Replacement graphics card

[alexsurridge]

hi guys,

 

sorry to keep banging on about graphics cards but this should be the last one.

 

i've bought a new g-card with 2gb but its ddr3 and my old one is ddr2, will this be okay?

 

i have plenty of power, with a 500w psu and its still a pci-e so looks good to me, its just the ddr3 thing i'm worried about.

 

here is my general and motherbored speccy, let me know if you need any more info.

 

Operating System

Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3

CPU

Intel Pentium 4 521

Prescott 90nm Technology

RAM

2.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 266MHz (4-4-4-12)

Motherboard

Dell Inc. 0JC474 (Microprocessor)

Graphics

W2261 (1920x1080@60Hz)

512MB GeForce 8400 GS (PNY) 48 °C

Hard Drives

75GB SAMSUNG HD080HJ/P (SATA) 39 °C

Optical Drives

HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GWA4164B

Audio

SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC

 

 

Motherboard

Manufacturer Dell Inc.

Model 0JC474 (Microprocessor)

Chipset Vendor Intel

Chipset Model i915P/i915G

Chipset Revision B1

Southbridge Vendor Intel

Southbridge Model 82801FB (ICH6)

Southbridge Revision 04

BIOS

Brand Dell Inc.

Version A03

Date 10/08/2005

PCI Data

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCI_1

Slot Number 0

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage In Use

Bus Width 32 bit

Slot Designation PCI_2

Slot Number 1

Slot PCI

Slot Type PCI

Slot Usage Available

Bus Width Unknown

Slot Designation PCI_E_1

Slot Number 2

Slot UNKNOWN

Slot Type UNKNOWN

Slot Usage In Use

Bus Width Unknown

Slot Designation PEG

Slot Number 3

 

 

thank you

alex

[KenB]

i've bought a new g-card with 2gb but its ddr3 and my old one is ddr2, will this be okay?

The card has its own memory - this is what DDR2 / DDR3 refer to.

It is not linked to the RAM on the motherboard.

 

As long as you have a PCIe x 16 slot on the motherboard and the Video Card requires a PSU with 500Watts or less you are good to go.

[alexsurridge]

thanks ken,

 

i'm learning all the time, and this forum is very helpfull.

 

thank you

alex

[KenB]

Hi Alex

 

no problem - and you are welcome :)

[alexsurridge]

hi ken,

 

i made a boo,boo. it turns out i don't have pcie i only have pci.

 

i am finding it really hard to locate a decent graphics card with a pci connection.

 

is there some sort of adaptor or is it a case of just keep searching?

 

thanks mate, (sorry for being a pain)

alex

[Helcaraxe]

There are some PCI cards out there Alex they just need digging a little deeper to find them. Sparkle Nvidia Geforce 8400GS was the first i came across but it is £80 on Ebay.

PNY version of the same card are going for £40.

 

Edited November 15, 2012 by Helcaraxe

[alexsurridge]

thanks Helcaraxe,

 

that is pretty much what i've got now apart from mine is ddr2 instead of ddr3, would that make a noticable difference?

 

i'm getting annoyed with my pc now, its old and really dificult to update. my mum has got an unwanted pc, which is better than mine so i'm going to start work on that now.

 

i've got the pc bug, i love trying to improve them, especially with all you clever people helping me ;)

 

thanks for your help

alex

[Helcaraxe]

That's the trouble with updating old technology there comes a point when your better off just upgrading the entire system rather than throwing money at trying to make an old rig better.

[KenB]

Hi

 

You are not going to find a decent PCI video card.

The technology is old.

If you have an AGP slot you may be able to find an AGP Video Card - this would be an improvement on basic PCI.

 

EDIT ........

 

Is this your m/board ?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1736[/ATTACH]

 

If so - these are the specs:

 

Manufacturer: Intel ( OEM for Dell Dimension 3100 E310 )

Dell Compatible Part#: JC474 0JC474 WJ770 0WJ770

Socket: LGA775

Expansion Slots: PCI Express x1 x 1 / PCI x 2

Other Features: Hyper-Threading Technology Support

Connectors: (4) USB 2.0 Ports, 10/100 LAN

Peripheral Interface: (2) Serial ATA (SATA) Interface

Other: One IDE Channel Supporting ATA-66/100/133 and One Floppy Port

Video: Onboard Video

Audio: Standard Sound Audio System

Supported Memory: DDR2

Maximum Memory: 2 DIMM Support for up to 2 GB of memory

 

Seems an odd set of slots:

2 x PCI

no PCIe x 16 but 2 x PCIe x 1

and SATA

 

No PCIe as you say - annoying !

[alexsurridge]

thats the one,

it really is annoyinig!

 

so i have taken on a new project but need help solving stop error messages

 

i will start a new thread and hope you and other members will be kind enough to lend a hand.

 

thanks ken

[KenB]

You can get PCIe x 1 cards.

They will not give you gaming facility but it is a card :)

 

click here

 

( example only )