upgrade my agp video card

I'm currently using the old Radeon 9800pro that I originally built my computer with. Now several years later the gpu fan has crapped out. I've been wanting to upgrade for a while now.. everything on this system is getting dated, but it still performs well.


Windows XP x86
P4 2.8 @ 3.08
1GB PC 3200 RAM
1.3TB HDD
Radeon 9800pro
etc.


I would like to get a 3.4ghz P4 extreme edition processor, and another GB of RAM.. but I think for now the video card is the first to go.

I was wanting to get something that would support directx 10, which really narrows my choice of AGP cards. The card I'm currently looking at is the SAPPHIRE 100229L Radeon HD 2600XT 512MB.. the problem is, I know this is a PCI-E card basically adapted to AGP, and there are a lot of driver issues. I use this PC as a home theater for HD movies, gaming, etc.


I'm just wondering if I'm going to experience a lot of problems with that card. I use dual display, play lots of movies in all different formats, games, pretty much everything..

 

Google "pc wizard" and post your specs. Make sure your motherboard bios supports the cpu you're buying, and that the board has empty slots for more memory.

FYI, there's a HD3850 AGP in the market. That's probably the most powerful AGP gaming card.

 

Plently of inhouse software that can do system reports hosted here at majorgeeks. Please try to keep software download suggestions to majorgeeks, that way we are sure we aren't suggesting infected downloads or anything like that.

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

 

Well, I already have PC Wizard (downloaded from majorgeeks.com ).


But why would I need that? I built this computer myself.. I know everything that's on it. The mobo is an Asus P4P800 Deluxe. It supports the Prescot core CPU I was looking at, but it will probably be a while before I spring for that. I've got two matched sticks of Kingston HyperX PC3200 DDR, and I was thinking about getting two sticks of Kingston Value RAM.. but that might prove to be a problem with overclocking..


That HD3850 AGP is an extra ~$40.. although if the driver problems with the HD 2600XT are as bad as people say, then it might be worth spending the extra $40..

 

YOU need to make sure the bios supports the cpu. To do that, you find the mobo make & model, google them for a link, find the bios or cpu support list.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P4P800-E Deluxe

You need bios 1003 or later for that cpu. The ram comparability list:

http://www.asus.com/999/download/products/178/178_10.pdf

And drivers and manual where you're there. You can get the PDF manual so you can do a search on something real quick:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P4P800-E Deluxe

 

I already have the most up to date bios and drivers, plus the manual (I downloaded it like 5 years ago )

 

Do you want to sell your 9800? I always wanted one of those and have a few older Moboed systems sitting around that would love to have a 9800 in them.

 

Actually, I might. It's a Tyan Tacheon.. the only thing is the gpu fan is LOUD. It's getting worn, and I've taken it apart and oiled it a couple of times, but after a couple of weeks it's back to being really loud. It got so annoying I finally just took the fan off. It does get hotter without the fan, but there's other fans blowing directly on it. It's overclocked and so far I've had no overheating problems without the fan..

I'll have to get the money together for the new card first, and then we'll see about the old card.

 

Let me know what you want for it and be sure to include the cost of shipping (I live in Ohio) and I'll send you a postal money order. The fact its overclocked and has been running without a fan will certainly put some limits on its lifespan but I'm willing to take a chance. As long as you pack it well and put it in one of those static resistant bags if you have one, it should be fine thru the shipping process.

 

Decided to keep it?

 

Ohh, hey.. I forgot all about our little deal. I will say that I've looked to see if any of the other computers I do work on could use it, but the vast majority of them are POS PCs with onboard video and no AGP.



I guess that means you've got dibs on the card.




I don't really know how much it should go for.. I just took a look at ebay and it looked like they were going for $45-$50, which seems a little steep to me for old technology. Plus with the noise level of the fan on this thing should knock off some $$. And I don't know what shipping is going to be on this thing.. hrmmm.. maybe $25 plus shipping?


I'll need to put the fan back on it, and I can take some pics if you want. Let me know what you think and we can go from there.

 

I've sent a few things back to newegg in my time and shipping was always around 5-8 dollars with no insurance or anything special like that, so as long as you don't put a brick in the box or use a refrigerator box, you should be ok. Don't worry about the pictures I know what the graphics card looks like and I don't think you put smiley stickers all over it . I'll PM you an e-mail address so you can let me know where to sent the money and also give you my snail mail address to send the card to once you receive it. $25 + $10 shipping for good measure $35 seem OK?