Help with videocard upgrade.

[katastrophie]

I want to upgrade my video card so it can play and run 3d graphics, first of all i don't even know what kind of video card I have and what the manufacturer is. When i go to the display option in the direct x window it says for manufacturer n/a (not available). I just type in DxDiag on the RUN option and i see all my hardware names and stuff. Is there any other way i could find the manufacturer's name so i can go to the site and upgrade the driver, or find out what kind of card i have.

 

[Shawn2k5]

Use Belarc advisor, it'll tell you most things about your CPU. Such as your video card and motherboard

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

One thing that it wont tell you is what kind of PSU you have. I've no idea how to identify it, using software (maybe someone else knows of a program?) but if you havent upgraded your comp and its from a large company (dell, compaq, ibm, ect.) you can look up the stats for it online. Once you get those things im sure people will help you pick out a video card that will suit your needs.

come back and list your motherboard, ram, psu, ect...

 

[katastrophie]

Board: 775VM800 1.00
Network Drives: None detected* (WTF!)
Display: None detected*(WTF!)
448 Megabytes Installed Memory
C-Media AC97 Audio Device
Processor:2.67 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache

 

[DonNagual]

Download and run CPUz:
https://www.techspot.com/downloads/27-cpu-z.html

and tell us what it says about your mainboard, including "graphic interface".

Probably a good idea to tell us what it is reporting for your memory, and your CPU as well.

And finally, open up your case and look at the power supply. It is the box that your power cable is actually plugged into. You'll see it when you open up your case. It will have a sticker on it. On the sticker find the company name, and then how many Watts it says your power supply is rated at.

 

[Shawn2k5]

CPU - LGA775 for Intel Dual Core Exteme Edition / Pentium D / Pentium 4 / Celeron D processors
- FSB 800/533 MHz
- Support advanced Intel EM64T CPU
- Supports Hyper-Threading Technology


Chipset - Northbridge: VIA P4M800
- Southbridge: VIA 8237R

Hybrid Booster - CPU Frequency Stepless control
- ASRock U-COP
- Boot Failure Guard (B.F.G)

Memory - Supports DDR400/333/266
- DIMM slots: 2
- Max. capacity: 2GB
*For detailed memory usage guide, please refer to Users Manual.

Expansion Slots - 1 x AGP8X/4X slot, 1.5V
- 3 x PCI slots( PCI 2.2 compliance)
- 1 x AMR slot

Graphics - Integrated UniChrome Pro 3D Graphics
- Shared Memory Max. 64MB (with the pre-condition of at least 256MB system memory)

Audio - CMedia CMI9761A 6 channel AC'97 audio codec

LAN - VIA 6103 10/100 Ethernet LAN PHY
- 802.3u, WOL supported
Connector - 2 x Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s connectors, supports RAID,0,1,JBOD,

SATA HDD_Hotplug
- 2 x ATA 133/100/66 IDE connectors ( supports 4 x IDE devices)
- 1 x Floppy connector
- CPU/Chassis FAN connectors
- 20 pin ATX power connector
- 4 pin 12V power connector
- Power/IDE LED connector
- CD/AUX audio in header
- Front panel audio connector
- 2x USB 2.0 port pin header
- COM port header
Rear Panel I/O ASRock I/O Plus
- 6 x USB2.0 ports
- 1 x RJ45 LAN port
- 1 x VGA port
- 1 x PS2 Keyboard connector
- 1 x PS2 Mouse connectors
- 1 x Parallel port (LPT1)
- 1 x Audio ports ( Line In/Out, Mic In)

BIOS Feature - 4Mb AMI BIOS with ACPI, SM BIOS 3.0, PnP

Support CD - Drivers, Utilities, Anti Virus Software

Accessories - Quick Installation Guide, Support CD, I/O shield
- Floppy/ATA 133 cables
- 1 x SATA data cable
- 1 x SATA 1-to-1 power cable
- COM Port Bracket

Form Factor - MicroATX, 244mm x208mm

OS - Microsoft Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/XP 64-bit compliant

Certifications - FCC, CE, MS WHQL


--- If you havent bought an video card yet and your computer didnt come with one your probrably using the integrated graphics on your motherboard.
>Integrated UniChrome Pro 3D Graphics - Shared Memory Max. 64MB
You have a AGP slot to work with and a decent processor and memory.
Like Don said - need to know how much wattage you have so your comp so it wont burn out when you put in the video card.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

To calculate how much power you have left to spare...

 

[katastrophie]

so i'll have to buy a new vidoe card either way.

 

[Shawn2k5]

Well yea if you want to run 3D graphics at a reasonable rate then you will need one.

 

[CrossFire851]

You have AGP 8X wich is farly nice. How much are you willing to spend? Then I or someone else will reply. Just give us a budget.


Any thing semi-decesnt will cost over $100.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

The 6600 is the best budget AGP card around ATM. It is for $109 on TigerDirect. However if u want domething that will last u for a long time to come, try this one from Newegg. it's a beast and will save u the task of upgrading for a long time to come.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121216
If u do decide to buy the above card, note that u will need a good cooling solution coz the card runs very hot. So u'll have to spend more on that. But once ur set, it delivers beautifully. Just make sure not to install ASUS's drivers off the disk set that comes with it.