Vista hardware advise

  • Thread starter Thread starter John
  • Start date Start date
J

John

Hi

Could someone please recommend some basic graphics card and audio card for
vista ultimate. The existing cards have been rejected by the upgrade
advisor.

Thanks

Regards
 
Do you need an AGP, PCI or PCIe type card?

Do you prefer ATI or NVIDIA ?

What is the max amount you want to spend ? (put that in USD please....)

You're in the UK so although we can make recommendations, I wouldn't know
the availability there but maybe someone else will give it a shot when you
provide the info above.

Bob S.
 
I guess PCI is more standard then I'll be sure it will fit in my PC.

Is $150 OK?

Thanks

Regards
 
I guess PCI is more standard then I'll be sure it will fit in my PC.Perhaps a more direct hardware question for you -- what specific
motherboard do you currently have.

If you don't know whether it supports AGP or PCI-X16 (the two options
out there), then it may be that upgrading to Vista (any version) is not
something you really need to do at this point...
 
A PCI graphics card is old technology. It was replaced by AGP about 4-5
years ago. Now there is PCI Express. Some store computers (cheap ones) have
built in graphics and may not even be able to accept an upgrade graphics
adapter.

You really must see what your computer will accept before even asking for
advice on graphics adapters. Know what you need and then ask for advice on
which one of that family would you recommend. Also state how you want to use
your computer and what programs etc. you plan to run.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Its a dell SC420 machine. Not sure about the motherboard as everything came
from dell pre-fitted.

Thanks

Regards
 
Its a dell SC420 machine. Not sure about the motherboard as everything came
from dell pre-fitted.
Click to expand...

OK -- question 1 -- why did you get a PowerEdge SC420 as a desktop --
it is a low end server and (as with all Dell servers) has an embedded
low end video chipset (as servers are not designed to be desktops).

It does include two PCI Express slots -- but they are 1 PCI X8, and 1
PCI X1. There are some options here -- including:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161017
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161079

How much memory do you have installed? The thing with purpose built
servers, is the memory they use is (as is the case here ECC memory).
So if you have less than 1G of memory, you will need to consider
upgrading the memory AND be careful about the memory you get -- ECC is
not standard but can be obtained fairly readily when you look for it.
 
That SC420 he has puts him in a corner -- about the best option is a
couple of PCI-X1 ATI chipset cards.
 
Hi

Below is what I got from dell online system configuration. With so many
Intel chips on board I suspect it may be an Intel MB. Is there anyway I can
check if I have AGP or PCIx?

Thanks

Regards


Disk Drives Maxtor 6Y080M0 74.50Gb
Maxtor 6 V080E0
SCSI Disk Device 76.32Gb

Display AdaptersIntel(R) E7221 Integrated Graphics
Controller 8Mb

IDE ATA/ATAPI ControllersIntel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage
Controllers - 266F
Primary IDE
Channel
Intel(R) 82801FB
Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2652
Primary IDE
Channel
Secondary IDE
Channel

Keyboards Standard 101/102-Key or
Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard

Mice and Other Pointing Devices PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Monitors Dell 1905FP (Analog) -
Dell Inc.

Sound Devices Creative SB Live! Value
(WDM)

USB Controllers Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB
Universal Host Controller - 2658
Intel(R)
82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2659
Intel(R)
82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265A
Intel(R)
82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B
Intel(R)
82801FB/FBM USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 265C
 
I did ask for a audio card recommend as well in ordinal post. :)

So the 8x pci express slot wont work?

Thanks

Regards
 
So the 8x pci express slot wont work?

To the best of my knowledge, there are no PCI X8 video adapters and
there is a physical difference between an x16 and x8 slot -- x8 cards
(if they exist) would fit in x16 but not the other way round.
 
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