repost from Tech

[Blarg]

So my computer is like 5 years old and when I was planning on buying a new Vcard a year or so ago I was told the new vcards connect to the computer in a newer way and my computer isn't able to connect with those cards. Based on how old the computer is do you know what kind of connection that could be and what card of comparable power could fit in there.

How do I find out how big my power supply is so I don't get one that will kill my computer?

[Ragnell]

Well, do you know the type of motherboard do you have?

And you can find out how much power you power supply has by the number on it, all you need to do is open the case up and see the number

[Day]

Sounds like you need AGP maybe?

http://www.diamondmm.com/images/bustypedrwng.gif

[Shojin]

5 years old you will either have PCI or AGP (Don't confuse PCI with PCI-express). You might be hard pressed to find a PCI graphics card, most these days use PCI-e. If you have any cash to spend, you can get a low-end pre-built computer from like HP/Dell for pretty cheap these days, around $200-$400 I'd say.

[Day]

Yeah that. I wouldn't waste too much money trying to fix up an old pc when low end dells will blow yours out of the water for a little more than the cost of a video card.

[Ragnell]

Tiger direct has a deal for a Quad core case memory and PSU for like 300+ bucks, pretty damn good deal

[Blarg]

What I think was the power supply (what the power cord plugged into on the inside) has this on it CN-OU2832-17922-422-10IS

[Day]

Blarg are you trolling us, I will kill you, as I was actually trying to help.

[Blarg]

I did open up the case and clear out a bunch of dust and restarted the computer and the artifacting was gone but I haven't tried to play a game yet and the day is rather cool so it will probably screw up once it tries to do something intensive.

[Blarg]

Blarg are you trolling us, I will kill you, as I was actually trying to help.

Not trolling

[Day]

I did open up the case and clear out a bunch of dust and restarted the computer and the artifacting was gone but I haven't tried to play a game yet and the day is rather cool so it will probably screw up once it tries to do something intensive.

Well give it a shot, I'd even suggest reseating the video card first. Won't take too long playing any game to tell if it's fucked.

[Blarg]

By reseating you mean take it out and put it back in? I tried to move the thing bit its connected on the bottom via the pci or whatever input and on the side as well and I couldn't see how to unclip it. There was also some coords connecting to it and couldn't tell if you just pull them out by pulling hard enough or flip a clip somewhere so they slide out easily.

[Shojin]

The fuck? Any chance you can take a pic of your motherboard and upload it?

[Day]

Theres probably a little plastic clip thingy thats a part of the slot that is holding it in that you have to push back a little and pull out. See the thingy on the AGP picture above, you have to pull back a little then pull it out. It's takes a small amount of force but if you feel like you might break it then you probably are about to.

[Shojin]

Do you actually have a graphics card in there? Or are you using on board chip set graphics?

[Day]

Does it look like this blarg ol pal? (The brown slot)

http://tvcrit3.tvcrit.com/framegrab/...rd_HT1_440.jpg

[Blarg]

Ya it looks like that except the slot is all green

[Blarg]

Should I disconnect the wires from the card too before I reseat it?

[Ragnell]

yes if the wires are loose then no need

[Blarg]

The only 4-500$ computers I see don't allow you to configure the parts. They just come with onboard graphics which I would rather not have. I have some extra ram on my computer I can use and the HD if its compatible so that kind of thing I can swap to a new computer