Video card recommendation

Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't have
any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.

I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry to
sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.

TIA

Hi,

Do you have a PCI express slot? What motherboard do you have?

Shaun



"Diane K" <dkoers_nospam_@comcast.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:u1toy%...
> Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
> Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
> Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't have
> any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.
>
> I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
> install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry
> to sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.
>
> TIA
>
>
>

That's done in the BIOS. Get out the mobo manual. Usualy one hits Del as the
computer first boots to get into the BIOS. Watch the screen carefully for
clues.

I don't recommend any video card .. but there's a lot of reviews out there:

e.g. Tom's Hardware, watch the URL wrap:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/...ney/index.html

Saucy Lemon


"Diane K" <dkoers_nospam_@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:u1toy%...
> Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
> Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
> Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't have
> any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.
>
> I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
> install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry
> to sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.
>
> TIA
>
>
>

Shaun, how do I tell if it's a PCI express slot? How do I find out what
motherboard?


--
Thanks,
Diane


"Shaun" <> wrote in message
news:8EF786AC-4358-4583-BE55-...
> Hi,
>
> Do you have a PCI express slot? What motherboard do you have?
>
> Shaun
>
>
>
> "Diane K" <dkoers_nospam_@comcast.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news:u1toy%...
>> Can someone recommend a specific video card for me? My system is running
>> Vista Ultimate OK except I can't get Aero without updating my video card.
>> Dell tells me my video card is built into the motherboard and I don't
>> have any AGP slots available so I guess I need a PCI card.
>>
>> I've been told I need to disable the video card on my motherboard when I
>> install the PCI card. Is that correct? If so, how do I do that? I'm sorry
>> to sound so dumb, but I'm really a novice on the graphics end of things.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>>
>>
>

Dell do not make it easy for you to fit a graphics cards as on their cheaper
modesl they use a specially built motherboard with no graphics slot.

The modern graphics technology is PCI Express but you probably dont have one
of those slots

Older is APG but you say you do not have one of those slots either.

Then the really old is PCI (note PCI is not the same as PCI Express)

I am not a graphics card expert but I am not sure you will be able to get a
PCI card capable of running aero.

May be wrong though.

"Diane K" <dkoers_nospam_@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:...
> Shaun, how do I tell if it's a PCI express slot?

If you cannot tell a PCI-e slot from a PCI slot, you shouldn't try to
upgrade the graphic card yourself. Besides, since your Dell came with a
graphic card built into the motherboard, it probably doesn't have a PCI-e
slot.

As I said, I am not graphics expert, but I have just has a look on a few of
the web sites where you can buy PCI graphics cards (not PCI express)

One was scan.co.uk for example

They do still sell PCI cards but they mostly had 64Mb and 128Mb of memory.

I believe 256Mb of memory is what Microsoft suggest for Aero.

And remember you need a Vista driver for any graphics card you buy which
these old ones may not have.

I think you may be out of luck on that Dell box.

Maybe time to get a new system unit built for you by a company like Novatech
with standard parts (unlike Dell), then in the future you will be able to
upgrade easier.

Here is a list of ATI cards that support Vista

http://ati.amd.com/technology/Window.../Products.html

Here is a list of nvidia cards that support Vista

http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html

Thanks Guilbert. I appreciate your input. I'm very well versed on most
software but hardware is certainly not my nitch. Would you do me one more
favor and check this out from Tiger Direct? It looks like it might meet the
specs, but I'd appreciate your input.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...675&CatId=1603

--
Thanks,
Diane

Thought for the day: God answers knee mail

"Guilbert" <> wrote in message
news:...
> As I said, I am not graphics expert, but I have just has a look on a few
> of the web sites where you can buy PCI graphics cards (not PCI express)
>
> One was scan.co.uk for example
>
> They do still sell PCI cards but they mostly had 64Mb and 128Mb of memory.
>
> I believe 256Mb of memory is what Microsoft suggest for Aero.
>
> And remember you need a Vista driver for any graphics card you buy which
> these old ones may not have.
>
> I think you may be out of luck on that Dell box.
>
> Maybe time to get a new system unit built for you by a company like
> Novatech with standard parts (unlike Dell), then in the future you will be
> able to upgrade easier.
>
> Here is a list of ATI cards that support Vista
>
> http://ati.amd.com/technology/Window.../Products.html
>
> Here is a list of nvidia cards that support Vista
>
> http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html
>

One thing to watch is the "Low Profile" business. The link is for such a
card. If your machine is a "regular" sized desktop, then you need to avoid
the "Low Profile" cards. These are for "thinner" desktops. The mounting
bracket for the "Low Profile" cards are shorter than the bracket for a
regular card. The shorter braket would prvent you from seating the card
properly. Usually, if you run across a "Low Profile" card, that manufacture
has the same card available in regular size. The regular size is the most
common, and to increase sales, they will often supply a "low profile"
version. The cards are the same, it is just the mounting bracket that differs.

I noticed a couple of response about since you have an on-board graphic you
do not "...blah, blah". I do not know about Dell, but one of the other
machines I have is an HP with onboard graphics, but it also has an PCI-e slot
- I have a PCI-e video card in that slot and it works. Again Dell may differ
from HP.

I would recommend you post your model number. No insult intended, but I
beleive you are un-familiar with some of the hardware terminology and
capabilities. If you will post the model number, then someone could look it
up on the Dell site and find out just which type of video card would work. If
you have an APG slot, then you would be better off using an AGP card. Prices
are approximately the same for comparable cards. The pecking order is PCI >
AGP > PCI-E. You would want to get the highest level that is suitable for you
machine.

"Diane K" wrote:

> Thanks Guilbert. I appreciate your input. I'm very well versed on most
> software but hardware is certainly not my nitch. Would you do me one more
> favor and check this out from Tiger Direct? It looks like it might meet the
> specs, but I'd appreciate your input.
>
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...675&CatId=1603
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Diane
>
> Thought for the day: God answers knee mail
>
> "Guilbert" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > As I said, I am not graphics expert, but I have just has a look on a few
> > of the web sites where you can buy PCI graphics cards (not PCI express)
> >
> > One was scan.co.uk for example
> >
> > They do still sell PCI cards but they mostly had 64Mb and 128Mb of memory.
> >
> > I believe 256Mb of memory is what Microsoft suggest for Aero.
> >
> > And remember you need a Vista driver for any graphics card you buy which
> > these old ones may not have.
> >
> > I think you may be out of luck on that Dell box.
> >
> > Maybe time to get a new system unit built for you by a company like
> > Novatech with standard parts (unlike Dell), then in the future you will be
> > able to upgrade easier.
> >
> > Here is a list of ATI cards that support Vista
> >
> > http://ati.amd.com/technology/Window.../Products.html
> >
> > Here is a list of nvidia cards that support Vista
> >
> > http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html
> >
>
>
>

Thanks HighNoon.
Thank you. No insult at all taken! I am very unfamiliar with some hardware
terminology. My PC is a Dimension 8110 and is not quite a year old. Dell is
the one who told me the video was on the motherboard and that I don't have
any AGP slots available.

-
Thanks,
Diane



"HighNoon" <> wrote in message
news:9B7766BA-2F6D-4FB1-A25A-...
> One thing to watch is the "Low Profile" business. The link is for such a
> card. If your machine is a "regular" sized desktop, then you need to avoid
> the "Low Profile" cards. These are for "thinner" desktops. The mounting
> bracket for the "Low Profile" cards are shorter than the bracket for a
> regular card. The shorter braket would prvent you from seating the card
> properly. Usually, if you run across a "Low Profile" card, that
> manufacture
> has the same card available in regular size. The regular size is the most
> common, and to increase sales, they will often supply a "low profile"
> version. The cards are the same, it is just the mounting bracket that
> differs.
>
> I noticed a couple of response about since you have an on-board graphic
> you
> do not "...blah, blah". I do not know about Dell, but one of the other
> machines I have is an HP with onboard graphics, but it also has an PCI-e
> slot
> - I have a PCI-e video card in that slot and it works. Again Dell may
> differ
> from HP.
>
> I would recommend you post your model number. No insult intended, but I
> beleive you are un-familiar with some of the hardware terminology and
> capabilities. If you will post the model number, then someone could look
> it
> up on the Dell site and find out just which type of video card would work.
> If
> you have an APG slot, then you would be better off using an AGP card.
> Prices
> are approximately the same for comparable cards. The pecking order is PCI
> >
> AGP > PCI-E. You would want to get the highest level that is suitable for
> you
> machine.
>
> "Diane K" wrote:
>
>> Thanks Guilbert. I appreciate your input. I'm very well versed on most
>> software but hardware is certainly not my nitch. Would you do me one more
>> favor and check this out from Tiger Direct? It looks like it might meet
>> the
>> specs, but I'd appreciate your input.
>>
>> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...675&CatId=1603
>>
>> --
>> Thanks,
>> Diane
>>
>> Thought for the day: God answers knee mail
>>
>> "Guilbert" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> > As I said, I am not graphics expert, but I have just has a look on a
>> > few
>> > of the web sites where you can buy PCI graphics cards (not PCI express)
>> >
>> > One was scan.co.uk for example
>> >
>> > They do still sell PCI cards but they mostly had 64Mb and 128Mb of
>> > memory.
>> >
>> > I believe 256Mb of memory is what Microsoft suggest for Aero.
>> >
>> > And remember you need a Vista driver for any graphics card you buy
>> > which
>> > these old ones may not have.
>> >
>> > I think you may be out of luck on that Dell box.
>> >
>> > Maybe time to get a new system unit built for you by a company like
>> > Novatech with standard parts (unlike Dell), then in the future you will
>> > be
>> > able to upgrade easier.
>> >
>> > Here is a list of ATI cards that support Vista
>> >
>> > http://ati.amd.com/technology/Window.../Products.html
>> >
>> > Here is a list of nvidia cards that support Vista
>> >
>> > http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_home.html
>> >
>>
>>
>>