Update: Bought ATI 2400XT to the Packard Bell computer, help

[OldJoe]

Hi.

 

 

 

My own computer is in the process of being "taken back" by the shop, still getting bluescreens on it. So atm i'm on my moms computer.

 

It's a prebuilt Packard Bell.

 

I was checking some cheaper video cards for it, but i can't find any that meets the requierments.

 

Windows Vista, Intel Celeron 1.6ghz (lol..), 2gb ram, intergrated gpu - ATI Radeon XPRESS 200.

 

It only has a 250W PSU, which is the problem.

 

The least power consuming card (of newer ones) i could find, was GeForce 7200GS which said 350W.

 

Does anyone know anything that could fit this?

 

If there's no chance, i'll just skip it because it's not worth changing the PSU on this.

 

 

 

So, any tips?

 

Old and newer cards!

 

 

 

Danke.

 

 

 

Edit: Forgot to mention PCI-E.

[im1knight]

the graphic card must also support windows vista as well ( i dont think any of the early model does..). and WOW @ that CPU... i'm surprised u can run vista on celeron 1.6ghz...

[OldJoe]

the graphic card must also support windows vista as well ( i dont think any of the early model does..). and WOW @ that CPU... i'm surprised u can run vista on celeron 1.6ghz...

 

Oh right, forgot about that... 14h sleep in 3 days=Not good lol.

 

Yeah i know, XP or Ubuntu should be run instead lol.

[das1330]

any low end video card that doesent use an external power connector should work. PSU wattage recommendations tend to be exaggerated. Look for something along the lines of an ATI radeon 2400 PRO. A card similar to that should run just fine.

[OldJoe]

Hm yeah.

 

I had an 8600GT on my own computer before, if i don't remember wrong, it was getting enough juice from just the pci-e slot.

 

I've found an interesting card, ATI 3450. http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Viper-345 ... B0012VOYD0

 

It says 300W PSU.

 

I checked an online shop in my country, and they had it. 3450, 30 euros (shipping included)!

 

 

 

So, could this work or will i be getting blue-screens?

 

Say, if i bought it and getting crashes, then i could just take it out and wait til x-mas (been thinking of doing some upgrades on this; psu, cpu) and just install it then.

[Dboy65]

http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Pr ... ku=8339181

[OldJoe]

http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=8339181&oext=1038A&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8339181

 

 

 

Yeah, and if you read my post you wouldn't have posted that.

 

Please do read the thread-opener before posting something that can't be used.

[OldJoe]

Hi.

 

 

 

I bought ATI 2400XT (was cheaper, and supposed to be a bit less energy craving).

 

Ok, so i installed it, put the the case-side on again and powerd on the computer.

 

Got picture, yay!

 

Then some installing drivers... Windows updated it automatically... Then i installed the driver from the cd (stupid?).

 

Then i get "restart computer for settings to apply".

 

So i restart, black screen!

 

The monitor says "no signal".

 

 

 

So i then removed the card and started up the computer with intergrated graphics. Works fine, no problems at all.

 

So, i download the whole latest package from ATI (CCC, driver... etc), installing, reboot, works fine.

 

So, i once again put the 2400XT into the pci-e slot and boot up, black screen!

 

Once more, removed it, back to intergrated graphics, works fine.

 

 

 

I've tested different screens, tested both vga and dvi cables, doesn't matter with the 2400XT, black screen.

 

But i can hear the computer working and everything...

 

Hmm, maybe i should do a system restore? I'll try that after Jay Leno has finished lol.

 

 

 

I don't need to change anything in the BIOS, do i? If so, the only two related things i've found is:

 

Init display first: IGD, PEG/IGD, PCI/IGD. Seletc which graphics controller to use as the primary boot device-

 

Expansion mode: Disabled. Enable? Text and graphics expansion/central mode selection.

 

 

 

But you shouldn't need to change anything in the bios, right?

 

 

 

Anyone got an idea?

 

I'll call the support tomorrow and ask them, but i'd like to hear any suggestions and try.

[blade995]

init display should be set to PEG for the dedicated card. This will make the picture display faster on boot up. Even with this settings changed you should not just get a black screen.

 

 

 

If you can not even see the post screen with the new card then a system restore would have nothing to do with it because it would be a hardware or bios problem because this is before Windows even starts up.

 

 

 

BTW just for a future tip: Never install the drivers form the cd, they are usually very old compared to the drivers from the website. (this still should not have caused your problem)

 

 

 

Try reseating the card again. There's not much you can do if it shows no picture on post. It could be from static electricity frying the card when you put it in. Usually that doesn't show right away and it breaks after a few heat cycles. If that's the case, just exchange it for a new one.

[OldJoe]

init display should be set to PEG for the dedicated card. This will make the picture display faster on boot up. Even with this settings changed you should not just get a black screen.

 

 

 

If you can not even see the post screen with the new card then a system restore would have nothing to do with it because it would be a hardware or bios problem because this is before Windows even starts up.

 

 

 

BTW just for a future tip: Never install the drivers form the cd, they are usually very old compared to the drivers from the website. (this still should not have caused your problem)

 

 

 

Try reseating the card again. There's not much you can do if it shows no picture on post. It could be from static electricity frying the card when you put it in. Usually that doesn't show right away and it breaks after a few heat cycles. If that's the case, just exchange it for a new one.

 

 

 

Tried again.

 

It was set on PEG from the beginning.

 

When i boot up, i don't see BIOS or anything, just black screen and monitor saying "no signal".

 

I haven't changed the BIOS or anything.

 

Yep i know driver cd... Dunno why i did it, just did it lol. But as you say, this shouldn't have caused a problem.

 

I don't think it's been electrified. Because i grounded my self before dealing with the card and opening the case, also used plastic gloves. And i handeld the card on anti-static plastic.

 

I've mailed Gigabyte (the manufactuer), and asked them, see what they'll say.

 

But hm, i'll get the support on the phone tomorrow and check lol.

 

Still tho, when i first put it in and booted up it worked fine. But when i rebooted it just showed "no signal". Crap.

 

And when i took it out, closed the case (booting with intergrated gfx) i get "Windows fault-reset (dunno exact english word)"... So i have no clue.

[BloodfleshX]

Probably a pointless question, but have you plugged the monitor into one of the graphics cards dvi ports, and not the integrated one?

[OldJoe]

Yes, i've tried different screens, used both vga and dvi cables.

 

 

 

Just called the support, and he said i should exchange it for a new one and it probably won't cost a thing.

 

 

 

So... Fun!

 

Dunno what could've happend... Maybe it just was a bad card, because i took all precausions i could to not electrify anything. And since i'm writing this from this computer, i'm positive it's not statics.