Ask an IT Pro

[dodint]

Yeah, I've never heard of the brand. Can't help you there. My stuff is all Seagate and WD. Glad I could help. I don't think I gave you a really straight concrete recommendation other than saying I think the Y cable is the better option.

[eddysnake]

After looking at ports and plug availability and running numbers, I think I'm just going to go with the Seagate Expansion AC powered HDD. I really don't feel like unplugging the other USB port in the back everytime my kids want to play Infinity, it's already bad enough switching between the Roku and console ( I should just get an HDMI switcher...)

I think it's pretty rare for a Wii U game to go over 10GB and I prefer going the physical media route first, so I think it might be impossible to fill a 1TB in my lifetime. The 2TB HDD is $4 more, is there any advantage performance wise with sticking with the 1TB over the 2TB (run cooler, more efficient, etc?)

[dodint]

Formatting will take slightly longer, but you only do it once. Larger drives are harder to index, but that won't be a concern for proprietary usage like this. With 4 and 5TB pushing the size envelope a 2TB is mid level at this point. Really no reason that I know of not to go to the 2TB. When you move past the Wii you can re-purpose it to store UHD movies.

If I'm wrong, please someone correct me, but I can't think of a single reason to not spend the $4 on twice the capacity.

[dodint]

Also, don't lay that thing on a carpet. Put it somewhere it can breath. It has passive cooling and if you block off the vents on the bottom and/or back it'll overheat and shut down rather quickly.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

$4 for 1TB? I'd take that alldayerrday

[eddysnake]

it will be on an open shelf, so no worries there. Looking more at this, the Toshiba has a 3 yr warranty compared to the 1 yr of the Seagate. For $6 more, I'd have to think this would be the way to go...

[mikey287]

Got the computer...went to install the video card...doesn't fit...case is too small...

So I have to buy this thing: NVIDIA NVS 310 - a low profile card so it fits...question, does this - or any video card - exist that doesn't require "additional" power - meaning I don't have to hook a cord from the power supply to it for it to work? I can't figure that out from looking at all the specs and manuals I pull up...is this thing low enough in power (sub 20 watts, max consumption) to just be powered by the PCI slot/motherboard...?

I have some concerns about the power supply supporting another piece...

[dodint]

I feel bad for having not thought to point that out since I had to take a dremel to my case to get my video card in. When I saw the horizontal case I should've said something.

That PCI Express slot will push 75w, so it would seem you're okay. Wouldn't know from personal experience though. It's not very difficult to connect a video card to a PSU, the cables should come with the video card. Your eBay ad doesn't say how much wattage the PSU is putting out.

From a theoretical standpoint, if the card is operating at 20w the PSU is still putting out that 20w whether it's routed through the MB slot or directly to the PSU. Hooking it up directly just gives the MB less to do. I don't know what the practical difference is.

This reminds me of people that recommend not connecting to the internet through USB because it puts more work on the processor instead of a dedicated NIC. It's not exactly the same but it's a similar logic.

[dodint]

The spec sheet for that model says 240w PSU.

[mikey287]

No worries, so I looked into what video cards fit in this shoe box...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PNY-NVIDIA- ... 25a0cfb4c6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That seems like it...the lack of the word "low profile" in that listing is a bit concerning (I don't know if a full (?) profile version exists) but that thing looks dink, right? It looks like a half-dollar would cast a shadow on that thing...so I guess I'll just throw this in there because I think I'm kind of limited in terms of wattage and low-profile options...

But either way, I'm currently watching hockey in SD like a mook...so this thing is a guaranteed improvement on that I feel...and again, I think the computer will be powerful enough to play HD video nicely without a lot of help from the graphics card...I am not a gamer...

[dodint]

I just noticed that "SFF" in the computer ad means Small Form Factor.

The spec sheet for that PC lists "low profile expansion slots." But looking at that card I'm not sure it could get any smaller.

You understand that the auction title lists "2DVI" but there are 2 DisplayPort (NOT HDMI) ports pictured? I thought you wanted HDMI? You'd have to either have Displayport monitors or buy a Displayport to HDMI cable or adapter.

[dodint]

For anyone that doesn't know:



HDMI on the left, DisplayPort on the right. DP has a straight shortside.

[mikey287]

Ahhh horse****...

[Shyster]

Got the computer...went to install the video card...doesn't fit...case is too small...

I may be missing something, but why do you need a separate video card? If I'm understanding right and you bought one of those HP Elite 6200s from eBay, then it has integrated graphics. It looks like there are VGA-out, DVI-out, and DisplayPort-out ports on the back. YOu might need some adaptors, but you should be able to feed the DisplayPort (maybe through an HDMI adaptor) to the TV and the DVI port to the monitor.

[dodint]

He's looking at editing video while watching other stuff and wanted a little more oomph to handle that. For just watching the on board would be enough.

[shmenguin]

How many people are actually using display ports?

[dodint]

Lots of people in the Army, unfortunately. Eat ****, Dell E6500. (I own a Dell E6500 and it's a quality machine, other than the DisplayPort).

I had a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter on one of my triple monitors, but found that DVI-D gave much better color. I probably never would've noticed if I didn't have a multi-monitor setup but it was very noticeable.

[mikey287]

He's looking at editing video while watching other stuff and wanted a little more oomph to handle that. For just watching the on board would be enough.

All right, so I researched for hours last night and the bottom line is: this sucks noodles. I see some video cards that are low-profile that would fit but they would be pushing it wattage wise...I only have 240w as you saw...it seems like a couple I could get away with it even if they want a 300w psu...what are the negative ramifications of it if I'm wrong? Won't turn on or risk of damaging something or will just turn off when too much is going on...?

My hunch is that it would be fine if I pushed the limits of power supply, these cards are dink, not very powerful, I'm not powering a whole lot...would de-powering (unpowering? dispowering?) the CD drive aid in this at all? I will almost certainly never use that for anything...is it a case of "every little watt counts" or does it only matter if the device is in use. Can I disable something(s) from the Device Manager to aid in this or am I just being ridiculous...?

Or, I can invest in a new small form power supply...up it to 350 or 400w or whatever...probably run me another $50 or so or whatever plus I'll have to do the work (is it that hard? I just have to unplug things and then plug them back in basically, right?)...and then have to get a video card on top of that...so it's another $100 on top of what I spent and I didn't get a monitor yet...

Or should I try to get an adapter (convert what I have to HDMI) and see what it can do as is? Maybe I don't need a graphics card at all to do what I want to do...? Or is that pie in the sky nonsense...? It does have a whale of a processor, relatively speaking...

I'm guessing that the goofy little symbol that I can't identify near the normal monitor port (VGA?) is DisplayPort?

[shmenguin]

a power supply is pretty easy to install. screw it in and plug things in, the way they were before.

[mikey287]

Yeah, it seems like something I could handle...I've done all this before, but it was a while ago...but going that route costs about $100 or so, which isn't terrible, but it's another 20% on the purchase...because there's no sense upgrading the power supply unless I'm going to get a decent video card...

[dodint]

Yes, that is a DisplayPort output.

I'm basing my assumptions on the idea that your computer looks like this in the back:



If you're not in a hurry you can give the integrated video card a shot and if your editing is choppy you can seek a solution later. That's the reasonable option. Did your computer come with any video adapters? Specifically ones that look like this:





They came with it from the factory but I'm not sure if your refrub program included them. They're not expensive if you don't have them.

1. How many monitors do you want to use?
2. What kind of connections do the monitor(s) have?
3. What kind of cables do you have now?

1. I ask because your stock setup has a DisplayPort and a VGA output. So without buying any fancy hardware (like a Matrox) you can do two monitors, one in digital (DP) and one in analog (VGA). If you bought a video card you could choose your outputs (provided you can find a card you want in low profile). If I were you I might e-mail the eBay guy and confirm that's a dual DisplayPort card. The "2DVI" in the title is still weird to me.

2. The available connectors on the monitor dictate what kind of cable you'll need coming from the computer or new card. If you can't tell just post the model number of the monitors. Most monitors have a VGA (small blue) by default. I highly doubt it's DisplayPort, probably HDMI or a big white DVI port. I like DVI. You can convert DisplayPort to DVI:



3. Just curious. Technically it doesn't matter as long as they connect to your monitors.

Bottom Line:

If you're using a single monitor system or can accept using VGA for the second monitor, use what you have now and see how it works out.
If you're using dual monitor and want digital on both, buy a low profile card like the one you posted and buy whatever adapters you need to fit your monitor/cables.

If you have a system drawing more power than the PSU will put out one of two things will happen. You'll get an error at boot up saying that the system needs more power, and if you're lucky the video will be run in a low power mode that will allow you to get into windows and configure changes. The other possibility is that it works fine for ages and then one day when you're watching two HD streams, posting on LGP, and burning a DVD all of a sudden your video feeds die or the video goes all crazy. This screengrab is from my iRacing rig before I upgraded the video card and PSU, you can see crazy artifacts in the mirrors and that bit on the roadway:



As shmenguin mentioned any power supply that will fit in that case will be plug and play. The trick will be finding one in the correct dimensions since the SFF case originally only came with two different kinds of 240W PSUs, so there isn't a ready made solution already out there. Your PSU is kind of oddly shaped:



You will have to measure the available area in the casing and buy something that fits those dimensions. Basically ensure that when it's installed you can still access your power input. The way that it's notched to the side may be an issue. Tower PSUs are typically just square.

Also, optical drive wattage pulls:
CD-ROM Drive (20W)
DVD-ROM Drive (25W)
CD-RW Drive (20W)
DVD / CDRW / COMBO Drive (30W)
DVD-RW / DVD+RW Drive (25W)

[mikey287]

All right, hey if you don't know, you don't know...thanks anyway...

Spoiler:

Great post, a plethora of info...thank you!

- Yes, that's what the back looks like.

- Yeah, I'm going to ask my IT department if they have one I can borrow for some reason...rather than buying it and waiting, plus, I'm not sure if it's what I want anyway...but failing that, I'll probably just buy one...

- 1. Two monitors - one monitor, one TV.
- 2. TV = HDMI. Monitor = not purchased yet, so, whatever.
- 3. HDMI to HDMI cable is all I have right now.

- @bottom line: I think I'm going to give it a whirl with what I have (plus the necessary adapter) and see what happens...seems like the logical first step...

- I don't have it in front of me, but I thought my power supply was a rectangle. It just kind of flips up to expose a HD bay or whatever underneath...I don't think it has the fan in such a way, that would have likely stuck out in my mind...but I'll look again when I go home...you listed the wattage for different types of drives (awesome stuff, by the way), should I assume that if I take 20-30w away from a CD drive that the PSU will then be able to devote those watts to a video card? Which would kind of give me some leeway in the event that I need one...meaning, a video card that recommends a 300w min. I think I could pull off by losing the CD drive?

[JS©]

How many people are actually using display ports?

Lenovo docking stations use a ****ton of display ports. I think the only thing we have that uses HDMI are the docking stations for the x240 and T440.

Samsung monitors also use display port.

[dodint]

I honestly don't know. I don't think power is partitioned where x amount of watts is allocated to each peripheral, so eliminating at DVD-RW drive will give you 25w. And the card you posted is rated at 20w which is capable of being powered by the PCI Express slot on the motherboard, so that power is rated for the motherboard already. Obviously the DVDRW isn't pulling 25w all the time, just when in use, so actually pulling the cable might only save the amount of power it takes to run the LED on the front, very nominal. It would probably make more sense to just not use the drive while streaming video, but it's a DVD drive so you'll be tempted from time to time to use it to watch video of something and that is where you would most likely start to push the system. Remember, the limitation would only be exposed at peak (or a system test on boot) so you may not notice it until you're involved in a project.

A 300w card, minus 25w for optical drive is still 275w which is 35w more than your system has now.

This whole discussion is on wattage and ignores amperage. Your card isn't some super goliath card so I doubt it would pull much more, but it's something to think about.

I have this 15ft DisplayPort to HDMI Cable and can highly recommend it. I use it to stream Steeler games from my laptop directly to my 73" HDMI TV and it works great. If you can't get an adapter from work consider just using this (or one like it). Comes in shorter and longer sizes (up to 35ft, sheesh).

I'm really bummed that you used this thread and ended up buying that compact case. The specs are great and the PC itself is a great deal, but that SFF is really handcuffing you right now.

[mikey287]

I read you loud and clear. Thanks again. And yeah, this SFF thing was something completely unknown to me...I knew getting a bargain was going to bite me in some place, I wasn't sure where exactly...I have quickly discovered where ... but it's no problem at all, just have to alter some things here and there and piece it together...not a big deal...I'll still able to achieve my endgame for under $500 no matter how I slice it...