[happyrock]

maybe...you can try here...for Video Card Stability Test

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I tried that.
I forgot the exact scenario, but black screen after a few seconds and puter locked up.
Same thing happens with Catalyst Control Center's test.
Maybe the tests are telling me something!
C

[cheeta]

I tried that.
I forgot the exact scenario, but black screen after a few seconds and puter locked up.
Same thing happens with Catalyst Control Center's test.
Maybe the tests are telling me something!
C

[happyrock]

sounds like the video card is dieing

[cheeta]

What a day

Went to buy a card at WalMart. They don't carry any. Probably good for me.

Bought one. Thought I had a pci card. Had only looked at Device Manager.
That is what device manager said under Display Adapters with 2 entries:
PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0
PCI bus 1, device 0, function 1

Turns out it is an AGP card.

WinAudit, under Hardware Devices/Display Adapters, as 2 entries:
Location PCI bus 1, device 0, function 1 Location

WinAudit, under Display Adapters (separate audit), as 1 entry:
Video Processor ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4E48)

Am I confusing software and hardware terminology?

Anyway, to make a long story very short, I cleaned the card real good with acidic acid... just kidding.
I didn't replace my card but had pulled out my old one. When I put it back in and started up, my Windows startup screen, which had looked horrible for over a week, looked fine.

And the emoticon pop-up didn't appear behind this screen, like it had been. My only problem right now is with a few lines in the desktop icons and other very minor glitches. All my glitches have to do with video, it seems.

I did try to run a JAVA based online game and multiple windows. It worked tremendously better than yesterday; but, finally did lock up my puter.

And the junk around my mouse pointer is gone!!!

Will buy a card on-line. I don't have a place nearby to get one. Any suggestions as far as type or memory, etc?

C

[happyrock]

I will do a little research for a card in the morning...
I do need the make and model of your mobo so we get one thats supported...use everest to get the info if you don't know

[cheeta]

Is this what you need?
C


Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID <DMI>
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 8300

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 800 MHz
Bandwidth 6400 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type Dual DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 128-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 400 MHz
Bandwidth 6400 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 267 MB/s

Motherboard Manufacturer:
Company Name Dell Computer Corporation
Product Information http://www.dell.com
BIOS Download http://support.dell.com

[happyrock]

yep...while searching their site I find they have monitor and display drivers...lets try that first...
go here and click on Drivers for Windows® XP/2000...select your monitor from the drop down menu...download and install their monitor driver and reboot...
I'm having a hard time finding the AGP 8x style video cards that your mobo supports without having to upgrade your power supply at the same time...
are you gamer...

[cheeta]

I had to replace my monitor. It is not one of theirs. I have an Acer P201W LCD monitor now.
BTW, the lines on my mouse and startup window came back
And the emoticons display appears behind this window when I click on it.
Haven't done any gaming in years. I do a lot of video editing.
C

[cheeta]

I went to the Dell site to find a new card.
Dell has my puter info that I can access. Of course, I question some of the results.

They recommend (of the agp 8x):
Radeon X1600 XT 256 MB AGP Graphics Card - needs bigger ps for sure!
e-GeForce FX 5200 128MB AGP Graphics Card
Xtasy Radeon 9550 128MB DDR AGP Graphics Card
XTASY Radeon X1300 256 MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card
Radeon X1550 256MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card

They sure do vary in price!!

On the other hand, it is Dell's site and they only sell certain things. I don't plan on buying a new puter soon. Rather have a good graphics card, even if I need a new ps.

Not sure what my ps is rated for. Will have to look tomorrow.

Can I use a PCI card if I have a slot available?
Dell showed this.
NVIDIA GeForce 6200 OC 256 MB DDR PCI Graphics Card
GeForce FX 5200 256 MB PCI Graphics Card
Radeon™ X1550 256 MB PCI Graphics Card from VisionTek

Not sure if any of these are any good.

Any thoughts?
C

Edited by cheeta, 03 August 2009 - 06:49 AM.

[happyrock]

none of those listed are "great" gamer cards by today's standards..
and I don't think your mobo supports PCI express cards so that would let out a bunch you have listed there...they don't put AGP 8X slots and PCI express slots on the same mobo...
exactly what games do you play...the games will say the minimum specs they will work with but you should always use the recommended hardware as the minimum specs

[happyrock]

this one here is only $50.00...
complete list of cards that will work is here..

[cheeta]

I don't have any current games.

Figured the Dell stuff might be old.

C

OH WOW... missed your other post above!
All kinds of cards!!!

Edited by cheeta, 03 August 2009 - 07:13 AM.

[cheeta]

So many to choose from!!!!!

I want to try to keep a new card for a long time. I limited the search by clicking on the newer cards. Then chose ones that supported DirectX 10.1
This one had quite a few reviews, so I figured it was popular.

Do you think this is a good card?...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125281
GIGABYTE GV-R465D2-1GI Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 8X HDCP Ready

Or is this a poor choice?

Minimum 400W for this card. I figured 500W is plenty! Would this work?
http://www.amazon.co...M/ref=pd_cp_e_1
PC Power and Cooling PPCS500D Silencer 500 Dell 12V 80+ Certified Power Supply

C

PS - thank God for Visa - lol

Edited by cheeta, 03 August 2009 - 08:45 AM.

[happyrock]

the video card is OK...IT GOT DECENT REVIEWS...

IF YOU GET THAT ONE.. BE SURE YOU COMPLETELY REMOVE YOUR OLD DRIVERS and CATALYST CONTROL CENTER BEFORE INSTALLING THE NEW ONES....

Once your old drivers are removed, power down your PC, remove your old card and install this one, then power your PC back up. When Windows XP loads it will find the new hardware, simply cancel out these pop-ups and go directly to the included driver DC and run setup from there. Choose custom and select what components you wish to install other than the drivers and Catalyst Control Center. When it reaches the end of the driver install, you may get a Zero Display Service Error... if you do just hit Ok and let the install continue. Your drivers should still be installed correctly...
while the power supply you picked will certainly work...go here you may want to do a little more searching before you jump...I recently picked up a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W for only $85.00...thats with a 5 year warranty...the higher end PSU reviews is here

[cheeta]

Hey Happyrock!
Well, looks like I will be making a plunge.
If that video card is ok, will probably get it.
THANKS for all the info!!!!!!!! Especially the part about removing Catalyst, etc.
Wow, you got a deal for $85!
I did find this highly rated...
http://www.amazon.co...6111811-8578062
I just need to make sure that whatever I buy will fit in the case.
Feels like Cmas...
C