Hi guys. I just bought a new computer. Its a GT5228. I was just wondering, my Technician keeps telling me the only way I can put 2 GeForce 6600 Pci in my machine is if I buy a new computer. If i buy a new motherboard, i have to buy EVERYTHING NEW. Is it possible to just change the motherboard and install the 2 graphics card? There is already 1 installed. It is a GeForce 6100. Its extremely crappy. He said you cant take it out but u can add to it. Is it possible to replace it without getting a new motherboard? I dont know what my motherboard is because its stalk. If i need to buy a new one, what will i need, how much and what do i need to look for? Thank you for your time.

Hey

So many things are off in your thread, first there is no AMD athlon 64 X3 processor, maybe you mean X2. Also, you don't shop with OEMs when looking to buy a gaming machine - at least not Gateway anyway.

Secondly, your Gateway GT5228 "Media Center" PC does not even have a graphics card in it. What you have is the motherboard-integrated GeForce 6100 chipset popularly reffered to as onboard video. The next thing also is the 6600 series of nVIDIA cards do not come in PCI format, fortunately you do have a PCI-E slot. That will accept a discrete or standalone video card should you decide to upgrade to one.

Lastly, forget the BTX SLI motherboard swap concept currently swimming in your head because it's just not going to happen. In reality the best you can do is get solid card that is at par with your 4200+ and I would suggest the X1900GT, but the conern then shifts to your presumably weak PSU.

The only other option is to return the system since it's brand new, eat the restocking fee and have your technician or someone else build you a real PC.

The Secret Letter From Iraq

Your motherboard doesn't support SLi & even if it did, two 6600 cards would be a poor choice. As Sabertooth pointed out, your board does have a PCI-Express slot, so upgrading to a decent (or at least semi-decent) video card is an option. But before doing anything, you need to check out your power supply specs to see if it's capable of handling the power requirements of a high end video card. You may have to play it save & invest in a middle-of-the-road gaming card. Anything you get would be better than the onboard 6100.

http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/1...

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/09...