Help reviving an old desktop. New GPU, old old desktop.

[BruceG87]

So yesterday a friend gave me an old eMachine T6520. He had it in his closest for somewhere around 4-5+ years.

Got home, opened it up and dusted/verified integrity of wiring then plugged it in and started it up. Everything appears to work great. The machine overall doesn't appear to have been used a whole lot in it's lifetime either.

I've decided to make this a gift to my father. His computer use includes web browsing, video playback and flash games. Other then that, the most intensive game he's ever played was the original Starcraft. So I figure for a good laugh I'd put that on there as well.

Aside from the obvious reformatting, I'd like to fit it this old machine with a dedicated GPU sporting an HDMI connection.

Anyone have any suggestions on an appropriate GPU for this age old machine? Tomorrow I'll be making a trip to the Orange County Microcenter to pick up parts for 2 other build projects I need to finish. So perhaps I could pick something up there and call it a day.

[moremana]

any nvidia GT 2xx or Radeon HD54xx would do fine if thats all you need, around 29 bucks

[BruceG87]

I was thinking about picking up an nvidia geforce 210 for $25 at the store. However, I'm fairly certain the 300watt PSU won't cut it and would probably have to replace it as well.

[stalkerzzzz]

A GT 210 barely uses any power, that PSU will be enough.

[chazus]

It should be fine. The 210power usage is 30w. That system likely doesn't break 100w total power.

[BruceG87]

My concern is the PSU outright failing. It's not the standard PSU, it's a cheap shoddy no name replacement installed sometime after it was initially bought. Asked my friend, he said his ex-fiance had a hand in it and left it at that.

[chazus]

There's a difference between "Not enough power" and "Broken part"... Just replace it if it isn't actually functional. You have to replace it regardless of the GPU.