Need a new gfx card

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09-08-2009, 05:12 PM
Hitman

Need a new gfx card

Hey, my PC mobo died so it was replaced with an ASUS P5KPL-AM SE mobo. It's got intergrated graphics (Intel GMA3100) which is... well, pretty crap. There are weird white lines on certain things, some images that have bold colours you can see the screen flickering... so basically I want another graphics card.

The mobo has a PCI Express x16 slot, which is for graphics cards I believe... I think I've found a couple of decent cheap gfx cards, they only need to be cheap and simple but at least half decent.

First I found was this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161824
Second was: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161335

First Q is, would they work on my mobo and second is do you simply slot in the gfx card into the PCI slot, then install the drivers and away you go? I read you might have to disable the onboard graphics.

Mobo specs: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...442&CatId=3461 (scroll to near the bottom)

If anybody could find any cheap graphics cards that'd fit could you post them?

Thanks!

edit: the dude in the video says the PCI x16 slot isn't "2.0" whereas those cards I posted are "2.0", so I guess they wont work... this would though, right?: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/156236
09-08-2009, 05:49 PM
Recursion

2.0 Cards will work in 1.0, they will just reduce the speed of the bus, but not many graphics cards even reach 2.0 speeds (so Stephen told me)
09-08-2009, 06:01 PM
N!ck

The onboard should disable itself, but you can manually do it in the BIOS as well.

You first need to remove the integrated graphics drivers via device manager then plug the new card in, turn on and install the new drivers for it.

You don't game do you? And go for the 9400GT, not the 8400GS.
09-08-2009, 06:22 PM
Agnostic Bear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Android

2.0 Cards will work in 1.0, they will just reduce the speed of the bus, but not many graphics cards even reach 2.0 speeds (so Stephen told me)

No cards reach x16 speeds at the moment that I know of.
09-08-2009, 06:31 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Android

2.0 Cards will work in 1.0, they will just reduce the speed of the bus, but not many graphics cards even reach 2.0 speeds (so Stephen told me)

Excellent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by N!ck

The onboard should disable itself, but you can manually do it in the BIOS as well.

You first need to remove the integrated graphics drivers via device manager then plug the new card in, turn on and install the new drivers for it.

You don't game do you? And go for the 9400GT, not the 8400GS.

Thanks for that information! Nah, I don't game but I do graphic design, so I guess it'd be good for that. OK, I'll get the 9400GT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Bear

No cards reach x16 speeds at the moment that I know of.

Okey dokey, thanks!

One last thing, my power supply should be able to take it? (450w)
09-08-2009, 07:03 PM
Stephen!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Bear

No cards reach x16 speeds at the moment that I know of.

The only 3 I know of are the dual gpu cards aka the GTX295, 4850X2 and the 4870X2

These will be bottlenecked, though slightly, by the 1.1 slot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

One last thing, my power supply should be able to take it? (450w)

Yes, quite easily I would say.
09-08-2009, 08:02 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

The only 3 I know of are the dual gpu cards aka the GTX295, 4850X2 and the 4870X2

These will be bottlenecked, though slightly, by the 1.1 slot.

Yes, quite easily I would say.

Thanks, I'll get the 9400GT.

Thanks again to everybody.
21-08-2009, 01:20 PM
Hitman

I decided I wont clog up the forums with a new thread.

I now have the 9400GT and it's alright, tonnes better than the integrated crap.

It comes with an overclocking thing, ASUS SmartDoctor. The GPU temperature is at 52c, so would it be okay to overclock, and if so will it make much difference?

Current setting are as follows...

Engine: 550Mhz
Shader: 1375Mhz
Memory: 800Mhz

What should I change them to?
21-08-2009, 01:29 PM
Stephen!

It wouldn't be worth overclocking a 9400GT I wouldn't think.
21-08-2009, 01:40 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

It wouldn't be worth overclocking a 9400GT I wouldn't think.

Okay... I've just noticed something I did NOT want to see...

My intergrated gfx produced some weird line on some images and the start menu, which was only seen on screen and not on a print screen... replaced the gfx card and I can faintly see it on the start menu and in some other places...

What could be causing it, the mobo? It never did this before when I had an intergrated nVidia GeForce 7100 256MB... which I assume is worse than the 9400GT.

All thats been replaced is the mobo... hmm... can you clear this up maybe?
21-08-2009, 01:44 PM
Stephen!

Probably some LCD screen burning.
21-08-2009, 01:49 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Probably some LCD screen burning.

Mm it never used to happen. :( And the weird thing is it's fainter with this gfx card... is there anyway to reduce it, it's bloody annoying sometimes. :(
22-08-2009, 02:46 PM
The Professor

if it is LCD burning, a new monitor is your only option methinks. We have an LCD in our common room at 6th form that used to be used as an information screen in main recpetion that displayed the school logo in the top corner... now everything we watch on it has the school logo in the top corner :P
22-08-2009, 03:05 PM
Agnostic Bear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor-Alex

if it is LCD burning, a new monitor is your only option methinks.

Nope, run this for a while: http://www.jscreenfix.com/
22-08-2009, 03:11 PM
Hitman

I don't think it's an LCD burn... it only happens on certain things and different places... I'll try and take a picture.

OK, well taking a picture of it is almost impossible... it never used to happen before the new mobo was installed, which had an Intel GMA3100 onboard gfx... now it has the 9400gt and the line has gone a bit.

Let me try and explain the lines... they're not like dead pixel lines, they're not 100% in height. On some images and backgrounds they produce lines behind things, such as the facebook login box. On a screenshot they don't appear so it's something to do with the screen... I'll try running what JB posted.
22-08-2009, 06:07 PM
Chippiewill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

The only 3 I know of are the dual gpu cards aka the GTX295, 4850X2 and the 4870X2

I have the 4870x2 :P
22-08-2009, 06:17 PM
Stephen!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00chips

I have the 4870x2 :P

Wonderful
22-08-2009, 06:34 PM
Tomm

Might be a damaged DVI cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

I don't think it's an LCD burn... it only happens on certain things and different places... I'll try and take a picture.

OK, well taking a picture of it is almost impossible... it never used to happen before the new mobo was installed, which had an Intel GMA3100 onboard gfx... now it has the 9400gt and the line has gone a bit.

Let me try and explain the lines... they're not like dead pixel lines, they're not 100% in height. On some images and backgrounds they produce lines behind things, such as the facebook login box. On a screenshot they don't appear so it's something to do with the screen... I'll try running what JB posted.
22-08-2009, 06:35 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomm

Might be a damaged DVI cable.

I'm using a VGA cable, not a DVI cable - could the VGA cable be damaged?

I'll give it a try on another cable.
22-08-2009, 06:38 PM
Tomm

VGA is crap, use DVI. With VGA you can get interference and other bad stuff (e.g crap cables can affect quality) since its an analogue signal. DVI is digital and unless there is physical damage or a lose connection you should not have any problems even over long distances (e.g 10m+).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

I'm using a VGA cable, not a DVI cable - could the VGA cable be damaged?

I'll give it a try on another cable.
22-08-2009, 06:46 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomm

VGA is crap, use DVI. With VGA you can get interference and other bad stuff (e.g crap cables can affect quality) since its an analogue signal. DVI is digital and unless there is physical damage or a lose connection you should not have any problems even over long distances (e.g 10m+).

OK, thanks. My monitor only has a VGA port, but my gfx card has a DVI port... I assume I'd need an adapter and a DVI cable?

Would I need something like this? Or would this work?

Cheers
22-08-2009, 06:59 PM
N!ck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

OK, thanks. My monitor only has a VGA port, but my gfx card has a DVI port... I assume I'd need an adapter and a DVI cable?

Would I need something like this? Or would this work?

Cheers

No point.

Just try a different VGA cable if you have one.
22-08-2009, 07:01 PM
Hitman

Quote:

Originally Posted by N!ck

No point.

Just try a different VGA cable if you have one.

I do remember in the other thread I made, people said there's no point... but I was reading a post on a blog somewhere, saying it depends on different monitors (as to if it's better or not).

I'll try the other VGA cable - if it doesn't clear up the faint line then I'll have to find another option...

There must be a reason for these lines... it's like a 1px shadow behind certain images, it's weird.
22-08-2009, 07:25 PM
Hitman

can't edit ^

Not got another VG cable damnit. The one I use from my laptop to some big old monitor is integrated into the monitor lol.
23-08-2009, 05:34 PM
Hitman

I *think* that I've fixed the problem... I decided to mess around with the monitors settings, like the buttons on the actual monitor. There was an option, under manual image ajudst called "Fine Tune". I set it to 100 and now the weird ling thing has gone... I think anyway, I can't see it.

I dunno what the fine tune option does exactly...

mmm maybe not... it makes the line very faint, but it's still there. I think it's the VGA adapter messing with it or something..