Video Card Help

[Delirious046]

Hello. I have a Dell Optiplex SX260. It has an Integrated Extreme Graphics. Does this mean that the card is combined with the motherboard and not changeable? Because the computer is totally small. I was planning on replacing it with this one ATI video card but I don't know if its possible. My question is: Where is the video card in this computer(if there is), and is it replaceable?

[PrntRhd]

Integrated means video is integrated on the mainboard and shares RAM with the rest of the system, no extra video card.
I am not certain an Optiplex SX260's small case and power supply will support a video card, maybe someone here has tried it before.

[jlreich]

First it would need to be a "low profile" video card. A full size video card would not fit in the case.

Second the AGP interface is probably 2x-4x.

And as PrntRhd said the power can't take much more than stock components.

All that being said your choices are very limited. You could go with something like an ATI 7000 or 7500 low profile card, but not much more than that. Hardly worth it in my opinion.

[saphalline]

Intel Extreme Graphics = i845G series chipset.

And if I know OEM's and their tiny PC's, that old OptiPlex uses the i845GV variant and left you only with PCI slots! And low-profile PCI slots, at that!

I wouldn't suggest messing with it. I've seen far too many PC's like yours that will actually refuse to boot with a vid card installed. They weren't meant to be upgraded, no matter how much money you throw at them!

[jlreich]

The specs on that machine does indeed show an AGP slot. Although I couldn't find what version.

The Optiplex models are meant for business and always or almost always have a graphics slot in case a dedicated video card is needed for CAD or other similar work.

[saphalline]

If it has an AGP slot, then it's 4x. The big advantage with the next chipset series, i865, was the inclusion of AGP 8x.

I've seen quite a few OptiPlex systems that don't like vid cards, but I haven't seen an AGP one. If it has AGP, and if you've had success with them in the past, then it might be worth a shot. The low-profile thing will be the only problem/limitation.

[jlreich]

Yes options are limited, and not really worth it in my opinion.

I would also go to dell's site and plop in the service tag# to make absolutely sure what the specs are on that particular machine before doing anything. ;)

There are many revisions of the sx260. From s478 Celeron to Core2 Duo. 2-4 ram slots. The only thing that really remains the same with the SXxxx is that it is a SFF. Then you have the really tiny Ultra-SFF SX's as well (ruffly 10"x10"x5"), often used for POS systems.