Major Monitor Problem

[Haleem]

So you think there's a problem with my graphics card?

(I Have Another PC at my house.. So Should I try to connect my hardrive to the other PC's monitor and see if i have problems?)

 

[Patonb]

That'd be a good start, it'd eliminate your monitor being bad, but I think its the video card itself.

Yo should try to swith the card into the other working one to see if it works....
YouTube - Tiger How-To: Install a Graphics Card in Your PC

 

[Haleem]

Ok.. So I Plan on Getting a new graphics card this week, Do you think this one would be good?

Zotac GeForce 210 512MB GDDR2 PCI-E Video Card


Zotac GeForce 210 512MB GDDR2 PCI-E Video Card - Future Shop

 

[Patonb]

Its not a super card, slightly worse than your old one, but if youre not gaminng it is a just fine card.
A gt 220 is slightly better than your old one, if yo need abit more power.

 

[Haleem]

Well.. I am Gaming so what card would you suggest? (Needs to be a bit cheap though.. Paying with my own Money.. So Anything less then like.. 80?

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=c8ace03af6a96ba7b0cb02323d280605en02

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=514da0ba9bbcabf2be7d5a67e1b77ca2en02

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=e7911541fc90547c8a4f2baaae342018en02
Are any of these ones good? (Can you tell me info about all of them? I Wouldnt want to waste my money on somthing really good.. I just want a good Graphic card with good Quality and isnt to expensive.)

 

[Patonb]

The first card is a tv tuner, so not a great option...

The other 2 are good options. Theyre both better than your old card. I wouldn't want to get anything more as your powersupply won't beable to run them.

A gt220, 4650, or 4670 is where you'll want to look. the 4670 is better than a 220, which is better than the 4650

Have you looked at best buy? $50 - $99.99 : PCI Express Graphics Cards - BestBuy
There are some decent prices there.

To really answer your question, I need to know how big the power supply is. You'll have to open up the side panel, and read how many watts it is. There should be a sticker on the side which say it all.

Or if this is a dell, the service number, its on a sticker usually, i can find out myself.

A really good way to learn about the cards is bto just google the card and review. Many sites have tested them out.

 

[Haleem]

Ok.. Im probably going to go buy the Zotac GeForze 1GB for 114.99 (Including tax) .. There goes my money lol. (Futurshop is the only store that had stock of graphics card near me and 4670 is to much for me lol)

Hmm Wait 1 More Question:

Is there a large(or.. Like atleast a good difference) difference between the 210 and the 220? Becuase if there isnt I might aswell save some of my money and just stick with the 210.

 

[Patonb]

Yha there is... Nvidia cards are powered by cores/stream processors... The 210 has 16, the 8600 has 32, and the 220 has 48. As you see, the 210 is lower than your old card.

These cores/stream processors are what does the actual work...

Here is a review of the 2 cards...GeForce GT 220 And 210: DirectX 10.1 And 40nm Under $80 : Introduction Though not same brand, the base cards are identiucal.

The benchmark tests will show the difference.

 

[Haleem]

hmm.. I Found out that my power supply is 250w but the requirements for the the 220 is 300w. is that going to be any big issue?

 

[Patonb]

Then this will blow your mind.... the 8600 cards require 300W, says nvidia.

Whered you find the psu is 250W? From the psu label?

 

[Haleem]

Got my info from this site Acer Aspire M5100 specs and Desktops specifications - CNET Reviews

(I tried to find it but it just had lots of info and i understand which one is which)

Anyways.. Would the 220 work even if i had 250w

Also I think has 300 or more watts because the 8600 gs came with my pc when i bought it so i don't think acer wouldn't put a graphics card that didn't meet the requirements of a pc.

 

[Patonb]

The only problem with that page is, it doesn't have an 8600, it has a x1900 intergrated video card.

Could you pop open the case and look at psu itself.

It'll be the most accurate.

That said, its possible it may work.

 

[Haleem]

I unno.. Said somthing like at 25 (Degrees) Ambient power outlook will not exceed over 300w and same thing about 50 degrees and cant exceed over 270w.

 

[Patonb]

Hmmm, I was hopen for a lable like this:

But I think you have a 300W psu.

 

[Haleem]

Hmm k..

So.. how will i know if the graphic card is compitable with my pc? (Because i did try to fit my other pc's graphics card into my pc but it didn't fit so im just wondering)

My pc is Acer Aspire M5100

http://www.retrevo.com/search?q=Acer+M5100&rt=sp&modelid=11115358

Could you check these specs and compare it to the zotac 220 graphics card?

Thanks

 

[Patonb]

You might be very lucky..... Someone maybe has upgraded your pc.

The "broken" computer isn't too bad, and relitively new. You may actually have another video card built into the board.

Question. Does the monitor plug in down near the bottom, or up top where the keyboard plugs in?

If you need, take a picture and post it up.. That'll help too, instead of you having to guess.

 

[Haleem]

Theres two Plugs from the Monitor and they both plugged near the bottom of the hardive.

(Also can you explain how my pc might be upgraded + how i might have another video card?)

 

[Patonb]

According to the link you gave, you should not have the card in the bottom, which means its an add on.

Hmm, just did a search again, and it seems some were sold with a stand alone card too.

You have a confusing computer.

Is this the back of your computer?

And where it says "Not used" for the blue plug, is it empty?

 

[Haleem]

Hmm Ok.. So heres my picture. (Btw.. Can you tell me whether or not if i should buy the graphics card + explain what your getting at because i have to decide today whether im going to buy it or not)

Free Online Picture Editor - Crop and Resize photos, images, or pictures online for FREE!

 

[Patonb]

Are you running 2 monitors? As you have 2 cables plugged into the card.

If you only have 1 screen, you only need 1 cable.

I started off helping you try and get a new card as it looked like yours was bad. But your links suggested you should also had a built in card, which might have saved you from buying a new one. But now your picture showed you don't,

BUT NOW

You've got me wondering on your setup, and your card might be fine, just setup weird.

From what i can find, the 220 should work as it draws about the same as the 8600... Your 8600 came from the factory like that.

Also, reviews are showing some pretty low power draws, so you should be fine.

I know this is fustrating for you, but I like ensure your old stuff is dead before spending money.