graphics card upgrade

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by benboy, Mar 28, 2006.

  1. benboy

    benboy Private E-2

    Hi I am new to this site I am running XP on Tiny pc pentium 111 about 5 years old I want to use google earth but it is very slow to load I understand that I need a graphics card that is 3D-capable with 32MB ram and screen should be 32-bit True colour
    My existing card is Intel(r) 82810 I assume this is not 3d capable I can only configure screen to medium 16 bit or high 24 bit not 32 bit as recommended, does anyone know if I should upgrade graphics card and if so what do I purchase. Are they easy to install, is it just a matter of swopping the old for new? I am not a techi so plain advice please
    Thanks
     
  2. Bobomoomin

    Bobomoomin Specialist

    Yes, buying a new graphic card is very simple and easy, it's quite unlikely that any problems should occur. However, your Pentium III is probably another one of your limiting factors.

    As for the graphics card, all you have to do is first find out which interface (slot) your motherboard supports. Most motherboards during the Pentium III age would of been AGP or PCI. All you need to do is find a suitable graphics card for your motherboard, purchase it (obviously ;)) and slot it into the correct slot on the motherboard. After that you may need to install some drivers which should be provided on a CD-ROM :)
     
  3. goldfish

    goldfish Lt. Sushi.DC

    That card is in fact a built in graphics chipset - so it will not be plugged into any slot. It will be using system RAM for graphics RAM.

    You will probably find that you do not have an AGP slot - which can be identified by the darker coloured slot which is slightly offset from the back (left side) of the board. If this is indeed the case, when you go shopping you will need to ensure that you're getting PCI - note that is *NOT* PCI Express.

    Installation is usually pretty easy, and there will be instructions with the card.
     
  4. benboy

    benboy Private E-2

    thanks guys qustion how do i know for sre what card to buy? PCI or AGP
     
  5. benboy

    benboy Private E-2

    oops misspelling Do I Get AGP OR PCI How do I know what one my motherboard supports?
     
  6. benboy

    benboy Private E-2

    Me again? When I purchase card Do I ask for 3D enabled?
     
  7. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Hi Ben hope this will answer your ques. If you pull the side of your comp and have a look at your mother board you will note some horizontal slots, generally in the lower left hand corner for additional peripherials (basically additional hardware). Commonly if you have an AGP slot (AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port) they are dark or black in comparison to the white PCI slots (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and readily distinguisable. Have a look at the pic of a mobo and the different slots. If you don't have an obvious dark or different slot then your mobo prob doesn't support AGP. Thus you should get a PCI card. Card slides into slot and has generally one screw to hold it in place.

    Hope this helps
     

    Attached Files:

  8. goldfish

    goldfish Lt. Sushi.DC

    Do you ask for 3D Enabled?:
    There are very few consumer cards on the market which aren't to some degree. Radeons (ATi) or GeForce (nVidida) are pretty bog standard cards which you can pick up for very little these days. Finding a PCI one might be a bit of a challenge though, if that's required.

    I can't really think of any reason why anyone would sell you a card which doesn't support 3D accelleration. The cards are hard to come by, and generally are only for professional use.
     
  9. benboy

    benboy Private E-2

    Thanks guys- I may be back for more advice very helpful so far! I have nnever delved into PC before may have a go at fitting new card myself
     

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