Video card issues/questions

[AcidX]

Heya.

The other day I decided that my PC needed a better video card.
It's been running of the 32mb onboard graphics for ages.

However, before I ran out and bought one, I decided to look through
some old computer parts.

I found this
(http://www.epinions.com/Matrox_Vide..._Graphics_Cards_MY220P_4N/display_~full_specs)
card, which I'd been given a while ago by a friend. Firstly, I'm not
too sure whether this is just a 4mb graphics card, or if that's just
the built in size. It also says 64-bit graphics on the main chip, and I
was wondering whether this means I need a 64-bit machine, or if it's
64mb graphics (or whatever)...

I never actually used it in my old system, and when trying to install
it in this one, windows didn't start up correctly.

My PC booted fine, but then when trying to open the logon screen it
just stayed black and (I think) stopped responding, as the keyboard
wasn't working either. (eg, num lock light, etc)
Is this due to a bios setting, the card, or my PCI slots?

I have had similar issues with my PCI slots before (when trying to
install firewire my PC responded in a very similar way) so in the end,
I just got rid of that card and have been using a special USB cable
ever since. However, the card I threw away was faulty (recieved a shock
or something and got fried)


Basically, I just want to know what this card is capable of and also if
my PCI slots are broken/how to fix them. I'm not too hesitant about
throwing the card away, I got it for free, it'd just give me time to
save up a bit more and buy a few other things if I can use this card.

Thanks =)

 

[Pen]

Heya.

The other day I decided that my PC needed a better video
card.
It's been running of the 32mb onboard graphics for ages.

However, before I ran out and bought one, I decided to
look through
some old computer parts.

I found this
(http://www.epinions.com/Matrox_Vide..._Graphics_Cards_MY220P_4N/display_~full_specs)
card, which I'd been given a while ago by a friend.
Firstly, I'm not
too sure whether this is just a 4mb graphics card, or if
that's just
the built in size. It also says 64-bit graphics on the
main chip, and I
was wondering whether this means I need a 64-bit machine,
or if it's
64mb graphics (or whatever)...

I never actually used it in my old system, and when trying
to install
it in this one, windows didn't start up correctly.

My PC booted fine, but then when trying to open the logon
screen it
just stayed black and (I think) stopped responding, as the
keyboard
wasn't working either. (eg, num lock light, etc)
Is this due to a bios setting, the card, or my PCI slots?

I have had similar issues with my PCI slots before (when
trying to
install firewire my PC responded in a very similar way) so
in the end,
I just got rid of that card and have been using a special
USB cable
ever since. However, the card I threw away was faulty
(recieved a shock
or something and got fried)


Basically, I just want to know what this card is capable
of and also if
my PCI slots are broken/how to fix them. I'm not too
hesitant about
throwing the card away, I got it for free, it'd just give
me time to
save up a bit more and buy a few other things if I can use
this card.

Thanks =)

That card is 4MB of video memory only. The data width
has only to do with the on card video processing. The
card has a PCI interface. Did you turn off the built
in graphics in the BIOS?

 

[Sleepy]

Heya.

The other day I decided that my PC needed a better video card.
It's been running of the 32mb onboard graphics for ages.

However, before I ran out and bought one, I decided to look through
some old computer parts.

I found this
(http://www.epinions.com/Matrox_Vide..._Graphics_Cards_MY220P_4N/display_~full_specs)
card, which I'd been given a while ago by a friend. Firstly, I'm not
too sure whether this is just a 4mb graphics card, or if that's just
the built in size. It also says 64-bit graphics on the main chip, and I
was wondering whether this means I need a 64-bit machine, or if it's
64mb graphics (or whatever)...

I never actually used it in my old system, and when trying to install
it in this one, windows didn't start up correctly.

My PC booted fine, but then when trying to open the logon screen it
just stayed black and (I think) stopped responding, as the keyboard
wasn't working either. (eg, num lock light, etc)
Is this due to a bios setting, the card, or my PCI slots?

I have had similar issues with my PCI slots before (when trying to
install firewire my PC responded in a very similar way) so in the end,
I just got rid of that card and have been using a special USB cable
ever since. However, the card I threw away was faulty (recieved a shock
or something and got fried)


Basically, I just want to know what this card is capable of and also if
my PCI slots are broken/how to fix them. I'm not too hesitant about
throwing the card away, I got it for free, it'd just give me time to
save up a bit more and buy a few other things if I can use this card.

Thanks =)

Matrox make cards which have very good image quality for desktop usage but
theyve never been fast cards for gaming. That 4mb refers to the memory on
the card and 64-bit will be the memory inteface. Web browsing, Office
applications etc will run fine on that card but nothing more demanding. As
always when changing cards - uninstall the old drivers - reboot in VGA mode
with the new card fitted then install the new drivers. Make sure you disable
the onboard graphics chip or it'll conflict with the new card.

 

[Pen]

Heya.

The other day I decided that my PC needed a better video
card.
It's been running of the 32mb onboard graphics for ages.

However, before I ran out and bought one, I decided to
look through
some old computer parts.

I found this
(http://www.epinions.com/Matrox_Vide..._Graphics_Cards_MY220P_4N/display_~full_specs)
card, which I'd been given a while ago by a friend.
Firstly, I'm not
too sure whether this is just a 4mb graphics card, or if
that's just
the built in size. It also says 64-bit graphics on the
main chip, and I
was wondering whether this means I need a 64-bit machine,
or if it's
64mb graphics (or whatever)...

I never actually used it in my old system, and when trying
to install
it in this one, windows didn't start up correctly.

My PC booted fine, but then when trying to open the logon
screen it
just stayed black and (I think) stopped responding, as the
keyboard
wasn't working either. (eg, num lock light, etc)
Is this due to a bios setting, the card, or my PCI slots?

I have had similar issues with my PCI slots before (when
trying to
install firewire my PC responded in a very similar way) so
in the end,
I just got rid of that card and have been using a special
USB cable
ever since. However, the card I threw away was faulty
(recieved a shock
or something and got fried)


Basically, I just want to know what this card is capable
of and also if
my PCI slots are broken/how to fix them. I'm not too
hesitant about
throwing the card away, I got it for free, it'd just give
me time to
save up a bit more and buy a few other things if I can use
this card.

Thanks =)
I just re read your post and the Matrox card is probably

a step backwards from the 32 MB built in.

 

[AcidX]

Heh... Thought that'd be the case.

Now here's a question... Could I get another card I have (GeForce4 MX
420) which is agp 8x to work in my agp 4x slot.
I know it shouldn't work, and probably wont, but if anyone knows
whether nvidia make their card backwards compatible (for some reason)
please tell me

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Sleepy]

Heh... Thought that'd be the case.

Now here's a question... Could I get another card I have (GeForce4 MX
420) which is agp 8x to work in my agp 4x slot.
I know it shouldn't work, and probably wont, but if anyone knows
whether nvidia make their card backwards compatible (for some reason)
please tell me

Thanks for all the help guys.

that card will work fine in a 4x slot.

 

[AcidX]

Ok... I tried it (hadn't uninstalled my current drivers or installed
the ones for that) but the screen had big verticle scanlines (red,
green, blue and white) on, and the display was generally weird.
This also happened during boot (before windows had loaded).

I didn't change my BIOS settings either, that was just a quick test.
Can anyone tell me why, or if it's just because I didn't change any
settings?

If not, I'll just try installing it later

 

[DaveW]

That old card is incompatible with your newer computer. It is an ancient 4
MB video RAM card. Time to throw it away.

 

[Ken Maltby]

That old card is incompatible with your newer computer. It is an ancient
4 MB video RAM card. Time to throw it away.

Actually throwing it away might be a mistake, at least as
long as there are PCI slots around. You might need a
check on your AGP or PCIe card, someday. Also, you
might be greatly surprised how much you can do with
such a card. A PCI card can be used while your PCIe
card is "in the shop" or being replaced, an AGP card
wouldn't have a place to plug-in.

Aside from games, there is very little that a 2MB card
can't handle as well as the latest and greatest vid cards.
The OP's card also has some of the basic "Video"/movie
clip acceleration, and could play video streams as well as
most do now. As for games, his 4MG card should handle
plenty of the old standards up to and including "Red Alert"
and "Age of Empires". Can't remember where the "Quake"
cutoff was with the 2MG card I had temporally installed. I
seem to remember "Quake II" running fine, though.

Luck;
Ken

 

[kony]

That old card is incompatible with your newer computer. It is an ancient 4
MB video RAM card. Time to throw it away.

You base this guess upon what, exactly?
There's no reason a brand new state-of-the-art system
couldn't run from an old 4MB PCI card... but then why would
anyone want to do it?

 

[kony]

Heya.

The other day I decided that my PC needed a better video card.
It's been running of the 32mb onboard graphics for ages.

It needs a better video card for what, exactly? The
consideration must be of what you hope to gain.

However, before I ran out and bought one, I decided to look through
some old computer parts.

I found this
(http://www.epinions.com/Matrox_Vide..._Graphics_Cards_MY220P_4N/display_~full_specs)
card, which I'd been given a while ago by a friend. Firstly, I'm not
too sure whether this is just a 4mb graphics card, or if that's just
the built in size. It also says 64-bit graphics on the main chip, and I
was wondering whether this means I need a 64-bit machine, or if it's
64mb graphics (or whatever)...

4MB memory, well endowed compared to some video cards of
that era... I have a shoebox full of 1-2MB cards, they're
useful for troubleshooting, function-specific systems that
don't need anything particular for video, or when a bios is
bad they can be useful to get a display output, sometimes,
when an AGP card won't.

I never actually used it in my old system, and when trying to install
it in this one, windows didn't start up correctly.

My PC booted fine, but then when trying to open the logon screen it
just stayed black and (I think) stopped responding, as the keyboard
wasn't working either. (eg, num lock light, etc)
Is this due to a bios setting, the card, or my PCI slots?

You'd first want to disable the onboard video, or leave the
PCI card set to secondary in bios and run system from it
until the driver for the new card is installed. Windows
probably supports that card with a basic driver already, at
least any version of windows newer than Win98 first edition.

I have had similar issues with my PCI slots before (when trying to
install firewire my PC responded in a very similar way) so in the end,
I just got rid of that card and have been using a special USB cable
ever since. However, the card I threw away was faulty (recieved a shock
or something and got fried)

Probably unrelated, mere coincidence that it's also a PCI
card.

Basically, I just want to know what this card is capable of

Basic 2D output that's fairly crisp at low resolution. It
was a reasonably good card for that in it's day but that was
a decade ago, today it's slow by any standard you want to
compare so only if there is no particular video need (such
as a system with no user watching a monitor, or some retro
MAME/ DOS thing) would it be a reasonable choice.

and also if
my PCI slots are broken/how to fix them. I'm not too hesitant about
throwing the card away, I got it for free, it'd just give me time to
save up a bit more and buy a few other things if I can use this card.

Throwing away or keeping old parts has more to do with your
philosophy about keeing things on a remote chance they might
be useful to a limited extent... and how much space you have
to store such things. If it's giving you the evil eye and
you loose sleep over it, bash it with a hammer as that can
be very satisfying, but otherwise, keep using your
integrated video if it's remotely modern as it's better than
a PCI card that old.

 

[AcidX]

It needs a better video card for what, exactly? The
consideration must be of what you hope to gain.

I do a lot of video editing, flash animation and other graphic intense
stuff (such as gaming) and 32mb is getting a bit old compared to the
requirements of most new games and even some new programs (mainly 3D
modelling ones).

If anyone can recommend a good card for me (I'm looking for - at an
absolute minimum - 64MB but preferably 128, or even 256 - depending on
how much money I have at the time. However, it also has to be PCI, or
AGP 4X compatible)

As for keeping old parts... Well, No doubt I'll be keeping them, I have
two drawers full of old parts. Mainly modems and ram though. I don't
really know what it'll be useful for, but It's always handy to keep
this stuff

Thanks for the help =)

 

[kony]

I do a lot of video editing, flash animation and other graphic intense
stuff (such as gaming) and 32mb is getting a bit old compared to the
requirements of most new games and even some new programs (mainly 3D
modelling ones).

The video editing, flash and other "graphic intense stuff"
will have negligible benefit from a video card change
(addition).

The gaming will have a very large benefit.

If anyone can recommend a good card for me (I'm looking for - at an
absolute minimum - 64MB but preferably 128, or even 256 - depending on
how much money I have at the time. However, it also has to be PCI, or
AGP 4X compatible)

You have not mentioned the details of the rest of the
system. Therefore there is no way to know how fast
(expensive) a card you could benefit from.

For gaming performance a PCI card should be avoided, and AGP
4X is a minor limitation only, probably not much considering
the system itself is aging to have only 4X slot. Something
like a Geforce 6600GT is probably about as fast as needed,
if not overkill (depends on the parts you didnt' mention).
It may not make much sense to buy a faster card rather than
looking at replacing whole system if ultimate gaming
performance is important.

As for keeping old parts... Well, No doubt I'll be keeping them, I have
two drawers full of old parts. Mainly modems and ram though. I don't
really know what it'll be useful for, but It's always handy to keep
this stuff

Modems are plenty useful, providing they're PCI... dial-up
analog isn't going higher than 56K and for faxing, 14 or 28K
is all many fax machines (on the other end) accept anyway.
Old memory- depends on how old, though it hardly takes up
any space and if it's at least PC100 there may be someone
out there you know who could use it.

 

[AcidX]

My system also was 1gb ram, and a 2.53Ghz Processor.

I'm not exactly looking for the ultimate gaming machine... I'd just
like newer games to be more playable. Right now they're running at
about 2 - 10 FPS, which isn't fun at all.

I'm probably going to buy my own desktop, or maybe a laptop sometime in
the future. Then I'll be able to take it with me when I (hopefully) go
onto uni, or further education.
If that is the case, I may end up taking some of these upgrades out
(eg, the extra ram sticks) and taking them too. However, if I do get a
laptop I'll just have to make sure I buy a decent quality one from the
beginning.

 

[kony]

My system also was 1gb ram, and a 2.53Ghz Processor.

I'm not exactly looking for the ultimate gaming machine... I'd just
like newer games to be more playable. Right now they're running at
about 2 - 10 FPS, which isn't fun at all.

I'm probably going to buy my own desktop, or maybe a laptop sometime in
the future. Then I'll be able to take it with me when I (hopefully) go
onto uni, or further education.
If that is the case, I may end up taking some of these upgrades out
(eg, the extra ram sticks) and taking them too. However, if I do get a
laptop I'll just have to make sure I buy a decent quality one from the
beginning.

6600GT would be a reasonable choice though with it AGP, any
*new* system you buy in the future of reasonable gaming
potential (then, for it's era) would be expected to be PCI
Express so the video card wouldn't be reusable.

 

[John]

My system also was 1gb ram, and a 2.53Ghz Processor.

I'm not exactly looking for the ultimate gaming machine... I'd just
like newer games to be more playable. Right now they're running at
about 2 - 10 FPS, which isn't fun at all.

Get a 6600GT AGP they all list 4x/8x AGP . Theres an increasing
number of PCI exp and smaller numbers of AGP now though but they are
still available. CHeck out the eVGA and other brands where they cost
140-60 but have rebates lowering them to the 113-120 range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...iption=&srchInDesc=6600gt&minPrice=&maxPrice=