Installing a new GPU on an older motherboard can be challenging but achievable with the right approach.
Installing a new GPU on an older motherboard can be challenging but achievable with the right approach.
Hello everyone, I'm just starting out on this forum and wondering if I've posted in the correct thread. If not, please let me know and I'll adjust it. My goal is to upgrade the hardware on my desktop. Everything functions normally, but performance drops under heavy tasks like CAD software or even rendering. Just browsing the model now feels slower than before.
When I purchased the PC, it was described as "just above basic." The system uses Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, an Asus P8H67-m motherboard, 4GB DDR3 RAM at 668MHz, a generic 330W power supply, an Intel I3 2100 Sandy Bridge processor, a NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT GPU, a SanDisk Ultra II 240GB SSD, and a Western Digital 500GB HDD. The optical drive is a Bluray player/burner.
Currently nothing stands out as particularly advanced. The GPU I had wasn't originally included, but I moved it from another computer. Right now I plan to upgrade the GPU and RAM first, possibly the CPU later. A friend suggested checking marketplaces like Marktplaats (the Dutch version of eBay) for used GPUs. I searched and found that a one-year-old GPU was selling for a much lower price than its original cost.
I'm curious if a modern semi-high performance GPU would work well with this older motherboard and CPU. I saw an Asus GeForce GTX 570 for 60 euros, which fits my budget and should fit in my setup. From what I've learned, I might need to replace the power supply to a 500W model. But I haven't found much information about compatibility with older hardware.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Daan Steeman
P.S.: My English is still developing, so I hope my message makes sense.
There will likely be many compatibility concerns because of the age. Remember that PCI-E standards probably changed, but they remain compatible across devices. As long as your board includes a PCI-E slot (16x in width, not necessarily in lanes), you should be able to fit a modern card. The main issues usually arise with power supply capacity and proper cabling—modern GPUs require sufficient power, and the connectors must match your CPU socket. If your motherboard uses a 1155 socket, it will only support CPUs from that generation, such as an Ivy Bridge chip. RAM is generally not a problem, but check the maximum supported amount. Speed isn’t the main concern; even faster RAM won’t help if the system can’t handle it. In short, if your setup can’t keep up with your needs, it’s time to consider a full upgrade. Adding more RAM or a GPU only postpones the inevitable.
I completely align with Sprawlie about the initial issue you'll face being your PSU. You might also encounter limitations from the CPU regarding memory bandwidth, which could vary based on your intended use. A single PSU should work just like any other, though the cables have remained mostly consistent—except for the increased availability of Molex/SATA power connectors. If your setup needs more Molex connections than SATA, keep that in mind.
That's exactly what I was worried about. In short: the equipment I’d keep right now is only partially compatible with today’s hardware. It could function, allowing me to use the computer, but its performance would fall short compared to the latest models. As a student, my budget isn’t very high. Should I be able to upgrade the GPU, RAM, and possibly the power supply now? Or would it be wiser to replace everything at once and buy a newer system with a better CPU? Thanks for your prompt reply!
The i7 2600, RX460, and adding 8GB of RAM would perform excellently in that system. It’s unclear if your board needs a BIOS update to support Ivy Bridge, but one likely exists. Your machine remains highly capable—don’t let others doubt it. I used an i7 2600 before a few months ago.
It's interesting how similar things happened the previous night. I installed an Msi R9 390 on an old Phenom II x4 955 setup with 8GB DDR3 at 1600MHz. The only game I played was Unigen Heaven, and everything ran at normal speeds. At 1080p with 144Hz it hit 101 FPS, scored 2544, max FPS was 198.6. The system used Windows 7 (build 7601, SP1), a 64-bit AMD Phenom II X4 955 CPU, and an AMD Radeon R9 390 Series GPU (15.2 GB). The PSU was 650W, had two HDDs, four fans, and a Blu-ray drive. The GPU stayed under 78°C. Updated January 18, 2017 by Kc7vwc – benchmark scores included.
I recently purchased a GeForce GTX760 and plan to test it in my existing configuration. I ran some tests and believe my 330W PSU should easily manage it. During benchmarking, the system consumed around 90 watts on the power cable, which already accounts for CPU losses. With a maximum of 170 watts, that adds up to roughly 260 watts with the new GPU. I’ll monitor the performance and adjust the PSU if needed. I’m also searching for a good deal on 8GB of DDR3 RAM since 4 GB isn’t sufficient. I’ll share updates once I see how the new GPU performs in Unigen Heaven. (@Kc7vwc: I have the old CPU benchmark (score 106, average frame rate 4.2). Your score is significantly better. If I achieve that, I’m satisfied. The MSI specs look much improved. Even a half-score would be acceptable.) Thanks for your feedback!
Hi there, The new GPU has been working well in my system for about two weeks. No issues reported. I upgraded my RAM to DDR3 because the 4GB was insufficient. The unusual part is that the previous RAM was DDR3 10666 with a 9-9-9-24 pattern (9MB), while the new one is two banks of DDR3 12800 (11-12-E2-P2, 8GB). According to what I understand, the newer configuration should be faster (1600MHz vs 1333MHz) and offer more capacity per bank. However, no matter how I try combining the banks with the new ones, the system won’t boot. I can’t even reach the BIOS settings. My current setup only supports 1333MHz, which suggests the 1600MHz RAM will be downclocked to that speed. After a suggestion from a local shop, I updated the BIOS, but it didn’t resolve the problem. The full spec for the new RAM is: 8GB 2Rx4 PC3L-12800R-11-12-E2-P2, SN: M393B1K70QB1-YK0. I checked my motherboard’s QVL list—both the old and new RAM aren’t showing up. Some online sources and YouTube videos mentioned compatibility issues with clock speeds and timing. A few said it might matter, while others insisted all DDR3 RAM works on DDR3 boards. Could anyone help me figure this out? Unfortunately, I don’t have another PC to test the RAM myself, but the seller assured me they tested all banks before shipping. Thanks in advance. Daan Steeman
EDIT: When searching for the new memory, some sites show an error about ECC and server use—not suitable for desktops. Did someone confirm this?
Got it. You're reaching out about connecting with the seller. Let me know if you need further help.