Will MSI R5450-MD1G Graphics Card work on DELL Optiplex 320 Desktop PC

Hi,

You have the right PCIe slot (x16) and would simply swap the X1300 for the 5450.

Performance wise, the HD5450 is many times more powerful (3dMark03 - 3500 for X1300 vs 16000 for 5450) and comes with later DirectX support and HD video and audio decoding.

Power supply could be the sticking point - AMD usually recommend 400 watts - the X1300 consumes around 31 watts peak where as the 5450 consumes 19.1 watts - indeed the HD5550 consumes 39 watts typically.

Regards,


RobMobility

Hi,

Using Antec's power supply calculator, your PC currently uses around 273 Watts(assuming dual core Pentium D with 4 GB ram in 2 slots, a single DVD re-writer etc and an X1300 Pro/XT).

With a HD5450,this would be: 256 Watts

With a HD5550, this would be: 265 Watts

Therefore, potentially you could consider the faster, LP 5550/5570 card if gaming is your main reason for changing? Price difference could be US 10$+ in favour of the 5550, depending on availability/supplier:

MSI 5450:

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Radeon-HD5450-650MHZ-Heatsink/dp/B004JXVLQ6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1298456369&sr=8-9

ASUS 5550 (LP)

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Radeon-5550-PCI-Express-Video/dp/B003OX3ILS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1298456377&sr=8-2

The HD 5450, whilst superior to the X1300, is not really a gaming card, but designed for Home Theatre PCs where HD Video and Audio decoding are needed.

It does have some 3D capability and would work with older games or newer games a low resolutions/low details levels.

Regards,


RobMobility.

RobMobility:

Thanks for your detailed information.

I will look around to see wether I would get a ASUS 5550 (LP).

The purpose of ATI X1300 is to connect to my DELL U2311H monitor.

I have two 2GB memory only as the system will not support 2GB on both slots when the X16 display card slot is used. There is a thread in EE forum about the limitation of Optiplex 320, i.e. 2GB maximum memory when X16 display card is installed. Of course, I will not buy a 4GB RAM module to replace the 2GB x 1 RAM module as it is too expensive.

The purpose of new graphic card is for video and photo editing, and 3D game playing, of course.

If you have the minitower it uses a standard atx power supply, so you could always upgrade it and get an even more powerful video card.

Hi,

I think he said desktop in the question so assumed this was using the proprietary 280W PSU?

Regards,


RobMobility.

I wasn't sure so i though i'd add it.

I do not like the mini-tower. Mine is desktop version.

Besides, I can only use low profile display card. So, no much choices are out there.

Then you are stuck with the smaller power supply which will limit video card possibilities. Also make sure the cards come with the low profile bracket as it will be required with the desktop chassis.

If you had a beefier power supply you could get a gts 450 which would run circles around the hd5550.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261078

Hi,

I'm not sure you can get the proprietary 'L' shaped PSU in more powerful versions and as such the GTS450 might be too much for it as it would require a minium of 320 watts vs the 265 of the HD5550.

Regards,


RobMobility.

Agreed.

GTS450 will not work for sure.

Using Antec's power supply calculator, the current power consumption is 380 watt.

But, I have conflicting information about the power consumption of HD5550 vs HD5450.

Using Antec's power supply calculator, the power consumption of HD5450 is 397 watt whereas the same for HD5550 is over 410 watt.

On the other hand, I have read some reviews that HD5550 consumes less power than HD5450.

Which version is correct?

If my PSU limit is 400, I will go for HD5450 with the assumption that the Antec's power supply calculator is accurate.

P.S.: The spec at http://www.northwoodcomputer.com/Flyers/opti_320techspecs.pdf indicates that the x16 graphic card shall not consume over 25 watt. Will HD5450 and HD5550 exceed the limit of 25 watt.?

Hi,

Current power consumption cannot be higher than 285 watts, which is what is currently fitted?

The PSU rating, that is?

Regards,


RobMobility

I have just got typical setup for my Optiplex 320 - 2TB HDD, DVD writer, mutiple USB devices, scanner, printer, keyboard, mouse, speaker...etc.

Just input all above in Antec's power supply calculator to give the results I mention in earlier comment.

Where can I get PSU rating?

Hi,

It's at the bottom of the specs in the power section - desktop has 285 watt and mini-tower 300 watt.

Regards,



RobMobility

The answer from RobMobility is better.