Compatibility

[Krye]

I need to upgrade my video card, but I don't know anything about anything.

Is there something I need to check on my computer so I know a certain kind of card that I need to get?

[evilbau]

what kind of slot it uses, AGP, PCI-E, etc. Look at pictures online of what its supposed to look like. i.e. motherboard that says it has one or the other and look at a pic of the motherboard. Thats just for compatibility, for performance you gonna have to read reviews or just ask people for recommendations.

[Don Katsu]

How old is your computer and what type of processor/speed? (this can be found by right clicking on my computer and selecting properties)

What brand (if applicable) is it? ex: Dell Dimension E521, HP pavillion 6550n etc.

[Epical]

Need to know whether your motherboard takes an AGP or PCI-E card, and how powerful your power supply is. To find out what your motherboard takes, get a program (free) like CPU-Z and have it scan for your motherboard model. From there we can see what you need.

Or, if you bought your PC from a retailer, state the manufacturer and model of your computer so we can pull up the specs.

[Avanarius]

http://www.tomshardware.pl/graphic/2...pcie-cards.jpg

[mootsfox]

Hit the Windows Icon Key, and the Pause/Break key at the same time. Post the info that comes up.

Right click on My Computer and select "Manage". On the left hand side click on "Device Manager" and then on the right side find "Display adapters" and post what it says there.

[Krye]

How old is your computer and what type of processor/speed? (this can be found by right clicking on my computer and selecting properties)

What brand (if applicable) is it? ex: Dell Dimension E521, HP pavillion 6550n etc.

Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.26 GHz
2.27 Ghz, 256 MB of RAM

The only thing I know about the Brand is that it's a Dell.

Hit the Windows Icon Key, and the Pause/Break key at the same time. Post the info that comes up.

Right click on My Computer and select "Manage". On the left hand side click on "Device Manager" and then on the right side find "Display adapters" and post what it says there.

Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller

[mootsfox]

There's a decent chance that your system doesn't even have an AGP card slot. You'd have to use a PCI card.

What model Dell do you have? (It's on the case on the front badge, around the power button, or on the product key sticker on the side/back)

[Shuemue]

Fuck, I'm actually going to help Krye.

Dowload Belarc Advisor, run it and paste us the report it generates. We need to know your exact motherboard so we can tell you which grfx card to buy.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[Krye]

System Security Status
CIS Benchmark Score
Score
1.88 of 10 (details...)


Virus Protection
Unknown
Unknown


Microsoft Security Updates
Alert!
76 missing



Computer Profile Summary
Computer Name: Home-d233783ae3 (in WORKGROUP)
Profile Date: Saturday, February 02, 2008 3:34:16 PM
Advisor Version: 7.2v
Windows Logon: Administrator

Click here for Belarc's System Management products, for large and small companies.

Operating System System Model
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600) Dell Computer Corporation OptiPlex GX260
System Service Tag: 1GJC221 (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: 1GJC221
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.27 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Dell Computer Corp.
Bus Clock: 533 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A09 11/01/2004
Drives Memory Modules c,d
20.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
5.97 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Lite-On LTN486S 48x Max [CD-ROM drive]
PI1721S RIC717X SCSI CdRom Device [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

IC35L020AVVA07-0 [Hard drive] (20.02 GB) -- drive 0, s/n VNC104A1GDS9UA, rev VA1OA51A, SMART Status: Healthy 254 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM_A' has 256 MB
Slot 'DIMM_B' is Empty
Local Drive Volumes


c: (NTFS on drive 0) 20.01 GB 5.97 GB free
Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
Administrator 2/2/2008 1:02:16 PM (admin)
local system accounts
Guest never
HelpAssistant never
SUPPORT_388945a0 never

DISABLED Marks a disabled account; LOCKED OUT Marks a locked account
None detected
Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller [Display adapter]
DELL M782 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, s/n 8G1572C3BLRJ, December 2002)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7 SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Communications Other Devices

3Com EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI For Complete PC Management NIC (3C905C-TX)
Dhcp Server: 192.168.2.1
Physical Address: 00:04:75:CD:8D:38
Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Network Connection
primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.2.2 / 24
Gateway: 192.168.2.1
Dhcp Server: 192.168.2.1
Physical Address: 00:08:74:30:85:95

Networking Dns Servers: 192.168.2.1
68.87.76.178
68.87.78.130
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
USB Root Hub (4x)
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
No details available
Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes [Back to Top]
These required security hotfixes (using the 01/08/2008 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) were not found installed. Note: CIS benchmarks require that Critical and Important severity security hotfixes must be installed.
Q873339 - Important (details...)
Q885835 - Important (details...)
Q885836 - Important (details...)
Q887472 - Moderate (details...)
Q888302 - Important (details...)
Q890046 - Moderate (details...)
Q890859 - Important (details...)
Q891781 - Important (details...)
Q893756 - Important (details...)
Q896358 - Critical (details...)
Q896423 - Critical (details...)
Q896428 - Moderate (details...)
Q899587 - Moderate (details...)
Q899589 - Important (details...)
Q899591 - Moderate (details...)
Q900725 - Important (details...)
Q901017 - Important (details...)
Q901214 - Critical (details...)
Q902400 - Important (details...)
Q905414 - Moderate (details...)
Q905749 - Important (details...)
Q908519 - Critical (details...)
Q908531 - Critical (details...)
Q911280 - Important (details...)
Q911562 - Critical (details...)
Q911564 - Important (details...)
Q911927 - Important (details...)
Q913580 - Low (details...)
Q914388 - Critical (details...)
Q914389 - Important (details...)
Q917344 - Critical (details...)
Q918118 - Important (details...)
Q918439 - Critical (details...)
Q919007 - Important (details...)
Q920213 - Critical (details...)
Q920670 - Important (details...)
Q920683 - Critical (details...)
Q920685 - Moderate (details...)
Q921503 - Critical (details...)
Q922819 - Low (details...)
Q923191 - Critical (details...)
Q923414 - Important (details...)
Q923980 - Important (details...)
Q924270 - Low (details...)
Q924496 - Moderate (details...)
Q924667 - Important (details...)
Q925398 - Critical (details...)
Q925902 - Critical (details...)
Q926255 - Important (details...)
Q926436 - Important (details...)
Q927779 - Critical (details...)
Q927802 - Important (details...)
Q928255 - Important (details...)
Q928365 - Critical (details...)
Q928843 - Critical (details...)
Q929123 - Important (details...)
Q930178 - Critical (details...)
Q931261 - Critical (details...)
Q931784 - Important (details...)
Q932168 - Critical (details...)
Q933729 - Important (details...)
Q935839 - Critical (details...)
Q935840 - Critical (details...)
Q936021 - Critical (details...)
Q936782 - Important (details...)
Q937894 - Moderate (details...)
Q938127 - Critical (details...)
Q938829 - Critical (details...)
Q941202 - Critical (details...)
Q941568 - Critical (details...)
Q941569 - Critical (details...)
Q941644 - Critical (details...)
Q942615 - Critical (details...)
Q943460 - Critical (details...)
Q943485 - Important (details...)
Q944653 - Important (details...)
Installed Microsoft Hotfixes [Back to Top]
Internet Explorer
no verification data SP2 (SP2)
Windows XP
SP3
passed verification KB839210 on 1/24/2008 (details...)
passed verification KB912812 on 1/24/2008 (details...)
passed verification KB914882 on 1/24/2008 (details...)
passed verification KB923845 on 1/24/2008 (details...)
No details available

Click here to see all available Microsoft security hotfixes for this computer.

[installed security hotfix] Marks a security hotfix (using the 01/08/2008 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary)
[failing installed security hotfix] Marks a security hotFix that fails verification (a security vulnerability)
verifies OK Marks a hotfix that verifies correctly
fails verification Marks a hotfix that fails verification (note that failing hotfixes need to be reinstalled)
Unmarked hotfixes lack the data to allow verification

Click here for Belarc's System Management products, for large and small companies.

Software Licenses [Back to Top]

Belarc - Advisor 06b23678
Microsoft - Internet Explorer 76487-OEM-0011903-00102 (Key: XJM6Q-BQ8HW-T6DFB-Y934T-YD4YT)e
Microsoft - Office XP Professional 54186-640-9159211-17306 (Key: GM8Y7-8R8PG-7PMYQ-X6RCT-P2JCQ)
Microsoft - WebFldrs XP 12345-111-1111111-51518
Microsoft - Windows XP Professional 76487-OEM-0011903-00102 (Key: XJM6Q-BQ8HW-T6DFB-Y934T-YD4YT)e
Software Versions (mouse over * for details, click * for location) [Back to Top]
Alexander Roshal - WinRAR archiver Version 3.71.0.0 *
America Online, Inc. - AOL Instant Messenger Version 5.9.6089 *
Apple Inc. - QuickTime QuickTime 7.4 *
Apple Software Update Version 2.0.2.92 *
Belarc, Inc. - Advisor Version 7.2v *
Cinematronics - 3D Pinball Version 5.1.2600.2180 *
DivX Web Player Installer, L:EN, DivX Web Player 1.4.0, DivX Content Uploader 1.2.1 Version 6.8.0.19 *
dotdivxapp.exe *
DT Soft Ltd - DAEMON Tools Lite Version 4.12.0.0 *
hl2.exe *
Intel(R) Common User Interface Version 7.0.0.4544 *
LimeWire Version 1, 0, 0, 2 *
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.6.0.8820 *
Microsoft Application Error Reporting Version 10.0.2609 *
Microsoft Clip Organizer Version 10.0.2625 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 6.00.2900.2180 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.7.3000 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 8.1.0178 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Installer - Unicode Version 3.0.3790.2180 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Movie Maker Version 2.1.4026.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows® NetMeeting® Version 3.01 * Microsoft Corporation - Zone.com Version 1.2.626.1 *
Microsoft Data Access Components Version 3.525.1117.0 *
Microsoft Development Environment Version 7.00.9064.9150 *
Microsoft Office Document Imaging Version 1.03.2349.1 *
Microsoft Office Save My Settings/Profile Wizard Version 10.0.2609 *
Microsoft Office XP Version 10.0.2627 *
Microsoft Outlook Version 10.0.2627 *
Microsoft Photo Editor Version 10.0 *
Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player Version 9.00.00.3250 *
Microsoft® .NET Framework Version 2.0.50727.42 *
Microsoft® Schedule+ for Windows 95(TM) Version 7.5 *
Microsoft® Windows Media Services Version 4.1.00.3917 *
Mozilla Corporation - Firefox Version 2.0.0.11 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - FINAL FANTASY XI Config Version 3, 0, 0, 0 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - PlayOnline Viewer Config Version 1.18.00 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - PlayOnline Viewer Version 1.18.00 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - polboot Version 1, 0, 0, 0 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - polboot Version 1.0.0.0 *
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. - Tetra Master Config Version 1.00 *
Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U3 Version 6.0.30.5 *

[Krye]

That format is so fucked...

[Shuemue]

According to Dell, that machine supports 4x AGP, so buy something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102410

[Epical]

Damn dude, you could really use an upgrade. D:

[Shuemue]

lol he only just bought that piece of shit

[Krye]

Damn dude, you could really use an upgrade. D:

I plan on it very very soon. I can't get a job until I turn 18 in March because my grades are shit. So I'm going to buy a cheap video card and have this machine hold me over until then.

By the way, thanks for helping me out Shue. I respect the fact that you can look past our differences.

[Osede]

well.... from my view, you do need upgrade your ram too lol.... 256mb just way too little

[mootsfox]

You can get a good computer for about $500 these days, and a great computer for $800-1000.

[Krye]

You can get a good computer for about $500 these days, and a great computer for $800-1000.

And until March 21st, I will have exactly $0. It's like a 2% chance I'll even be able to get the $50 for the video card from my parents.

[Shuemue]

By the way, thanks for helping me out Shue. I respect the fact that you can look past our differences.

I still think you're a stupid little kid, but Tech isn't the place for it.