Video Card?

Just purchased a video card which at dell they say I have an empty slot but I looked and I don't. There are four white slots probably pci each has a card in it already, the two on the bottom are probably modem cards the next one up is probably a sound card the other one, I have no idea what it is, maybe for video or something else. On the box of the card it says ge force fx 5200 pci 128 mb ram ddr. I have sd ram not ddr I don't know if this makes a difference but anyway at dell they keep insisting I have an empty space, but what they are actually saying is that I'm blind. Any way is there anyway I can use this? Thanks, Richard
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Reply #1 Top
You need to identify the four cards and take out the one(s) you don't need. Don't have a clue why you would have two modem cards, so that's a good place to start. Put the PCI graphics card in the top slot. When you boot up, make sure you go into bios first and disable 'on-board' grapics.






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Reply #2 Top
yrag-One modem card is for dial up and the other is ethernet
I think, and the only choices for graphics in bios is on board or auto. What do you think? Richard
Reply #3 Top
Bios set to auto. If you're using dialup dump the ethernet card . If you're using broadband, dump the modem card.



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Reply #4 Top
yrag-I removed the dial-up modem because I don't use it and put in the card and hooked the monitor cable to it so it would work otherwise it doesn't, anyway it goes through start up allright but when it gets to desktop it's all blank. Do I need to change some settings somewhere or maybe it just won't work. Thanks, Richard
Reply #5 Top
You need to load the drivers that came with the card.



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Reply #6 Top
You also need to go into Display Properties (make sure it shows that card) and set Screen Resolution to whatever size you want, set color to 32 bit and set Refresh rate to 85 (or whatever your monitor will take...... 85 is usually the default rate for many)



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Reply #7 Top
If I can't see anything how can I install the drivers?
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Reply #8 Top
Try booting into save mode and see if you see anything. If you can you can install drivers and set Display settings from there...are you using XP?


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Reply #10 Top
OK...XP should auto load the drivers...go back into bios and make sure that it is set to 'PCI' and not 'AGP' (it shouldn't even show it since you don't have an AGP slot, but you never know). Try the safe mode thingy to get to the display properties and check to make sure the card shows in Device Manager. You did put the card in the top slot, correct?







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Reply #11 Top
If I remember right, this is an 'old' Mobo...check the manual...you may have to change a jumper on the board..



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Reply #12 Top
The card is in the modem slot that I removed it's the bottom slot. The last time I tried anything I had to redo alot of stuff like wallpaper and it took away some things like desktop x and icon packager I guess I did something wrong.
Reply #13 Top
XP will re-assign settings...put the card in the top slot. You shouldn't lose anything. If you do then something else is wrong...



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Reply #14 Top
What about the card that's allready in there?
Reply #15 Top
Sorry Richard...got side tracked...take the card out and put in a lower slot. Make sure you unplug your machine and ground yourself before changing these things...



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Reply #16 Top
I already did that still goes through start up but no desktop so I think I'll just give up and send it back. Thanks for everything, Richard
Reply #17 Top
yrag, please read this-Richard, having understood the issue correctly, I would like to
tell you that in your system you have integrated video but since
you have brought a video card that can only be fixed in one or
the other other PCI slot, but as you told that all the PCI slots
are full no one of them is vacant and as per my records there
are four PCI cards already installed in your system i.e Modem,
Audio card, Ethernet card and the last one is the firewire card
and in order to use the video card you have to uninstall one
or the other card from the system and install the video card
in your system this is the only way that you can use the video
card that you have purchased
Reply #18 Top
Does this mean that if I remove a card I need to uninstall it too? drivers and all or just disable it?
Reply #19 Top
What he/she is saying is: Whatever card you removed, you must go into Device Manager and click on that card (in this case, the Modem) and use the un-install option there so your system will now show an available slot.

In other words, enable your on board video (leave the graphics card out) and remove the modem card. Boot up and do the un-install in device manager....now go and install the graphics card (on boot disable on board), save bios changes, boot into XP and it should now see your card....


Let me know



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Reply #20 Top
Got it to work kind of, I guess, but didn't really like the resolution size anyway thanks for all your help I think I'll just stick with it the way it is unless you have any other suggestions. Just wanted to be able to set it to 32 bit not just 24 like I have it, because of a certain screensaver I have that will only work on 16 or 32 bit, but I like the 24 bit setting better. Oh well Thanks again, Richard
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Reply #21 Top
I was only able to set it to 1024x768 and when I was on desktop nothing seemed to work. So I ended up putting it back like it was Do I need to uninstall other graphic controller or what. I'm afraid I'm still not doing something right. Richard
Reply #22 Top
Look in Device Manager and if it shows the other controller, then disable it. Open Display Properties and set the 1024x768 - 32-bit - and set the Refresh rate to 100 (make sure you enable 'Hide Unsupported Refresh Modes' under Monitors section) ...you might have to play with that one. The picture should be fine once the settings are correct.



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Reply #23 Top
Just a thought...if that monitor is old it may only support 72 Refresh rate...which would explain lack of picture, so you might want to go in both directions to see if it works correctly. (Needless to say, if you have a manual, look up the Refresh rate caps)

..BTW: in regards to pic size ...just knock it down to 800x600 and then you can increase the Refresh rate. The higher the Resolution, the lower the refresh rate. The 32 bit setting really doesn't do anything that you can see after 24.......Don't forget, you can (and may have to) change the size of the screen using the menu button on your Monitor




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Reply #24 Top
yrag-Thanks for all your help but I'm going to send it back. Got it to work but what a hassle for somebody whose never done anything like this before.Also didn't see any difference so I guess I'll just stick with what I have. Thanks again, Richard