer is only 2 years old anyway.

[SundownKid]

Then sell your PC on ebay so you can recoup some of the cost once you've finished building the new one.

[_I_]

apu is a lateral move from the i3 notebook

it will have a better gpu (still not nearly as fast as a dedicated card), but the cpu is slower

save up $600+usd for a proper gaming desktop build