[goofygrmom]

How do I find out what my video card is?

HP model a6220n, Intel Core 2Duo E4500, Vista Home Premium, 32-bit OS.

Thanks.

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Onboard/Integrated Intel GMA 3100


Where you can find the driver if needed:

http://h10025.www1.h...product=3548645


You have one available spot for a PCI-Xpress graphics card.

[BradMcKinley]

Onboard/Integrated Intel GMA 3100


Where you can find the driver if needed:

http://h10025.www1.h...product=3548645


You have one available spot for a PCI-Xpress graphics card.

[goofygrmom]

Thanks Brad. May I ask how you found that info? I'll check out the link, too.

[BradMcKinley]

Thanks Brad. May I ask how you found that info? I'll check out the link, too.

First I googled your model number and found the hp info page. I looked at the drivers page under video/graphics and saw the only possible culprit: Intel chipset/graphics integrated driver.

Then just to confirm I went to Newegg, again searched your model #, to take a look inside your computer. That's how I knew you had a PCI-X slot available for an upgrade. Plus Newegg listed the chipset number.



edit: Well this is all supposing you have not forgotten what video card you had installed before or if you acquired the PC with an upgraded graphics card.

That said:

click the start button and type device manager, then expand display adapter - In your case it may just say "Intel Graphics" if you indeed have a unmodified computer. An upgraded graphics card would list it's model like GeForce 8800 GTX or Radeon Such and such.

Edited by BradMcKinley, 20 April 2010 - 05:24 PM.

[goofygrmom]

Thanks tons for explaining all that. I had gone to the HP site, too, but got a bit confused. Now I know that what I read was correct. Also, now I can look thru the start menu. Whatever graphics card I have is what came with the PC when I got it back in Nov 2008. You've been very helpful.

[goofygrmom]

Info from device manager...

Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family


The guru at my hubby's work seems to think either my video card or monitor is going south. My monitor goes dim for a short time, then brightens back up. It had done it before and I discovered a loose connection. Fixed that and was good for a few months. Doing it again this past week. Opened the tower and gave it a good cleaning. Put it all back together again. Ok for a couple days, then it did it again. I don't have any way of connecting this monitor to a different PC. So I can't check it out. A new video card is less expensive that a new monitor.

[BradMcKinley]

In my professional opinion your monitor is likely the culprit. This happens from time to time. Replace the monitor with another as a test for a while to see if it ever dims. If so, then it is 100% the video card. You could fix this by purchasing a new PCI-Xpress graphics card and plug the monitor into that.

[goofygrmom]

I guess I could try my very old monitor. It seems to be ok. Thanks again for all your help.