A graphics for older machine

papilon · 05-03-2017, 06:50 PM

Hello everyone

I am using lubuntu 16,04. I'd like to purchase a graphics card to improve online video and speed up web browsing performance. Currently I use integrated graphics VGA.

I think of a card with passive cooling system and low power consumption. Will GT 710 (19Watt) work fine on linux or I should purchase sth else? What do you think of my choice?

Specs: MB: G31M-ES2L; CPU: E2220 @ 2.40GHz; RAM: 2GB.

frankbell · 05-03-2017, 08:22 PM

LQ frowns on duplicate threads. This thread has been reported as a duplicate of http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ne-4175605195/

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about graphics cards to answer your question.

Ztcoracat · 05-03-2017, 09:16 PM

In some cases if you purchase a higher graphics card you will need to up the power supply.

I used to have a Radeon 3330 so for better graphics I purchased a Radeon 7750.
I had to replace the 300 watt power supply to a 500 watt power supply as the new ATI/AMD Radeon needed it.

Here's the spec's for the Nvidia GT 710 right from the Nvidia website.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications

-::-Looking at that page the minimum power for that card is 300 watts.-::-

Is this your mobo?
http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Gigaby...rev._2.x).html

If so ensure that you have a PCI 16 x slot on your board to install it.

You should be able to use this display driver as 710 is listed in the supported products tab.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/drive...px/73666/en-us

Ztcoracat · 05-03-2017, 09:20 PM

Double checking the spec's on the mobo I linked; there is 1 slot for a PCIe X 16 crd:-

How old is your desktop?

ondoho · 05-04-2017, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papilon

Will GT 710 (19Watt) work fine on linux
Specs: MB: G31M-ES2L; CPU: E2220 @ 2.40GHz; RAM: 2GB.

like with all nvidia cards, you will benefit from their proprietary driver.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...ce-gt710&num=1

looking at your specs, it hardly seems worth the effort, but maybe if you get the card very very cheaply...

papilon · 05-04-2017, 09:48 AM

The MB features integrated graphics Intel GMA 3100. I thought that with installing an extra graphics card I would improve online video and speed up browsing the internet. So what do you think I should do? I don't wish to spend more than $60-70. Low power consumption gets priority.

Better graphics card should improve internet: loading pictures, java-scripts, flash etc, shouldn't it?

@Ztcoracat: the MB came up in 2008.

PS
I didn't duplicate my post. The first post disappeared and I posted it again. Very oddly, it appeared again.

ondoho · 05-04-2017, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papilon

I don't wish to spend more than $60-70.
...
the MB came up in 2008.

so you want to spend 70$ on a gpu to spice up an almost 10 year old mobo & processor?
i wouldn't do it.
here's a thought:
a more recent intel cpu, and its integrated graphic chip, probably has more bang than the gpu you're pining for.
AND you'd get a much faster cpu.

so, if i were you i'd do some researcgh if i can't get a better Cpu for that mobo.
maybe not for 70, but 100$ could go a long way!

Ztcoracat · 05-04-2017, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papilon

The MB features integrated graphics Intel GMA 3100. I thought that with installing an extra graphics card I would improve online video and speed up browsing the internet. So what do you think I should do? I don't wish to spend more than $60-70. Low power consumption gets priority.

Better graphics card should improve internet: loading pictures, java-scripts, flash etc, shouldn't it?

@Ztcoracat: the MB came up in 2008.

PS
I didn't duplicate my post. The first post disappeared and I posted it again. Very oddly, it appeared again.

Yeah, you should have better speeds. I did when I up-ed my GPU from an onboard 3330 to a Radeon 7750.

If you have to return the card to the manufacturer because it doesn't give you the performance that your looking for return it asap and hold on to the receipt or the transaction from your credit card.

Since your mobo is 9 years old it may not be worth it if the new GPU is pricey.
By the time you purchase the GPU plus pay the taxes and shipping it could be well into $55.00 or higher. You'll know if it's worth it at first boot after you get the driver installed.
-::::-That's why I said hold on to the receipt.-::::-

Shop around other competitors may have it for less than Amazon. New Egg seems to be the highest:-
https://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-GeForce.../dp/B01AZ7W88O

Good luck with your decision.
FWIW If it were my machine I'd give it a go.

Cheers

ardvark71 · 05-04-2017, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papilon

I didn't duplicate my post. The first post disappeared and I posted it again. Very oddly, it appeared again.

Hello and welcome to the forum

Most likely, the post was held back for review from one of the moderators to ensure that it complied with LQ guidelines. That is standard procedure for first time posters here.

Regards...

JeremyBoden · 05-04-2017, 11:44 AM

Many cards require one PCIe-16 slot - but are rather thick, so that they occupy the space taken by two slots.

The 300W stipulation is not for the graphics card - its for everything, although 300W is a bit small for any PC.
You could probably stretch to a GeForce GT 730. I've been using one with passive cooling on a couple of PC's for a couple of years, in a non-gaming mode.

Ztcoracat · 05-04-2017, 12:23 PM

The GT 730 is a little higher in price than the GT 710:-

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-.../dp/B00L5GZG5C

Should be able to get a rebate from the manufacturer.

https://www.evga.com/support/rebates/

AMD gave me a nice rebate for my new GPU:- $35.00-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the driver if you decide to purchase the GT 710:- Ge Force 700 Series:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/drive...x/104284/en-us

mrmazda · 05-05-2017, 12:26 AM

papilon, I have a 3.07GHz E7600 PC with GMA 3100 on the motherboard, a passively cooled GeForce 210 (30.5W TDP) in its PCIe slot, used with an OEM power supply that's probably no more than 300W. It multiboots openSUSE 13.1, 13.2, 42.1, 42.2 and Tumbleweed, Debian Jessie and Stretch, LMDE, Fedora 21, 24, 25 & 26, Mageia 5.1. In every case I use either nouveau or modesetting X driver, never proprietary. If your PS is reasonable in capacity and condition, I wouldn't be afraid to choose a 710 if it's priced right. Like my 210, the 710 is a bottom of the line product, not necessarily expected to perform materially better than Intel GMA of our vintage. Even for $30 the difference might turn out not be worth it for LXDE.

rokytnji · 05-05-2017, 05:50 AM

If you can find one. Mine comes with twin monitor cables.

Code:

$ inxi -xx -G
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G71 [GeForce 7900 GS] bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0292
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NV49 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 12.0.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
harry@shop1:~
$ sudo lshw
<snip>
 *-display
                description: VGA compatible controller
                product: G71 [GeForce 7900 GS]
                vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
                version: a1
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
                configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
                resources: irq:30 memory:fb000000-fbffffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff memory:fc000000-fcffffff ioport:dc80(size=128) memory:c0000-dffff

No noisy fan needed. This is the machine it is installed on.

Code:

$ inxi -M
Machine:   Device: desktop System: Dell product: Precision WorkStation T3400
           Mobo: Dell model: 0TP412 BIOS: Dell v: A09 date: 06/04/2009

I get these for free.

papilon · 05-06-2017, 08:09 PM

I am testing GT710. On win7 (sorry for this word on linux forum

) everything is fine and smooth. When I play HD videos 1080p on youtube CPU workload is about 10%. GPU does its job (just by the way on GMA 3100 480p was maximum). On lubuntu... with the same graphics card 720p eats 90% of the CPU power; I can't play 1080p. Why is that so? Why does linux put rendering graphics/HD content down to CPU?

I tried using nouveau and proprietary driver and there is no difference between them. Lubuntu can't make good use of GPU. Don't know why.

mrmazda · 05-06-2017, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papilon

... on GMA 3100 480p was maximum). On lubuntu... with the same graphics card 720p eats 90% of the CPU power; I can't play 1080p. Why is that so? Why does linux put rendering graphics/HD content down to CPU?

I tried using nouveau and proprietary driver and there is no difference between them. Lubuntu can't make good use of GPU. Don't know why.

Intel GMA did not provide 1080p support in hardware until about a year after your Gen 3 GMA 3100 was launched, in the Gen 4 GMA X4500. IOW, until about a year after your motherboard's chipset was designed, 1080p on Intel had to be done in software. Apparently your CPU is just not fast enough for 720p or more, whether Lubuntu or otherwise.