Graphics Card Issue

[redgey]

I recently have had some issues with my Dell Dimension 4700 PC. On occasions I would switch it on & the fan cut strait in at full power, & the PC would not boot up. I had to turn off the power & try again. Sometimes it did the same, while others it would boot up normaly without any forther probs. Suddenly 1 day last week, I had this prob, & when it started up I found that my the connection to my modem router that was connected by cable, was no longer working. Having exhausted threads on here I have accepted that the card is dead.

Now I also noticed that the display on the monitor was not as clear as it used to be. I have a Radeon X300 GC, & I used the ATI software to connect a 2nd monitor/TV. The software no longer works. I have tried uninstalling it all, & re-installing with latest Software & Drivers from the ATI site. My problem is, that Windows cannot detect the GC. I get this message

Setup was unable to find Components that can be installed on your current Hardware or Software Configuration. Please make sure you have the required Hardware or Software.

Could this card be dead too?

[Match]

Hi redgey

 

I found that my the connection to my modem router that was connected by cable, was no longer working. Having exhausted threads on here I have accepted that the card is dead.

 

First can I ask If you have replaced this card, because if you have and knocked your graphics card it might be as simple case of the graphics card needs re-seating (pressed into its slot properly)

 

Secondly is your Graphics card registered in your device manager and if so what does it say about it there? Control Panel/Hardware and sound/Device Manager/Display adapters/(right click)on your graphics card/properties

[redgey]

Hi

I`m a bit blind on this, I dont realy understand what is supposed to be there. It shows 2 adapters bothe listed Intel®82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family, & propertys say they are working properly. But I know that from the DEll site, I had a Radeon X300 series GC when I purchaced the PC, but I cannot find it. I am not sure where to look.

[redgey]

Sorry I forgot to mention, that I did remove the card to clean it of dust to see if that was why the Ethernet connector was not working.

[Match]

Can I just check where you have your monitor lead plugged in? you should have two VGA connectors on the back of your computer, one at the top below where the power supply plugs in and one down the bottom on your graphics card.

 

Picture of VGA connector

[redgey]

It plugs in at the topas per the instructions from Dell. The one on the GC is Blank, but it has a second that I use for a 2nd Monitor, via the ATI software.

[Match]

The connector at the top is for the on board graphics (graphics card embedded in the motherboard) which as your device manager quite rightly says are Intel®82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset.

 

When you say the one on the Graphics card is blank do you mean nothing plugged into it. if so try plugging your monitor cable into the VGA slot on your Graphics card.

[redgey]

Well this is what I say. The instructions from Dell are not to use that connection as it will not work, & it dosent. But there is a 2nd (a White) connection on the GC that I use with an adapter to be able to plug a Blue Monitor lead into. This I usualy use for the 2nd Monitor (or in my case a TV).

Now I am confused. I cannot remember which of the Blue connections I was using for the PC, but I do know only 1 has ever worked. It would be strange if 1 had stopped working & the other had started.

[Match]

according to the manual that I just found on the dell site

Connecting One Monitor With a VGA connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector:

1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 47.

2 Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the

computer.

3 Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI (white) connector on the back

of the computer.

Connecting a Television

NOTE: To connect a television to your computer, you must purchase an S-video cable, which is available

at most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is not included with your computer.

1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 47.

2 Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.

3 Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your television.

4 Connect the VGA or DVI monitor as described on page 14.

 

I'm not saying that your manual is wrong or says different, but I do know that for your monitor to work from a graphics card it needs to be plugged into that graphics card.

 

what I suggest is that you unplug the second monitor for now and try just plugging one monitor into the graphics card and seeing what the device manager says and then come back to us, and I'll go find a moderator and request he reads through the thread and takes it over as you don't seem to happy with my advice.

[redgey]

OK

It will not work in any connection from the GC.

I tried to be sure, but it never has. The 2nd monitor connection that I used for the TV I had to use the ATI software to extend rhe Desktop.

The way it is now, if I right click on the desktop, & go into Propertys & Settings Tab, I get the 2 displays there, but I cannot extend the desktop to the 2nd display cos it rejects it. This did not happen before.

[Match]

OK I'm sorry but it does sound like you have a fault with the card, but before you give up on it I'll leave a message for the hardware experts Tootech and Dalo, they will know more and be able to advise you better. but we needed to rule out the simple options first.

[redgey]

OK, If anyone is still viewing this thread, I just got out my user manual, & it seams that I used to have the VGA connected to the connection on the GC. Now I have it connected to the integrated VGA connection, the one that never usrd to work. This came about because when the issue 1st arrose, I swapped them, & cos it worked I thought someone in my household had tampered with it. I assume that the GC has gave up, & by default the integrated connection has kicked in, or somethin like that.

Assuming this is the case, I should like to replace it with something a bit better. How do I find out what cards are suitable?

[Tootech]

Yeah, that does make sense, can you post your Dell Service Tag and we will be able to look at the spec and help you choose a new card.

[redgey]

Les it is JZQ491J

Cheers

[redgey]

Can anyone help please with the latest?

[Tootech]

It is a PCI-E x16 card with 128MB memory.

 

I cannot tell if it has a single output or a double one. I think it is a double - 1 VGA and 1 DVI - can you confirm that.

 

These cards will do the job

 

ASUS HD 3450 256MB DDR2 VGA DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

ASUS HD 3450 512MB DDR2 passive heatsink cooler VGA DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

Make sure a new card will fit in your case - they come in all sizes, and I can't tell the size of your card from the manual.

 

If you have a look on ebay, there a a good few x300's for sale, and they are cheaper than buying new.

 

Don't forget - you will need to uninstall your old drivers before adding a different model of card, and then install the new drivers.

[redgey]

Oh thanks. A can confirm that it is a double. Can you finaly just tell me what difference the memory,in the 2 you sujjest, would make?

[redgey]

I just noticed that the 2 are built for Vista, & I run XP

[Tootech]

A 512Mb card will run higher resolutions and will be a little bit faster. I doubt you would see any difference to be honest.

 

The reference to Vista - I did have to check it, most cards will be XP compliant, and yes, these cards are. Have a look at the link below to the XP drivers.

 

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

[redgey]

Hi again

I bought the ASUS 3450 GC, & fitted it. When I turn on the PC, Windows does not detect new hardware. I followed the instructions to install it manualy. When I run the driver setup, it seems to install OK, & ends with a prompt to restart the PC. When it restarts, the card is not working, & it is not listed in teh Device Manager. Have I got other probs?, or am I missing something.

[Dalo Harkin]

In your first post you mentioned that the PC was turned on and the fans kicked straight in at full revs.

This normally indicates that the BIOS has been reset.

 

If your PC has an onboard GPU - then you will need to disable this in the BIOS in order for the add in GPU to work.

[DirtyPolo]

These were along the same line as my thoughts Dalo,

 

In your earlier post, you said that one monitor is connected to your onboard graphics output, and another monitor is connected to the graphics card.

 

You should not have both of these running at the same time as they can causde conflicts within drivers and software.

 

If you have a seperate Graphics Card, you should disable/unstall your onboard graphics.

[redgey]

Hi Thank you.

I have not tampered with the BIOS. I have taken a look though, & all seems right as far as the video is concerned. There are 2 settings, Auto or Onboard. The Auto will sellect a Graffic Card by default. It was set to that.

[redgey]

Yippy, All finaly ok. I stumbled upon some info from Dell help & support site. Was reading some advice on installing Graphics cards, & it mentioned to turn of anti virus. Bingo. 4 days of searching & that was all it was. Only one thing I cannot understand, is that the ethernet connection to my router has also kicked in again. This had stopped working at the same time as the old Video Card.

Thanks to all who gave me help.

[Match]

Hi Redgey

 

Glad you got it sorted in the end :) as is so often the case It's something simple that causes the problem, but the problem is finding it

 

Thanks for your feed back, It Gives me an idea of what may be causing another member a similar problem,

 

p.s. could you tell us what AV you have:)

 

thanks