Which Low Profile Card For Dell GX280 SFF?

[GateCrasher]

Hi am new here, I have just recently brought a Dell Optiplex GX280 SFF from ebay i realise its old but it was dirt cheap and i wanted a computer to play a few older games since i can't afford any new computer until next year sometime, and my Acer lappy is deffently not capable of gaming lol.

I did'nt realise that it was a small form factor pc stupid i know and i did not know about low profile graphics cards etc, i have'nt even got the pc yet have just been reading up on it.

The spec it comes with is

Pentium 4 2.8Ghz

512mb RAM

40gb SATA 7200rpm HDD

8 USB ports (6 rear / 2 front)

DVD-ROM / CDRW

onboard sound

onboard LAN

Windows XP Pro

Office 2003

Its not great i know but i think the ram can be upgraded to 4gb which i will do and it has a pci slot and a pcix16 slot.

I am wondering what graphics card i should go for i was looking at this

XFX GeForce 8400GS 256Mb (supporting 512Mb) PCI-Express graphics card

but am not sure that is the low profile version?

also would that card be able to run games like

Counter Strike Source

Half Life 2

Dark Messiah Might & Magic

and run them pretty well?

Any Advice would be great thanks

 

[FarFarAway]

Right well if the PSU can take it then an 8400GS will be OK for it. Depending on resolution (I'd suggest sticking at 1024 x 768 max), then you'll be OK for CSS and HL2, dunno about Messiah...what engine is it built on?

Deffo get more RAM, 512mb not enough. Stick with XP on it and get 2GB

 

[Rastalovich]

eek aint it an agp mobo ? The 280s here are >.<

EDIT: ah scrub that, the best Dells here are 270s.

 

[FarFarAway]

This?

 

[GateCrasher]

Hi thanks for the fast replys fellas.

I think Messiah is built on the Half Life Engine.

That Ati looks nice but £64 is abit above my budget considering the pc itself only cost me £37 lol

The GeForce 8400 on that site the £21.99 one would that work ? its this whole low profile thing that is confusing me i can't tell which card is low profile and which isn't ?

 

[FarFarAway]

It will work if it's an AGP card....

 

[GateCrasher]

Finally recieved the PC today so i set up the whole thing first without putting the graphics card in and all is fine.

So then i turned off the computer and put the graphics card in and the monitor goes straight into "sleep mode".

Does that automatically mean that the psu just can't handle the card?, the computer still seems to load up though?

Or should i try installing the graphics card drivers and latest monitor drivers on my computer before i try putting the card in?

I've checked the bios settings and its already on "automatic" so that it will use a installed graphics card rather than the onboard graphics, so its not that.

But i've not even got the internet set up on the computer yet so should i try getting that done then updating everything or would that be a waste of time?

 

[SwaleSmith]

have an old geforce 2 agp thats not being used I'd sell you for a couple of pints £10 plus delivery if your intrested pm me

 

[SwaleSmith]

hope I'm aloud to do that???

 

[zak4994]

I have a XFX 8400GS up for sale.

Willing to sell for £15-£20 w/ P&P.

I can discuss!

lol

You can also get a 9400GT as a low profile for a bit more.

hope I'm aloud to do that???

Me too lol.