parents computer graphics card issue

[lodore]

Hello,
a few days ago i rolled back my graphics driver because i thought it was causing the random graphics glitches. but turns out i was wrong. sometimes it starts up fine but mostly it just displays random graphics. sometimes black and white sometimes random colours.

graphics card is all in wonder 9800 radeon agp.
monitor is dell 19inch.

cpu 3200 amd athlon socket 754 2.2ghz
asus nforce 3 motherboard

anyother ideas other than trying another gaphics card?

is there anywhere i can buy that card? doesnt matter if all in wonder or not.
if not what is the closest card? links please

thanks in advance
Lodore

[Pob255]

off hand sounds like a heat issue, (maybe perminate damage) or a power issue

not going to be easy/cheap to replace an old agp card, unless you get something 2nd hand
have a look for something from the nvidia 7 series or ati X1x00 series

[lodore]

Hello,
did think it could be a heat issue.
im sure this card would do
I know at college my lecurer has a ati radeon 9000 with 128mb memory.
he always gets random componants. may see if i can borrow it to verify it is the graphics card.

[shbris]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce...318#ht_500wt_0

try ebay, probably not best value getting a brand new agp card but guess ur forced unless u do a cheeky mobo upgrade. and cpu. and ram...

[Pob255]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nvidia-Geforce...318#ht_500wt_0

try ebay, probably not best value getting a brand new agp card but guess ur forced unless u do a cheeky mobo upgrade. and cpu. and ram...

Yep 7600gs that's the sort of thing I was on about
or ati X1650 but I'd look for 2nd hand and cheaper than £40

edit: probably look at £30 for a decent 350w psu, but that does depend on what's in there.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=696393 (shame they have none of the fsp units in stock )
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120375

not sure about this one but that pc will not need much, and the price is good
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/637568...t/Product.html

[lodore]

you think it needs a new psu as well then? ugh

currently the machine has a TAGAN psu.
i just want the machine working again.
my parents dont use it for much.
parents just play a few simple games,browse web,check emails and youtube videos.
my sister used to play sims 2 on it but she got her pc now.

my dad did say about ram upgrades. but if you think needs a new psu as well then forget the ram upgrade lol.
i use the pc in my sig my quad core rig. no point upgrading my parents computer tbh.

[Pob255]

What's the numbers on that tagan? tangan's are good psu's but it's all down to wattage and +12v ampage.

if it's 350w then you should be fine esp with something like the 7600gs (it's a low power card.)
memory wise between 1gb and 2gb tends to be the sweet spot for xp.

[lodore]

Hey,
its acually a 330watt Hiper.
the graphics card fan was completely covered in dust. so i think it died after to much heat.

the dvi cable is very tight.
the crappy graphics card from my old delll works fine. so my parents can use the computer.
i may free the cable and try the other graphics card once more tomorrow.

if not my parents will order a new graphics card tomorrow.

[Pob255]

Unfortunately as I found to my cost when the ati 9xxx series overheats then tended to kick the bucket for good (long story but basically my 9700pro cooked it's own memory chips and probably why I don't trust ati stock coolers)

As long as they are not gaming almost any card will do, my gf is still happly running her 1600x1200 on my old geforce 5200 128mb agp card, she uses it for web browseing and A4 photoshop work and digital painting.

I really should of mentioned that sooner. as long as no 3d is involved almost any thing will do.
if they use sketchup or google earth or simular (light 3d usage) then you do want something a little better (I gave my old 6800LE 128mb card to a friend at work because his onboard graphics was struggling with sketchup)

[lodore]

will this one be good enough for google earth?

[Webby]

Yep should be fine you could save £5 and get this one though http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/597303...d/Product.html

[Pob255]

or 2nd hand, still think it's a good option

Ebay
7600gt
7600gs (looks a bit dusty)
x1650pro
x1550 cannot remember how good thoes are.

[Webby]

Yep second hand is always an option

For the level of 3D required (Google earth) the x1550 will be fine just don't expect it to play modern games at anything resembling decent framerates.