We recently reviewed the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 desktop computer and are excited about this PC, as it’s a very cost-effective base computer that can be upgraded to become a really solid budget gaming PC.

Introduction

The Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 is a very good entry-level desktop computer for 2017 – it has a decent 7th generation processor, plenty of RAM and storage, and good connectivity options.

It’s weakness though, is the lack of a dedicated graphics card. This post will show you how to fix that – by installing a dedicated graphics card, you can turn this computer into a really impressive all-round machine.

In this post, we’ll talk about who this upgrade is for, how to do it, and what parts you can use (our recommended graphics cards are listed).

 

Upgrade Objectives

This upgrade involves installing a new dedicated low-power graphics card into the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5, though it may also be applicable to other Acer Aspire TC-780 series desktop computers.

We are purposefully choosing a graphics card model that does not draw much power, to avoid having to upgrade the existing 300W power supply in the TC-780-ACKi5.

Alternatively, if you don’t mind upgrading the stock power supply in the TC-780-ACKi5 as well, you may want to do a  New Dedicated Graphics Card + Power Supply Upgrade. This will open up your options in the graphics card upgrade choice.

Who Its For

Casual gamers, people who want more image-processing power without doing too much in the way of upgrading the computer.

Installing a graphics card is relatively easy, however it will require you to open up your computer case and plug the new graphics card into the motherboard of the computer. This may void your warranty.

What To Expect

With the addition of a dedicated graphics card, the Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 will perform better where it may have been lagging or stuttering due to lack of graphics processing power. However, since this upgrade is limited to low power graphics cards, you do not have free choice of any graphics card.

Depending on the graphics card model installed, you can typically expect smoother graphics, faster image processing, and being able to increase settings/achieve improved frame rates on some games.

Recommended Parts

There are several excellent graphics card options available that are supported by a 300W power supply. In our opinion, the best graphics card option to upgrade the Acer TC-780 is the GTX 1050 Ti. Its recommended system requirement is 300W, and it doesn’t require any external power connection, making it a plug-and-play option.

The best performing graphics cards that are supported by a 300W power supply with no external power connector are listed below. This list is in order of performance (and cost). If budget is a concern, opt for one of the lower options in the list:

• GTX 1050Ti (best performing)
• GTX 1050
• GT 1030
• Cheaper cards are not recommended as they are typically older model cards that do not deliver as much performance for the price.

Important! You need to get a card less than around 8 inches in length to fit within the Acer Aspire TC-780 case.

(The exact measurement hasn’t been confirmed and the available space is probably closer to 8.5″ or slightly more. You can get a good idea of the available space in the video below.)

As there are several brands that make these cards and versions too, below we’ve listed products which should fit the size requirements of the case:

GTX 1050 Ti:

GTX 1050:

GT 1030:

How To Do It

The video below shows how to upgrade the graphics card in your Acer Aspire TC-780 computer. Note that there are several different models of the TC-780 which have varying RAM and hard drive options.

Alternatively, you can scroll down further to see the steps required in picture form.

Note that the GTX 1060 used in the video is not actually compatible with the stock 300W power supply, as it’s recommended to be used only with a minimum system supply of 400W. You also don’t need to worry about connecting the power supply up to the graphics card if you are using any of the recommended models, as they don’t have this requirement for external power.

If you don’t want to watch a video, follow the general steps below which illustrate how to install a graphics card once you power off the computer and remove the side panel to access the insides.

Summary

If you’ve followed the instructions above, you should be the proud new owner of what is really quite a powerful budget gaming computer. Time to power it up and get ready to give it a test!

Don’t forget to plug your display monitor in to the output ports of the graphics card, instead of to the motherboard on the PC.

This is one mistake that many people do which means they’re not actually using the graphics card!

 

Let us know if you have any questions or comments below. Happy gaming!