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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: VICTORIA on Thursday 17 March 05 17:36 GMT (UK)
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I have posted message before Re: this problem. I have a Dell Dimension 2350 Series pc. The video connector at back which is attached to motherboard was pulled off leaving "X3 rows of 5 prongs in situ. I was told that my best bet was to get a graphics card. This will enable me to plug in lead which connects up to monitor.My grandson says I need a PCI He says my system does not support AGP. ( haven`t a clue what this means) Anyway would someone tell me which graphics card would be suitable please.
Victoria
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If you have a look at (amongst others) www.dealtime.co.uk and search for pci graphics cards it turns up 494 suitable items.
The prices vary from £22 to a lot more ..... what you spend depends on what you want from the card,obviously the higher specification cards (and pricier) will perform a lot better.
eg NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
or The Pine SiS 305 32MB PCI Video card for your quality graphics experience. This PCI card embodies high integration and features rich 3D graphics and video acceleration with DVD/VCD playback abilities, which make it the best buy for gaming and video.
which at £17 is one of the cheapest options.
but check with the sales person that it is suitable for your machine.
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Victoria,
I have two old computers - about 1998/99.
Both of these have motherboards that have AGP slots for a graphics card. Unless your computer is even older than mine I would be surprised if it did not support AGP. Computers with AGP slots also have PCI slots but the AGP slot is the best for a graphics card. If your computer is very very new then the latest graphics card is PCI Express.
I should speak to Dell to find out whether you have an AGP slot or even easier take off the computer cover (I presume it is a desktop) and look at the motherboard. There will be 3 or 4 white PCI slots and if there is AGP it will be one brown slot alongside the PCI slots.
Hope this helps
Regards -- Peter
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Victoria's computer is a Dell which used an Intel video chipset on the motherboard,there is no AGP slot on this board..... which is actually quite common on this type of board.
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Thanks for advice. At present I am using my daughters laptop. I cannot use my Dell pc because of problem with broken video connector. All I need graphics card for is to be able to insert lead from monitor, I have been told this will perform same function as broken video connector??I am going to computer fair tomorrow to get graphics card, dont want to buy one if it will not solve problem with video connector.
Victoria ???
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Hi Victoria
how did you get on with your Dell?
You need a PCI type graphics card which is all but obsolete now. PCI simply describes the type of slot (white) that the card plugs in on your motherboard.
They are still available if you know where to look. They are usually combined with a video capture card or a TV tuner
You can buy one cheaply here:
www.ebuyer.com (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D&mfr_uid=-1&cat_uid=-1&order_col=sell_price&order=ASC&keywords=pci+video&show=stock&Filter=Filter)
suggest you go for the £16.00 one which comes in a retail box with the CD disk with drivers on.
If you need help installing the card and drivers please feel free to pm me
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Hi Nick,
I went to pc world. I got a Verto 2d/3d graphics card dual vga and tv -out. GeForce FX. 5200 PCI 128mb DDR
( Iv`e copied this from box) My grandson installed it but pc still not working. I`m afraid it`s probably the motherboard. I`ve decided to invest in a new pc. The only problem is everywhere I`ve looked you can only buy in a package. I only want ? the tower? Can you recommend a site were I can get reasonably priced one and one that will accept the graphics card ( it wasn`t cheap)
Victoria ???
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Hi Victoria
if you or your grandson telephones me I may be able to explain how to set up your new graphics card. There is a change in settings required and drivers need to be installed possibly old ones removed. It does need to be done by a technician or at least someone experienced in doing this.
The same goes for a new `barebones system' There will be several hours of work required to build and configure a new system. The time is mostly taken up by re-installing all the everyday programs you use on the hard drive.
If you `pm' personal message me we can discuss in private and I can help with some advice and suggestions . On the open forum we will invite lots of helpful advice but it will end up a 10 way communication ??? :o :)
Just click on the green icon under my name and you can send me a personal message
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Victoria,
I mentioned it before on the older thread, but it may well be worth somebody just soldering a new svga socket to replace the damaged one on your computer. It would only take a few minutes. It's cheaper than buying a new PC.
Trystan
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I've found this thread that might be useful:
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_video&message.id=108582
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excellent Trystan that should help a lot.
Its a step by step which would apply to any pc gfx card upgrade.
I suspect the bios setting hasn't been changed nor the previous gfx adaptor drivers removed in Victoria's Dell Some early mobo's had a jumper for de-/selecting onboard gfx :)
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Hopefully it is just a settings problem for Victoria ...... (the original problem was that the connector broke and a small section remained attached within the connection to the motherboard).
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Yes I had forgotten about that .It could be producing a short circuit . It really needs to go to someone with experience as usually more damage can be done `fiddling' albeit with the best of intentions. It would be a shame if the hard drive data was lost.
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Victoria,
I mentioned it before on the older thread, but it may well be worth somebody just soldering a new svga socket to replace the damaged one on your computer. It would only take a few minutes. It's cheaper than buying a new PC.
Trystan
If I took pc to an engineer would I be able to just ask for this svga socket to be installed ? I had a look at website you mentiond too o. t. t for me to understand.
I am getting dishardend I feel at the end of the day I will have to get a new pc. The problem is I only want the `tower` most come as a package dont know where to get single item Victoria
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Victoria
don't dispair.
there are lots of places I can give you a link to to buy a barebones system. This is what you need not a tower which is really usually an empty case with a power supply.
A barebone system is one that includes a motherboard often graphics, modem and sound built in .
You then just transfer the memory hard drive and dvd drive etc from the dell. They typically start at about £ 100.00 for a reasonable pentium 4 system
I have tried to explain that this is not something a well meaning `friend' or your grandson can do .If it was that easy PC world would not be charging £50.00 per hour and have a que out the door.!
You need the help of someone who is experienced and builds computers every day as a hobby or for a living.
I have offered my help free for nearly a month but neither you or your grandson has telephoned me . I cannot help you if you don't get in touch.
You have to trust someone sometime to give you trustworthy advice or you will never get your pc working again.
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Here are a few samples of complete barebone systems.
Some will need a processor but at this price thats not a prohibitive cost.
They are all mini cube systems which save space and are kindda cute.
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?ProductID=7005
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=5339&GroupID=87
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=7818&GroupID=85
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=8779&GroupID=592
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Thanks for your help. Sorry for not ringing you this is because I have not decided on cause of action to take. I have 2 grandson`s who have been trying to help me.
If I were to get barebones system as you suggested I would then have to wait until my more pc minded grandson ( Nick ) were able to visit me. I dont see him all that often as he works unsocial hours and is not always available when he is home. I will get back to you when I see him and have a talk. Again my apoligies
Victoria
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please don't apologise Victoria its me that got a bit impatient I guess. The trouble is you are getting too much conflicting advice I guess and you don't know which way to turn.
Your easiest option may be to take the tower to the nearest TV repair shop and ask them to re-solder the socket on the motherboard.
If you need a new socket I am sure I or others on here can send you one. It should only cost £10- £15.00 or so. No guarentee it will work of course but a cheap option to try.
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Thanks Nick, I am a bit confused at the moment, I intend taking tower to repair shop and take it from there. I will let you know what happens.
Victoria
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http://www.misco.co.uk/productinformation/~900215~WW~/index.htm?affiliate=6297
have a case including a power supply for under £12 (admittedly not much under ;D ) a new motherboard for such a case may then solve the problems
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Thanks for this, but yesterday I had a new motherboard fitted. PC is now up and running. I will unsubscribe to this topic.
Victoria