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Can the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 with 32MB integrated card be upgraded aftermarket? If so what would be a good faster match. Thank you

That's not a card, it's on the motherboard. And yes, you should be able to upgrade it with any graphics card - what you install is up to your wallet.

I bought this computer yesterday. It seems like a lot of stuff for the bucks. It has a PCI Express x 16 slot that a video card can be installed. I was looking at the ATI Radeon HD 4350 for $20 after rebate at Newegg. I am not a gamer, but thought it would add to the computer. I am a rookie, what do others suggest for an inexpensive card? Thanks.

This looks like a good DEAL to me. Let me ask some of you with more experience some questions...please. Is the q8300 quad a decent processor...faster than the duos? I am like WoldpackRon and would like to install a video card to get a little more speed in games. I don't play many any more, but for a few dollars more why not? I was looking at maybe something like one of these:

http://bensbargains.net/deal/118770/
http://bensbargains.net/deal/118546/

WoldpackRon, any idea of size of the power supply and will that limit the video card?

Thanks in advance,

#4 -- A 4670 will provide considerably more oomph on gaming performance over a 9500GT. While actually the X4500 ISG isn't bad (if not gaming) a 4350 will off most all the video decoding prosses from your CPU and would be a decent upgrade. Don't know what PSU this has, but most HP like this have had 300W, so if that's the case the next level up in gaming cards can't be power by that.
http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Graphics-cards/ATi-Radeon-HD-4670-vs-nVIDIA-GeForce-9500GT.html
http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9350&Itemid=40
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article873-page1.html
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/9987-ati-hd-4670-512mb-gddr3-video-card-review.html

I'd stay away from that MSI card, it's cheap but it might be a case of you get what you pay for.
Most often the extra 512Mb in memory won't translate in performance boost but as you're using Win7 it will permit you to access that memory on other tasks, so if about the same cost it's worth grabbing, there no down side for having it.

An Asus is for $55 –AR $20, but you pick up the shipping. But you'll get "Alone in the Dark" game for free...
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Thank you Casecutter for taking the time to give a very informative answer. I always enjoy reading your replys.

My computer is starting to have some problems and it is time to get something newer rather than start replacing parts on an outdated system...also want to try the new Windows 7.

How does HP stand up as far as quality. In the past I have built up my own computers from parts, but have not kept up with the new equipment the last few years.

Thanks again,
Ray

the finish on my HP notebook sucks and is wearing away after 2 years.

My Hp dualcore duo2E3600 mediaceter is still working flawlessly. i upgraded the ram to 4gb but other then that its perfect

NoClueHere, The HP p6240f has a 300 watt power supply. This should let me install a number of video cards. This will limit some video cards. Most indicate what size power supply is needed. I have had good luck with HP personally. They all cut corners over what you may use if you were building it yourself, but I still don't think I could have built this computer for $550. Thanks for the suggestions on the video cards Casecutter. I will try to figure out what card to install. I am working my way thru installing Office, mail, etc.

HP, Dell, Toshiba - they're all going to be about the same quality. The motherboard is usually Intel, the drive a Seagate etc - they're just all bought in parts in a box with "HP" on the front.

NoClueHere – Thank you. To build or no to build... that is the question?

For my personal use I like to build, while family especially those not close by and tech savvy I will find a good buy and go that direction. The hard part is, what is the component level/price you feel you'd like to enter at, that a tough one for anybody to answer. But today you can build very nice budget to mid-level rigs for $300-500 and will be more capable and upgrade friendly than similar priced OEM box. As to OEM quality there desktops are all high-quality industry standard parts (although sometime they are exceptionally dated like the mobo). Then I don't recommend recondition boxes only because some simply get a 90 day warranty. If going OEM get one with a good factory backing or at least do something like a Square Trade policy, but at that point you might as well stay with new direct (or Costo, <a rel="nofollow" href="/merchants/staples-coupons-16/jump/" target="_new">Staples, Office Depot) deals.

Build or buy there are two "must have awareness" components, mobo/chipsets and PSU you'll get or use are important. Building is great as you can pick the cream of components that are in their apex of price/performance ratio and don't have to deal with the bloat ware installs of OEM versions of the OS. If you're not the person who needs tech support at every turn, and can logically diagnose most issues you're probably money ahead building your own.

Now on too the PSU found in the HP p6240f, 300W is only the first small revealing piece of its' capability; the paramount spec is the output Amps of the 12V+ line. Most good 300W will allocate 18A, which is the low end I like in a full size desktop, while real quality units could be as high as 22A. If you're box came with a lower watt CPU, a single HDD and DVD/CD drive, card reader, one case fan, all with onboard graphics or even a low end VGA card (25W), 18A is adequate. Althou... [Truncated]

Went searching about this p6240f, and everybody is talking about it's 300W PSU. Looks like a HP P/N 5188-2625, or Delta DPS 300AB 19A. From one picture from Ebay it shows 19A 12V+ rail while stating it can't exceed 268W total. considering that's a 95W CPU and 8Gb of memory to keep hot... it's not looking good.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/bacon.dll?VISuperSize&item=230377795840

After looking at the hardware on this it's not bad add a good 500W $50 PSU and 120mm fan someplace, and then whatever mid-range card you'd like and you're pretty well set. Could I build a computer better for $600, I'd like to think so. Say an i5 and maybe a little less (4Gb), but faster... I don't know?
$400 for the CPU/mobo/ram... $200 for PSU/case/HHD/burner and still a Win7 dics... maybe not.

Egg will ship all of this for $553 (you do only 2 rebates for $10 and $25)

- Phenom X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 AM3 95W Black - Retail - Combo with Mobo
- GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 (No IGP) - Rebate $10
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack System Builders - OEM
- G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
- OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W SLI / CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Active PFC - Rebate $25
- W-D Caviar Green 640GB 7200 RPM SATA - Bare Drive
- IKONIK Taran A10 IC-T1DBC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
- SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223C

Then add the MSI R4770 CYCLONE for $95 -AR $13 and you right at $650...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127452

A Tri-Core will do you almost everything a Quad would especially gaming, while some have good luck unlocking the 4th core and OC'ing is tremendous.
http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/processors/AMD_Phenom_II_X4_955_16.html

Come on guys, quit slammin my new computer!!! I am very happy with it because it is so much faster than my Pentium 2.4 ghz box I built almost 7 years ago. I understand your concerns, but for the ease of picking it up at Staples I am happy. Just need to pick out the right video card for cheap. Casecutter, what cheap, under $50 video cards would you reccomend. WolfpackRon.

<table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>WolfpackRon wrote:</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">Come on guys, quit slammin my new computer!!!</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody">Not slamming at all you've done good, honestly there's worse...

Now, keeping the 300W and want some satisfactory game use... it a 4670's as above. While just a decent do-all upgrade card for $50. Hmm?
It use to be that one 4650 with DDR3, but that has disappeared leaving many 128-Bit cards to get DDR2. Now the difference between a 4650 or 3650 with DDR2 is minimal so right today there's the Powercolor 3650 for $30 –AR $15 free shipping. While it has been less and I'd say will come back around.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131169
http://bensbargains.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130510&highlight=3650
And if you’d like a nice silent cooler this is sweet.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/zalman-gigabyte-vga.html
http://www.directron.com/vnf100.html?gsear=1

This Asus 9500GT OC is a nice DDR3 offering with a good fan/cooler that should be robust for the years. At $45 -AR $15, but you pick up shipping. The only downside is that it doesn't output HD audio through the HDMI connection none of the 9500's do.
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Now if you'd like to bounce that rig into the stratosphere for $180 –AR $25 free shipping. There's this combo...
A Sapphire 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 and a OCZ StealthXStream 700W PSU with Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.275101

Ben are you on this one?

Want to Build a Really Nice Gaming Rig with Top Notch Everything $636 @ Newegg
http://bensbargains.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=133086&highlight=
Lot's of time on my hands

Casecutter,

Well your time is well appreciated by me and I am sure others. That Gaming Rig looks great for $638. How much faster would it be over the HP rig. You would be giving up about half the ram and a little hard drive storage.

From looking at build or buy I think the problem is the operating system. It is hard to get around the big companies paying very little for the operating system. I like what I have read about Windows 7 and do want a legal copy.

My first build was a 286 with a FAST AMD 20 processor. The Intels were all 16s...I was living LARGE at the time! I still have the motherboard/processor/memory in the original box in my closet!

That was then.....this is now.

Any compatibility problems with the Phenom processors?

Thanks again,
Ray

Actually, it's just fun to build... through others, I suppose.
Tom's works good for an overall of B-M's, the problem is I don't see the Core2 Quad Processor Q8300 in the list. So I've pick what appears to be a high and low to find the mean. I might be wrong but fairly close I believe the Q8400 is just a little faster clock. Honestly I would say the Phenom processors are more than comparable. Most have the X4 955 Black 3.2GHz Deneb come up on the short side of the new i5, so it no slouch. Honestly you won't run many software process that utilize all 4-Cores so kicking off with X3 then later go with an more modern upgrade.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-desktop-cpu-charts/compare,1401.html?prod[2607]=on&prod[2610]=on&prod[2633]=on

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001157%2040000343%201051707842&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16819115055%2CN82E16819115207%2CN82E16819115057

As to the memory that 8Gb of the lowest DDR3, while the amount sounds nice, it's a "wow" thing. 4Gb is more than sufficient and it's faster with CAS Latency 9. Although, as normal check Gigabyte for their recommendations. I believe it's compatible, but that would need some checking with G. Skill for that mobo. That 640Gb... how much space are you filling right today? If you have 300Gb of stuff then I'd go 1Gb? People hear big drive and again go wow, HHD space is cheap! But that dual platter drive is fast ... [Truncated]

Thanks Casecutter,
I purchased the ASUS 4670 1GB today at Newegg for $49.99 after rebate w/shipping. I could not find a better selection than your pick. Not that I knew much about video cards. Thanks again for your help. WolfpackRon.

PS: I am having trouble logging in on my new computer with Ben's Bargains and posting. I had to use my wife's computer. I also had problems buying the ASUS because of CA security blocking cookies. I guess I will figure it out.

Nice grab on that Asus, just remember to disable the onboard IGP in the BIOS as you boot back in after installing the card. The screen will go default, but once you install the disc and the drivers install it will all come back. If you had an Nvidia IGP mobo I normally say uninstall the Geforce drivers before downing the box to install the card. Intel on-board graphics normally play fair with ATI catalyst installer, so you should be fine there.

Remember unplug (or switch off the PSU if there is a switch then unplug). Then, just touch the bare chassis and the center little faceplate screw (normally grounded on newer homes) before un-bagging and plugging in the card. Most would say it's not all that important, but a safe practice and cheap insurance. If you move around and come back do it over again you may have picked-up static.