Requesting Video Card Help.

Hey guys,

I'm looking to find a video card for my PC - My motherboard is quite old now. I searched this site and found PC wizard 09 software to determine which cards I can use but I'm still unsure.

Could you tell me if I could use this card http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD4350-512MB-DDR2-Graphics/dp/B001R5IJSC/ref=pd_cp_ce_1

Here's my report:

PCI-Express Information :
Number of connectors : 1
PCI-Express Base : 0xE0000000

Bus PCI-Express :
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
Version : 1.0
Port : 0
Physical Slot : #0
Slot Populated : No
Link Width : max. x16
Link Speed : 2.5 GB/s

Bus PCI-Express :
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
Version : 1.0
Port : 1
Physical Slot : #0
Slot Populated : No
Link Width : max. x1
Link Speed : 2.5 GB/s

=====

General Information :
Number of PCI Bus : 4
Number of PCI Connectors : 5

Peripheral Type :
Device 1, Bus 0 : AGP
Device 3, Bus 0 : PCI-Express
Device 4, Bus 0 : PCI-Express
Device 1, Bus 1 : AGP

General Features :
Support PCI Mechanism 1 : Yes

Bus Information #0 :
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 I/O APIC Interrupt Controller
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Security Device
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
Device : ProSavageDDR P4X600,Apollo KT400/A/600 CPU to AGP Bridge
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
Device : CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
Device : Serial ATA Controller
Device : VT82xxxx EIDE Controller (All VIA Chipsets)
Device : VT82xxxxx USB UHCI Controller (All VIA Chipsets)
Device : VT82xxxxx USB UHCI Controller (All VIA Chipsets)
Device : VT82xxxxx USB UHCI Controller (All VIA Chipsets)
Device : VT82xxxxx USB UHCI Controller (All VIA Chipsets)
Device : VT6202/12 USB EHCI Controller
Device : VT8237A Standard PCI to ISA Bridge
Device : VT8251 Ultra VLINK Controller
Device : VT8237A Standard PCI to PCIe Bridge
Device : VT8237A Standard PCI to PCI Bridge

Bus Information #1 :
Device : Chrome9 HC IGP

Bus Information #4 :
Device : RTL8139/810x Fast Ethernet Adapter

Bus Information #128 :
Device : High Definition Audio Controller

====

Sorry if I've broken any forum rules.

Thanks Humo.

 

Is this a pre-built computer? Also how many watts is your power supply?

Also what is your motherboard model

 

Yes it is pre-built from around 2-3 years ago - I can't seem to find my power supply wattage - hmm my CPU runs at 1.78v but I know that's probably not what you're looking for.

 

Is there a computer make and model, or is it a custom build?

 

Yes but it's very basic and probably unheard of in America - I've just read you're from Portsmouth

It's an E-system Ei 205:
Motherboard is a DIXONXP P4M900-8237A:
VIA Chipset P4M900/CN896/VN896/PT890:

 

Open your computer side panel and look at the power supply for a sticker.

 

Just done that and gave it a little spring clean whilst I was there

It has a maximum of 450 watts.

I also took a picture of the slots. http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/852/spa0512.th.jpg

Also the graphics card I originally suggested doesn't have to be the one, I would just like maybe 512mb and an output for a HDMI tele because my monitor is kinda small

Thanks

 

Heh I just sent a reply but it included an image of my slots but it needs accepting by an admin - I think I have a PCI express slot (it's green)

But I have a 450w Power Supply.

 

Hmm, 3 years old eh? Does your PSU have 6-pin connectors? It's a molex type 2X3 formation. You may luck out being able to run a 9800GT though I never trust most PSU's in pre-built systems.

Bottom left of pic labeled PCI-E for reference.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Image...ve PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply

 

Hmm I'm not sure about everything else except it's maximum output 450w:

here's a link to my slots ignore the dust I cleaned it afterwards
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6382/spa0512j.th.jpg


I found these two cheap cards if they work I'll buy one of them soon.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169294

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161335

 

I'm not actually from Portsmouth, I just study here (university)

Thank you for the complement of calling me American, but I am actually in old Portsmouth - the UK one. I will update my profile.

The long green slot is the one we are looking at (is it green? I am slightly colour-blind) for a graphics card. It is a PCI-E slot - which is the most modern slot type. Thus you should be able to use any modern card that is within the limits of your power supply.

 

Yeah I fixed it straight after I posted and cool it is green.
I found this Card

It is PCi 2.0 - my PCU claims to be 450W but another forum user took my stats and said it's basically 300W. I used the newegg CPU tester and found I should only need around 300W with that card, (if it's compatible of course)

 

It's perfectly compatible as long as you bear in mind that the cooler sticks out a bit and thus may cover the slot below it or render it unusable - I can't tell from the pictures on ebuyer.

PCI-E 2.0 cards are backwards-compatible with PCI-E 1.0 slots. It will just mean the card talking to the computer slightly slower.

 

Cheers mate, I thought as much after surfing around the web (I've learned a lot about computers today lol)

Yeah I'm not sure how to determine if it will fit in my case. I'm gonna have a look again.

 

It's not actually that big a card, and it comes with a low profile backplate if you have a low profile computer.

This is a big card: http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Nvidia/Nvidia_GeForce_GTX_280_SLIs_01.jpg

 

haha yes I took a look and I'm just hoping the cooler doesn't come into contact with the normal PCI slot (it is empty though) - and BLIMEY! I don't know what I'm looking at in that picture it's too big to comprehend!

 

Actually that's a pair of nVidia cards with the SLI bridge connecting them. I believe the dual slot types started with the 9800GT. I don't recognize them so it's probably faster than a GTX260.

 

That was the best image I could find. It is actually a pair of GTX 280s.

Back on topic: The card you chose should fit fine in your case as I assume you have no cards in the slots below normally.

 

No I don't have any other cards for my pc :-o - I've been playing guild wars for 3 years with no video card, roughly having 4-7 FPS :cry

Thanks for the help to everyone

Humo.

 

No problem.

BTW, how can you see anything without a video card?

j/k

 

hehe I know its a joke but I can't resist responding : My motherboard has on board gfx - I've ordered the card now hopefully it works! fingers crossed.

 

:-D

Hope it works for you!

 

Hey Just to let you guys know, it works I just need to configure a few things but it fits and I'm getting some decent FPS for a change

 

Glad this worked out for you.