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My computer is an eMachines el1200-07w, I would like to upgrade the video card, but I'm limited by the crappy 220w power supply, which appearantly cannot be upgraded due to space limitations in the tower. Google hasn't been especially helpful, telling me what the problem is, but not how to solve it. So I thought I'd ask here, does anybody have any insights on this?

You're not gonna be able to fit a video card worth a damn in that case. It's too puny. And even if you somehow could you'd have overheating issues due to non-existent airflow. Also, the CPU is shit and wouldn't run anything anyway. There is no improving it. You'll need to buy or build an entirely new machine. The money you'd need to sink into it to make it so it can play anything higher end than The Sims or Starcraft (the first one) would be the same price as building a brand new computer.

Short version: It can't be upgraded how you want, get a brand new machine.

PhilosopherOfSorts wrote:My computer is an eMachines el1200-07w, I would like to upgrade the video card, but I'm limited by the crappy 220w power supply, which appearantly cannot be upgraded due to space limitations in the tower. Google hasn't been especially helpful, telling me what the problem is, but not how to solve it. So I thought I'd ask here, does anybody have any insights on this?

Newegg.com had a power supply calculator the last time I looked. Here 'tis.

This is, of course, contingent on you being able to find one that fits your case's form factor. And then you might have heat problems, as NtC mentioned. (I don't honestly know enough to tell either way.)

EDIT: How old is this box, anyway? Because if it's seven years or older, I'm informed by a computer repairman friend that there's no point in trying to upgrade.

The one on the bottom is the one in question. The PSU looks to be a Flex ATX PSU like this one, which is the highest wattage I could find for that form factor. The motherboard appears to have one PCIe x16 and one PCIe x1 slot, and due to the case's size only a low-profile card will fit. Your best bet if you want an ATi card is probably this one, while the best nVidia card you're probably going to get that'll fit is this one. I agree with the others, though, that you're better off just getting a new PC, rather than trying to deal with the headache of upgrading that one.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Since the computer is only about three years old, this tells me I should have spent more money in the first place and bought a better one then. I don't even do much gaming, I only play World of Warcraft and World of Tanks, I'd just like to be able to use more than the minimum settings and have a better frame rate.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help, even if it did amount to "buy a new one."