Help Dell Graphics
Discussion
I have a Dell Dimension 2400 series tower Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz with 1GB ram, the graphics card is integral to the mother board and is only 64MB, Dell tell me I cannot upgrade this, can anyone tell me if thats right or can I add a Gforce or equiv card to the spare PCI slot I have.
Any idea's.
Any idea's.
Yes you can upgrade it, well, you cant upgrade what is there but you can add to it.
www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&NavigationKey=11137&NavigationKey=41600000&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1
Thats a list of compatible boards that will fit in your PCI slot.
It may also be possible to run the onboard stuff in addition to the new card allowing you to connect two monitors if you so wish.
www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&NavigationKey=11137&NavigationKey=41600000&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1
Thats a list of compatible boards that will fit in your PCI slot.
It may also be possible to run the onboard stuff in addition to the new card allowing you to connect two monitors if you so wish.
Plotloss said:
Yes you can upgrade it, well, you cant upgrade what is there but you can add to it.
www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&NavigationKey=11137&NavigationKey=41600000&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1
Thats a list of compatible boards that will fit in your PCI slot.
It may also be possible to run the onboard stuff in addition to the new card allowing you to connect two monitors if you so wish.
www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&NavigationKey=11137&NavigationKey=41600000&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1
Thats a list of compatible boards that will fit in your PCI slot.
It may also be possible to run the onboard stuff in addition to the new card allowing you to connect two monitors if you so wish.
Thanks for help, I only need the add on to play driving sim game, sad I know, any particular one you would recommend.
Martin
docevi1 said:
what game is it? The cards listed there aren't exactly the most powerful...
Game is Outrun 2006, recommends NVDIA Geforce FX5600 128MB, if I go down this road is it just a case of "plug & play" with the new card or does integral have to be disabled?, as you can tell I'm not a tekki.
Well you could do a bit of a more radical upgrade and change the motherboard 
Then you'd be free to add any graphics card you like. I would think everything else (RAM, CPU, HDD, DVD, etc.) would still be ok providing you pick the motherboard carefully. Even the PSU as long as you don't go for something "top of the range"
And becuase the MoBo wouldn't be state of the art it should be cheap
Then you'd be free to add any graphics card you like. I would think everything else (RAM, CPU, HDD, DVD, etc.) would still be ok providing you pick the motherboard carefully. Even the PSU as long as you don't go for something "top of the range"
And becuase the MoBo wouldn't be state of the art it should be cheap
Edited by mr_yogi on Monday 17th July 21:15
redcar said:
Game is Outrun 2006, recommends NVDIA Geforce FX5600 128MB, if I go down this road is it just a case of "plug & play" with the new card or does integral have to be disabled?, as you can tell I'm not a tekki.
Can't comment re games, but I run the nVidia FX5500 in my Dimension 2400 alongside the onboard, to drive three screens. Entirely plug and play, no problems whatsoever.
Not sure what is different between 5500 and 5600, though.
RE: Auto-disabling internal graphics.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
thepassenger said:
RE: Auto-disabling internal graphics.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
Dell have told me I have to go in to BIOS and disable integral video device and activate new one. Might as well be bloody double dutch to me.
Can anyone do me an idiots guide on how to do it? please
redcar said:
thepassenger said:
RE: Auto-disabling internal graphics.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
It's pretty random on that front I'm affraid. Some motherboards just turn off the on-board automatically, others require you to go in to the BIOS and turn it off and unfortunatley some rather cheap and nasty boards (like an AOpen cheapy I picked up once) do neither.
Worst case tell Windows to disable the on-board device once you've got the new card running. But have a hunt in the BIOS to see if their is an option marked "Onboard video" you might be lucky.
If you are looking to build a games playing machine it does look like a motherboard swap is on the cards; but last time I looked Dell didn't use standard layouts on the board mounts. Someone with more current hardware exp feel free to correct me on that one.
Dell have told me I have to go in to BIOS and disable integral video device and activate new one. Might as well be bloody double dutch to me.
Can anyone do me an idiots guide on how to do it? please
Someone must know how.
I have some 2400s in work so can let you know the exact procedure if you get stuck, but off the top of my head you first need to make sure your monitor is still plugged into the onboard graphics port, then switch on the machine and have your fingers ready at the keyboard - you need to press either F1 or F2 at startup where the blue Dell logo is displayed (ie well before it starts to load Windows). Once you get into the BIOS, you'll have a whole load of options in there. Just go through them all umtil you find the 'On board video' option and change it to disable. There may be another option called something along the lines of Primary Video Adapter which is selectable between PCI / AGP / On Board - make sure this is set to PCI. Then IIRC it's F10 for a save and exit, the machine will reboot so make sure your monitor is now plugged into the card you've installed, boot windows, install your drivers for your new card and away you go.
Before you spend a shed load of money, don't have too high expectations, the PCI bus cannot really supply enough bandwidth for the amount of data you'll be needing to process for your game. You could always buy a PSP and play outrun on that
Phil.
Before you spend a shed load of money, don't have too high expectations, the PCI bus cannot really supply enough bandwidth for the amount of data you'll be needing to process for your game. You could always buy a PSP and play outrun on that
Phil.
PJLarge said:
I have some 2400s in work so can let you know the exact procedure if you get stuck, but off the top of my head you first need to make sure your monitor is still plugged into the onboard graphics port, then switch on the machine and have your fingers ready at the keyboard - you need to press either F1 or F2 at startup where the blue Dell logo is displayed (ie well before it starts to load Windows). Once you get into the BIOS, you'll have a whole load of options in there. Just go through them all umtil you find the 'On board video' option and change it to disable. There may be another option called something along the lines of Primary Video Adapter which is selectable between PCI / AGP / On Board - make sure this is set to PCI. Then IIRC it's F10 for a save and exit, the machine will reboot so make sure your monitor is now plugged into the card you've installed, boot windows, install your drivers for your new card and away you go.
Before you spend a shed load of money, don't have too high expectations, the PCI bus cannot really supply enough bandwidth for the amount of data you'll be needing to process for your game. You could always buy a PSP and play outrun on that
Phil.
Before you spend a shed load of money, don't have too high expectations, the PCI bus cannot really supply enough bandwidth for the amount of data you'll be needing to process for your game. You could always buy a PSP and play outrun on that
Phil.
Thanks Phil.
Your last comment, understand the shortfall, but will it play the game, at present I just get you cannot play reconfigure video card.
I thought I was there. Went to buy new PCI graphics card from PC World, was told by them that my machine will not work with the new type of cards, PCI expressor or someother type so have to find a basic PCI card,as my PCI slots are white and not brown, is this correct. Jamieboy said "I run the nVidia FX5500 in my Dimension 2400 alongside the onboard" which is the card I was looking at so now confused again.
They say I'll have to change the whole PC!!I know PC world are not the best place,
Anyone got any idea's or thoughts.
They say I'll have to change the whole PC!!I know PC world are not the best place,
Anyone got any idea's or thoughts.
redcar said:
Anyone got any idea's or thoughts.
This is almost the exact card I have, although mine is dual output:
www.pny-europe.com/uk/verto_prev_fx_5500_pci.asp
Not sure how good it is as a gaming card - I bought it purely for the dual outputs, not because it's fast.
Can't help much, other than to say it is a PCI card (not PCI express) and it runs faultlessly in my Dimension 2400 alongside the on-board graphics chip. Not sure why Dell would have told you to disable the on-board because (in my personal experience) there is no need.
edit - Looking at the PNY website, it seems they do a PCI Express version of the FX5500 as well, but mine is definitely just PCI.
Edited by jamieboy on Saturday 22 July 09:30
jamieboy said:
redcar said:
Anyone got any idea's or thoughts.
This is almost the exact card I have, although mine is dual output:
www.pny-europe.com/uk/verto_prev_fx_5500_pci.asp
Not sure how good it is as a gaming card - I bought it purely for the dual outputs, not because it's fast.
Can't help much, other than to say it is a PCI card (not PCI express) and it runs faultlessly in my Dimension 2400 alongside the on-board graphics chip. Not sure why Dell would have told you to disable the on-board because (in my personal experience) there is no need.
edit - Looking at the PNY website, it seems they do a PCI Express version of the FX5500 as well, but mine is definitely just PCI.
Edited by jamieboy on Saturday 22 July 09:30
Thanks for your help.
Martin
jamieboy said:
Not sure why Dell would have told you to disable the on-board because (in my personal experience) there is no need.
Whilst there is no need to disable the on board graphics if running a dedicated card, your system may well pick up a slight performance boost if you do as you'll be re-allocating the shared memory the on board graphics are taking from your main system memory back to the system. You could be loosing anywhere between 64-256Mb of system ram to your on board graphics.
PCI Express is light years ahead in terms of performance than either PCI or AGP. It should state on the box if the card is PCI or PCI-Express though. PCI Express is not compatible with PCI.
Phil.
PJLarge said:
Whilst there is no need to disable the on board graphics if running a dedicated card, your system may well pick up a slight performance boost if you do as you'll be re-allocating the shared memory the on board graphics are taking from your main system memory back to the system. You could be loosing anywhere between 64-256Mb of system ram to your on board graphics.
OK, that makes sense - in my own case, the ability to have three screens is worth more than ultimate performance, but it's a good point in redcar's case. Cheers.
redcar said:
I thought I was there. Went to buy new PCI graphics card from PC World, was told by them that my machine will not work with the new type of cards,
Just an FYI. PC World's 'techs' much like the BestBuy 'Geek Squad' in the USA are generally speaking not all that well informed about technology, they also may or may not have sales quotas like their US counter-parts.
I suspect you might find that PC World don't sell a PCI graphics card in their stores hence the persons line about the PC being to old (that and the quotas).
thepassenger said:
redcar said:
I thought I was there. Went to buy new PCI graphics card from PC World, was told by them that my machine will not work with the new type of cards,
Just an FYI. PC World's 'techs' much like the BestBuy 'Geek Squad' in the USA are generally speaking not all that well informed about technology, they also may or may not have sales quotas like their US counter-parts.
I suspect you might find that PC World don't sell a PCI graphics card in their stores hence the persons line about the PC being to old (that and the quotas).
You are right on the target with your PC world comments, got a Nvidia Gforce 5200 256mb board from Maplin, guys there very helpful, truthful and knew his stuff, fitted card and all ok.
However this has got me thinking about building a high spec non Dell PC, so lots ok HELP posting soon.
Thanks all.
Redcar
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