Help with potentially broken computer please

[MonsieurFish]

Alright, out of the above 3 video cards, which one should I get? I do believe I have a DVI port on my monitor... so would I be better off getting the 6$ card, the 23$ card, or just going to memory express and asking them for one that'll be compatible with my comp?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Alright, out of the above 3 video cards, which one should I get? I do believe I have a DVI port on my monitor... so would I be better off getting the 6$ card, the 23$ card, or just going to memory express and asking them for one that'll be compatible with my comp?

Well, it depends on how much money you want to spend. The $6 and $11 ones are used surplus parts out of a joint by the airport.

Memory Express will get you a brand new card and is probably more convienient to get to. Also, you could return it if it turns out the problem is not just the videocard.

This is also an opportunity for you to get something better than you had originally (in case you ever want to play games) so it's possible to go for something more expensive also as an upgrade if that is something you might want.

[Rathji]

If it was me, I would get the mem express card because even at 22 bucks, it is still enough card that you might appreciate the upgrade if you ever want to be gaming or watching some video on your machine.

[MonsieurFish]

Alright, so I went to Memory Express yesterday, and while I was there, found out that the type of video card I need is a PCI, not a PCI -E (http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfb/deskto...00&cs=28&s=dfb)

Therefore I was not able to buy the video card I intended on buying (http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...1%28ME%29.aspx)

The cheapest PCI video card they had was 65$, and that's quite a bit more than I was hoping to have to pay, since this is a pretty old computer, I don't need a real expensive video card.

Does anyone have any recommendations on any PCI video cards that would work and are a little bit cheaper?

[Bobblehead]

According to the link you gave to your machine:

Slots
2 PCI slots
1 PCIe x1 slot

So while yes, you can get a PCI video card, you should be able to use that PCIe card.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Alright, so I went to Memory Express yesterday, and while I was there, found out that the type of video card I need is a PCI, not a PCI -E (http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfb/deskto...00&cs=28&s=dfb)

Therefore I was not able to buy the video card I intended on buying (http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...1%28ME%29.aspx)

The cheapest PCI video card they had was 65$, and that's quite a bit more than I was hoping to have to pay, since this is a pretty old computer, I don't need a real expensive video card.

Does anyone have any recommendations on any PCI video cards that would work and are a little bit cheaper?

What dork told you that?! Beware that the people that work at Memory Express often don't know anything at all.


This is your motherboard inside the Dell Dimension 3100. That's the PCIe 1x slot for the videocard you need to buy. You can stick a regular length PCIe card on it. You only need the short portion of the connector.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What dork told you that?! Beware that the people that work at Memory Express often don't know anything at all.


This is your motherboard inside the Dell Dimension 3100. That's the PCIe 1x slot for the videocard you need to buy. You can stick a regular length PCIe card on it. You only need the short portion of the connector.

That's a very, very presumptuous post. While it is true that the primary difference between PCIe 1x and 16x is simply the number of lanes, the general rule of thumb is that you can put a card requiring few lanes into a slot offering more lanes.

Doing it the other way around may not satisfy the power and grounding requirements of the card. The PCIe spec calls for a maximum of 25 watts on a 1x slot. That's not much when dealing with modern graphics cards. Even if you can find a PCIe 16x card that consumes that little power, the grounding requirements on the card may preclude using it in a 1x slot.

[MonsieurFish]

Hmmmm... okay, I was told by the memory express guy that a PCIe 1x is different and I do not want that. However, if the PCI-E 1x will work, then I will buy that card.

Thanks

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What dork told you that?! Beware that the people that work at Memory Express often don't know anything at all.


This is your motherboard inside the Dell Dimension 3100. That's the PCIe 1x slot for the videocard you need to buy. You can stick a regular length PCIe card on it. You only need the short portion of the connector.

That is absolutely wrong a pci-e 16x device cannot plug into a PHYSICAL 1x connector, the rear border of the slot will prevent the card from plugging in. The people at Memory Express were correct PCI cards are the only reasonable option (pci-e 1x video card are rare and expensive). You can buy cheaper cards at ncix and newegg.ca.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...09642&name=PCI

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?m...bminorcatid=50

[Hack&Lube]

I fail. I guess I am totally wrong. I've only used 8x slot down to 1x and I figured you could do it the other way around.

[ricosuave]

pm sent again

[Vulcan]

If you go with a PCI card, I'd get a 8400 GS. It's a modern card that can play videos and some games.

These are the best prices I can find.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...ue&Order=PRICE

[ricosuave]

After you plug in that PCI vid card, you may have to keep the monitor hooked up as it is right now, turn the comp on and enter the bios by pressing F2. When you get to it, there may be a menu option which switches your video output from the onboard video on your mobo to either pci or possibly pci-e. If you have that option, put it to PCI, save the settings, then turn the system off and plug the monitor cable into the PCI vid card connector and restart.

Or, you may be able to simply plug the PCI vid card in, plug in the cable, and you will see the screen immediately upon starting, I dont know.

I know some older systems required you to specify in the BIOS where the video was, whether it was onboard (in your case) AGP (another kind of connector) or the PCI or PCIe you have...

EDIT: see halfway down this page... VIDEO, then PRIMARY VIDEO - this is the setting I was referring to.
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1057460

Here's hoping it works. Let us know.

While you are in there, make sure you blow out any dust bunnies and try and keep the cables tucked together away so that the air can flow through there.

Oh, and
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/sm/index.htm

[MonsieurFish]

Many thanks to RicoSuave who gave me an old PCI card of his for free. What a man. Will let you know if this works out.

[MonsieurFish]

Great news team, this video card seems to have fixed the problem. I am posting from this computer now, so it appears all is well. I do have one minor problem/question however: I had this computer hooked up to a 22" monitor with an optimum resolution of 1680x1050, but right now my display settings only allow me to go to 1280x1024. Does anyone know how I can change this so that I can have the widescreen resolution, or is this not possible with this video card?

Thanks

[ricosuave]

If I had to guess, because of the age of the card, that is probably the maximum setting, however, you may want to try and find a tweaked driver for that card other than a MS one, that may help.

Glad to hear it!