Dell Desktop Computer Graphics Card Upgrade Options
I have been asked many times; 'What options do I have to upgrade the graphics card on my Dell Desktop Computer?'
Basically, if you have a Dimension 3100c or a Dimension 3100 your options are limited due to the fact that they do not have an AGP or PCI Express x16 graphics card slot. They do however have a PCI graphics card slot for which you can still buy a graphics card that will out perform the onboard graphics solution.
The rest of the Dell Dimension models do have a PCI Express x16 graphics card slot and therefore support the latest graphics cards.
If you want the ultimate gaming experience from a Dell Dimension PC you should buy the XPS 720 which gives you option of DUAL PCI Express graphics cards in a SLI formation.
| Model | Slot | Dell Default Graphics + Options |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension 3100 | PCI | Default: Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator GMA 900 |
| Dimension 3100c | PCI | Default: Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator GMA 900 |
| Dimension C521 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce 6150 LE graphics Option: 128MB PCI Express™ ATI Radeon X1300 Option: 256MB PCI Express™ ATI Radeon X1300 Pro |
| Inspiron 530 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 Option: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE TurboCache Option: 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro |
| Inspiron 531 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE graphic GPU Option: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT Option: 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro |
| Dimension E520 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 Option: 256MB PCI Express™ ATI® RADEON™ X1300 Pro Option: 256MB PCI Express™ NVIDIA® GeForce® 7300LE TurboCache |
| Dimension E521 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce 6150 LE graphics Option: 256MB PCI Express™ NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7300LE TurboCache Option: 256MB PCI Express™ ATI® RADEON™ X1300 Pro |
| Dimension 9150 | PCI Express x16 | Default: 128MB PCI Express™ ATI Radeon™ Hypermemory™ 2X300 SE Option: 256MB PCI Express™ NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7300LE TurboCache Option: 256MB PCI Express™ x16 NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6800 Option: 512MB ATI® Radeon™ X1900XTX |
| Dimension 9200 | PCI Express x16 | Default: 256MB PCI Express NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE TurboCache Option: ATI Radeon X1300 Pro 256MB Option: 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS Option: 512MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX |
| XPS 210 | Half-Height PCI Express x16 |
Default: Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 Default: Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce 6150 LE graphic gpu Option: 128MB ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card Option: 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro graphics card |
| XPS 700 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Single 256MB nVidia™ GeForce™ 7900GS Option: DUAL 256MB nVidia™ GeForce™ 7900GS Option: Single 512MB ATI® Radeon® X1900 XTX graphics |
| XPS 710 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Single 256MB nVidia™ GeForce™ 7900GS Option: DUAL 256MB nVidia™ GeForce™ 7900GS Option: Single 512MB ATI® Radeon® X1950 XTX graphics Option: DUAL 512MB ATI® Radeon® X1950 XTX graphics Option: Single 768MB nVidia® GeForce™ 8800GTX |
| XPS 710 H2C | PCI Express x16 | Default: SINGLE 768MB nVidia® GeForce® 8800 GTX Option: DUAL 768MB nVidia® GeForce® 8800 GTX Option: DUAL 512MB ATI® Radeon® X1950XTX |
| XPS 420 | PCI Express x16 | Default: 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Option: 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600GTS Option: 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX |
| XPS 720 | PCI Express x16 | Default: Single or Dual 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS Option: Single or Dual 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX |
| XPS 720 H2C | PCI Express x16 | Default: Dual 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX graphics cards - SLI enabled |