Video/Graphics Card Problems: Fixing Video and Graphics Problems - Page 1 |
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VIDEO/GRAPHICS CARD PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS - PAGE 1
Visit the Video and Graphics section of this site for graphics-related information on video/graphics cards, TV tuners, etc.
| Click here! to go to Page 2 of video/graphics card problems and solutions If you don't find the answer that can help you to fix your video/graphics problems here, try using various search terms that describe the problem in the Google search box at the top of this page with its Web radio button enabled. |
Click the relevant link below to go to that Q&A article. Use your browser's Back button to backtrack.
1. - How to troubleshoot/diagnose video/graphics card and monitor problems
4. - Can my computer/PC play high-definition (HD) Blu-ray movies?
7. - Should I buy a DirectX 9 or a DirectX 10 video/graphics card?
8. - How can I get a 32" LCD TV to work with a Media Center PC?
9. - I can't get two SLI or CrossFire video/graphics cards to work together in my computer
10. - Can I upgrade the graphics processor of my Dell Inspiron 9000 laptop/notebook computer?
11. - What kind of AGP support does my video/graphics card need?
13. - A typical problem with DirectX [The computer keeps booting into Safe mode because of an incompatibility between its video card drivers and DirectX 9.x.]
14. - The voltages used by the different kinds of AGP video/graphics cards
15. - A problem installing adapter cards in a Windows XP system
16. - USB TV Tuners/PCI Tuner cards: What is the easiest and cheapest way to copy VHS video tapes to DVDs?
17. - Using a riser card to overcome a lack of space in a computer's case
18. - A new AGP video/graphics card causes a computer to lock up
19. - A new video/graphics card causes several kinds of distortion to occur
20. - Highly confused about analog, digital, DVB cards, and video/graphics cards
22. - Is this a video/graphics card problem? - Playing games makes my PC shut down
24. - Windows Movie Maker won't work and says I don't have enough memory on my drive
25. - Why can't I install a Hauppauge TV tuner card?
26. - A video/graphics card problem problem caused by a buggy BIOS
27. - I can't update the video/graphics card drivers for my Tiny notebook/laptop computer
| Click here! to go to Page 2 of video/graphics card problems and solutions |
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor didn't find any problems that would prevent me upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium, but after the installation the my Dell Dimension 3000 desktop computer can only start up in Safe Mode
Problem
I just performed an upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium from Windows XP Home on a Dell Dimension 3000 desktop PC. The compatibility report did not indicate any fatal problem that would prevent the upgrade. Unfortunately after the final reboot, it can only boot to Safe Mode. I tried Startup Repair from my Win7 repair disc, but it found nothing wrong with the startup. There are no devices in the Device Manger with a yellow exclamation mark or red cross. However, the computer failed to bring up the options to choose a Home, Work or Public network even though the wireless router was on and working and had been online with XP. After I chose the Home network option with my own laptop, the setup required my wireless encryption key and then went online for updates. Tomorrow I'll try Safe Mode with networking, which you can use when you press the F8 key at startup to get online and get updates and drivers from Windows Update. If that fails, I'll try connecting the PC by Ethernet cable to the router and then running the setup at startup from the install disc. Any ideas would be appreciated because there are no reports of this problem on the web yet.
Answer
I am sure that if you have a look under Display adapters in the Device Manager that you'll see that Windows 7 is using its standard video-card driver.
To open the Device Manager in Windows 7 you just have to enter the letters dev in the Start => Search programs and files box and a link to it is provided.
Windows 7 requires a graphics/video card/chip that supports DirectX 9.0. For example, a Dell Dimension 3000 has an Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2 built into the PC's motherboard, which only has three PCI slots (no AGP or PCI Express slots for an AGP or PCI Express graphics card.) The integrated graphics only supports DirectX 8.0, so when Windows 7 is installed it will only be able to start up in Safe Mode.
To find out which version of DirectX your computer is using, enter dxdiag in the Start => Run box (Windows XP) and the Start => Start Search box (Windows Vista). DirectX 9.0c is the highest version that Windows XP can run. Only Windows Vista and Windows 7 can run DirectX 10.0 and the forthcoming DirectX 11.0.
This is what the Windows 7 compatibility report says about the graphics on a Dell Dimension 3000:
"Windows Aero Not capable Your current graphics adapter won't support the Windows Aero user interface. Contact your PC manufacturer or retailer to see if an upgrade is possible."
Dell used a cheapo DirectX 8.0 chip in this 2006 computer. That shows the weakness in the compatibility report. It should have said that the graphics chip only supports DirectX 8.0 and that Windows 7 cannot be used unless the graphics card can be upgraded to a DirectX 9.0 card.
Fortunately, PCI graphics cards, one of the oldest standards, that support DirectX 9.0 are still available. Here is a good example of one you can purchase in the UK:
ZOTAC 256MB GEF FX5200 PCI RET Graphic card -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ZOTAC-256MB-FX5200-Graphic-card/dp/B000VG4J64
The purchaser reviews provide uselful information.
This US webpage provides several suitable PCI graphics cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...
A video file that I have on my PC won't play. How can I find out which codecs are required to play it?
Problem
A video file I downloaded won't play on my PC. I believe that the correct codecs have to be installed for a particular type of video file to play. How can I find out which codecs are required and where do I get them?
Answer
Visit Codec - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec for information on codecs.
Download and install the free K-Lite Mega Codec Pack from http://www.free-codecs.com/. Other sites can charge you for this pack. The pack comes with Media Player Classic, which you can try using to play your video file.
If the file does not play, download and install the GSpot codec information appliance from http://www.headbands.com/gspot/. It can tell you which codecs you need and whether they are installed. Run the program and then drag-and-drop your video file with the mouse on to the program. Video, audio, and file-container information will be provided. The Status box tells you which codecs are required.
You can look for them on http://www.free-codecs.com/.
If you click on the Tables button, you'll be provided with a list of every video and audio codec installed on your PC.
How to troubleshoot/diagnose video/graphics card and monitor problems
Troubleshoot monitor and video card problems -
"Display problems are among the most common difficulties people have when upgrading either Windows or their computers. Here are solutions to some common display problems." -
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/2582c444-448c-4fb5-ba0c-d753f88d64791033.mspx
Can my computer/PC play high-definition (HD) Blu-ray movies?
It is a common assumption that only a computer Blu-ray writer such as the Pioneer BDR-202 is required to watch (high-definition) HD movies. However, both the PC's video/graphics card and its processor must be powerful enough. The PC should have at least a 2GHz dual-core processor and a video/graphics card that supports PureVideo HD (Nvidia video cards) or Avivo HD (ATI video cards). The video card or motherboard should also have a DVI or HDMI output port that supports HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Blu-ray movies won't play on computers that are not HDCP-compliant. Playback software, such as CyberLink PowerDVD is also a requirement. The Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H motherboard has integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics that are powerful enough for Blu-ray playback. The graphics has its own dedicated 256MB of graphics memory. Most integrated graphics solutions make use of system RAM memory installed on the motherboard. That Gigabyte motherboard was priced at only £64 in March 2008. Note that you should not buy a desktop PC or laptop PC that has integrated/onboard graphics (graphics chip) built into the motherboard) unless you know that the graphics is powerful enough to play Blu-ray movies.
Why does Windows report half the video memory that my laptop computer's video/graphics card should have?
Question
I have a Dell Inspiron 9400 laptop computer, purchased in April 2007, that runs Windows Vista Business Edition. The PC is supposed to have a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 video/graphics card and 2GB of RAM memory installed. However, the BIOS and Windows both report only 128MB of dedicated video memory. Have I been cheated or is the computer not reporting the correct amount of video memory?
Answer
Both ATI and nVidia and Dell have been engaged in some deceptive advertising recently. Both ATI and nVidia have developed technology that allows their graphics cards to share system RAM memory to supplement their own dedicated video memory.
ATI calls its technology HyperMemory, which doubles the amount of memory available to the video cards that use it by using system memory. For more information, visit http://ati.amd.com/technology/hypermemory.html.
An ATI graphics card that is advertised as having "256MB HyperMemory" means that it only has 128MB of memory on the card.
nVidia calls its memory-sharing technology TurboCache, which allows the graphics card to increase the memory it uses by up to four times the amount of memory on the card.
On its website Dell lists "256MB ATI Mobility Radeon x1400 HyperMemory" as an option for the Inspiron 9400. A small subscript directs you to a footnote at the bottom of the page that says: "The total of local and shared system memory used by this graphics card is up to 256MB. Local onboard memory is 128MB. Up to 128MB of system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on the system memory size and other factors." The facts are there, but you would have to look hard to find them. Like you, a customer with some knowledge of graphics cards would probably assume that that option gives you a laptop that has 256MB of dedicated video memory, when only half that amount is the real amount.
I bought a PC with an Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 6.5GHz processor and a 1GB ATI Radeon X1050 graphics card, but the Belarc Advisor says otherwise
Question
I have purchased a desktop PC from a UK company via eBay. It was advertised as having a 6.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 dual-core processor, a 1GB ASus ATI Radeon X1050 graphics card, and 2GB DDR2 RAM memory. However, I downloaded and ran the free Belarc Advisor, and it said that the computer has that processor, but that it only runs at 2.33GHz, and the graphics card is described as a "HIS x1,050 hypermemory with 128MB DDR (64-bit)". The RAM memory appears to be as advertised. When I emailed the company, it said: "The way that Core 2 Duo works is 2 x 2.33GHz cores and, because they both run together, it is then 40% quicker than the actual speed, hence where the 6.5GHz comes from." Is this true or have I been ripped off?
Answer
The E6550 does not imply that the speed of the processor is 6.5GHz, it is just its model number, and it is far from being the fastest model in its range of Intel Core 2 Duo dual-core processors. The processor has a clock speed of 2.33GHz, but the speed of each core cannot just be doubled to derive its actual speed because of bottlenecks in scheduling tasks between the two cores. However, the second core, and other design improvements over previous Pentium 4 processors, adds about 40% to the performance when compared to a single core processor running at the same clock speed of 2.33GHz. There are other factors that affect performance, such as the amount of cache memory, how the processor makes use of RAM memory, and the number of clock cycles that each operation takes. The two cores of Core 2 Duo processors are based on a single Pentium M core, each of which can perform more operations per clock cycle than a Pentium 4 single-core processor.
The comparative speed of different makes/models of processors depends on the kind of operation each of them is performing. For example, one make/model may be better at performing certain operations, such as those required to run a demanding PC game. Your PC's processor, for instance, might outperform an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ dual-core processor playing games. Therefore, a vendor, such as the one you bought your PC from, could find a benchmark test in which your PC's processor is twice as fast as a 3.3GHz single-core processor, but that doesn't give that vendor the right to advertise it as a 6.5GHz processor, because such a processor does not yet exist. The fastest official (not overclocked) clock speed to date of a processor is that of the high-end Pentium 4 single-core processors, which run at 3800MHz (3.8GHz). Your PC has a Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 dual-core processor, each core of which runs at 2.33GHz, giving it up to 40% improvement in performance compared to a single core running at 2.33GHz.
The PC's video/graphics card does not have 1GB of its own dedicated graphics memory, as advertised. (Even PC manufacturers, such as Dell, have been guilty of this kind of false advertising.) A graphics card with 256MB of dedicated graphics memory, which is legitimately advertised as having a hypermemory feature, can make use of up to four times that amount of a PC's system RAM memory. If the system RAM is over 1GB (4 x 256MB), then a graphics card with hypermemory can behave in some ways as if it has 1GB of graphics memory. Your PC has 2GB of RAM, so, with such a graphics card, it could reserve 1GB for the use of the graphics card and use the remaining 1GB to run the system. However, the graphics card in your PC only has 128MB of graphics memory, which equates to only 512MB of hypermemory (4 x 128MB). Also note that the graphics card is actually made by HIS, not Asus, as advertised.
Visit the following two pages to view tables containing all of the technical specifications (clock speed, supported instruction sets, cache, etc.) and other information, such as the dates of release, of all of the processors made by AMD and Intel up to the present.
Desktop CPU Comparison Guide - AMD processors - http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=0
Desktop CPU Comparison Guide - Intel processors - http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=337&pgno=4
Visit the following pages of the above guide to view tables of all of the PCI, AGP, and PCI Express video/graphics cards made by ATI and nVidia, the two major manufacturers of graphics chips (that other graphics-card manufacturers use) and their own graphics cards.
Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide - nVidia cards - http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=3
Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide - ATI cards - http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=1
Whether or not you have been ripped off depends on the price you paid for the PC. Its specification, although not as advertised, is still fairly good. You can make use of the Google search box at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled) to search for PCs with the real specifications to find out if they are cheaper or dearer than what you paid. If you think that you have been ripped off, you can make use of eBay's complaints' procedure. Moreover, if you paid by PayPal, you might be entitled to a refund.
Always check a seller's feedback carefully before making a purchase through eBay. You should click on the links in the feedback to find out what kind of merchandise the seller is selling, because some thieves and con artists build up good feedback by selling cheap goods that they deliver quickly.
Should I buy a DirectX 9 or a DirectX 10 video/graphics card?
Question
I am building a new PC. I see that both nVidia and ATI have video/graphics cards that support DirectX 10, so I need to know if I should buy one or choose a cheaper DirectX 9 card?
Answer
New graphics cards are always more expensive than the cards that have been available for a while.
Since there are currently (June, 2007) very few PC games that support DirectX 10 (DX10), there is no need to rush into buying a graphics card that supports it. Moreover, most of the games that become available this year and next year will run on DirectX 9 (DX9) cards. Even most DirectX 10 games, such as EA's Crysis, will also play on a DirectX 9 graphics card.
I would buy a cheaper DX9 card now for a new PC and then upgrade it to a DX10 card when games start becoming exclusively played with DX10 cards. When that happens DX10 cards will be cheaper than they are now.
Alternatively, if cost is not a hindrance, buy a DX10 card immediately.
Note that DirectX 11 is under development and should be out soon (date of writing, September 2008). For the latest information, check DirectX - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX.
Best Graphics Cards For The Money: November '09 -
"There's actually a lot to discuss in this month's column: the introduction of AMD's new Radeon HD 5000-series GPUs, Nvidia's new GeForce GT 220 and GeForce 210, availability of previous-gen high-end cards, and the state of the graphics war in general." -
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best-graphics-card,review-31723.html
How can I get a 32" LCD TV to work with a Media Center PC?
Question
I have a 32" Samsung LCD TV that has two high-definition HDMI ports. The user manual says that it has a screen resolution of WXGA, which is 1,366X768. I tried to connect my Dell Dimension 9200 Gaming desktop PC that has an ATI Radeon X1550 graphics card to one of the TV's HDMI ports using an DVI-to-HDMI converter cable. I want to use the PC as a Media Center. However, the best picture I could get has a narrow black band about 1 cm wide between the edge of the displayed picture and the edge of the display. Is there a graphics card that can display on the TV's screen resolution when connected to an HDMI cable?
Answer
The screen resolution that the TV can display depends on the TV, not the graphics card of the PC. Many LCD TVs are designed to display standard high-definition screen resolutions such as 720p and 1080p, so they can't display the PC's graphical output at the TV's native screen resolution. Such an LCD TV expects a lower-resolution input, which it upscales to fill the screen. If the input resolution from the TV is not a standard high definition (HD) resolution, the upscaled result looks peculiar.
The best way to make the TV upscale correctly is to set the PC's graphics card to the standard HD resolution of 1,280X720 pixels.
However, note that if you want to display the high-definition video that is on HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs, you need an optical drive installed in the PC that supports HD-DVD or Blu-ray and an HDCP-compliant graphics card. An example of such a card is the Sapphire Radeon HD 2400 XT. You can make use of the Google search box at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled) to find reviews and vendors for that card - or other HDCP-compliant graphics cards. It was priced at only £43 in December 2007. It has an HDCP-compliant HDMI output that carries both the video and audio signals from the PC to a TV.
I can't get two SLI or CrossFire video/graphics cards to work together in my computer
If you can't get dual video/graphics cards using nVidia's SLI or ATI's CrossFire technology to work together, here are the facts that need to be taken into consideration...
As the situation currently (May, 2007) stands with regard to both SLI and CrossFire technologies, you must have two graphics cards made by nVidia or ATI that have the same amount of graphics memory and identical graphics processor chips. Both of the graphics cards and the computer's motherboard must support one of the technologies. No motherboards exist that support both technologies. Note well that a motherboard can have two PCI Express x16 slots for the two cards, but it might not support either of the dual-card technologies. To make sure that one of the two technologies is definitely supported, consult your computer or your PC's motherboard manual. If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that provides information on the motherboard is CPU-Z.
If you want to upgrade from one graphics card to two and you don't know the make/model of the card installed in your PC, to find out that information just enter dxdiag in the Start => Run box in Windows XP, and look under the Display tab of the windows that comes up. In Windows Vista, click on the Start button and enter dxdiag in the Search box.
At the time of writing this (April, 2007), you could only configure nVidia's SLI on a Windows XP system, because SLI support had not yet been added to nVidia's Windows Vista graphics-card device drivers. If you want to use SLI under Windows Vista, check nVidia's SLI website for the latest news on drivers - http://www.slizone.com/. Note that neither SLI nor CrossFire work under Windows 95/98/Me.
Your PC should have a power supply unit (PSU) rated to at least 400W. That said, the computer or PC's motherboard manual might provide the exact power requirements. In any case, the power supply should provide a suitable PCI Express power connector that connects to the graphics card itself if required. If one or more auxiliary power connectors between the cards and the power supply are required, make sure that they are connected.
Even if the motherboard has two PCI Express x16 slots for the cards and it supports one of the two dual-card technologies, you should always make sure that there is enough room inside the case to accommodate two cards. The card slots should not be obstructed by other components or wires. Note that graphics cards with heatsink cooling units can take up the space of two slots.
Some motherboards require SLI or CrossFire mode to be activated manually, either by using a physical switch or by enabling a BIOS setting.You should consult your PC or motherboard manual to find out what kind of activation, if any, is required. The two cards might have to be connected by a supplied bridge or cable. If that is the case, the required information should be provided by the graphics card's user manual, or it could be available on its manufacturer's website.
If the Catalyst Control Centre (provided by ATI's device drivers), or the nVidia Control Panel (provided by nVidia's device drivers) don't recognise the second graphics card, open the Device Manager in Windows XP/Vista by entering devmgmt.msc in the Run/Search box (it's the Search box in Vista). Then open Display adapters in the Device Manager to see if two graphic cards are listed. Note that any entries marked as Secondary are not physical cards, just the second video output of a single graphics card. If both cards aren't shown, try reinstalling the device drivers. If that doesn't work, make sure that both cards are installed properly in their slots, that they are properly connected together if connection is required, and that the auxiliary power connection(s) are properly connected from the power supply.
If the PC crashes, is unstable, or begins to slow down, it could be caused overheating. If removing the side panel from the case fixes the problem, add another fan inside the case to improve the airflow. If more than one fan is installed make sure that they work in conjunction to cool the PC and don't fight each other. If the correct drivers are installed and the PC is being properly cooled and it is still crashing or is unstable, perhaps the power supply is inadequate. If so, then it will have to be replaced.
For more information on SLI technology, visit nVadia's site at http://www.nvidia.com/ and look under the Technologies heading, or visit http://www.slizone.com/.
For more information on CrossFire technology, visit ATI's site at http://ati.amd.com/.
Can I upgrade the graphics processor of my Dell Inspiron 9000 laptop/notebook computer?
Question
I have a Dell Inspiron 9000 laptop PC that has an integrated Intel 915GM graphics processor. My question is, can I upgrade the graphics processor to a more powerful one? I understand from reading that I've done on the subject that, if it is possible with this model, I would have to disassemble the laptop to remove the graphics chip and then install the new chip, or add a graphics card if the laptop has a slot for one.
Answer
The current position in August 2007 is that you can only upgrade the graphics capability of a laptop/notebook computer under very limited circumstances. The graphics chip has to be on a separate, replacable graphics card, not integrated into the motherboard.
Most laptop computers use an integrated graphics controller that uses system RAM memory, but some have the provision for a graphics card that has its own dedicated video memory. Many recent integrated graphics controllers used in laptops use PCI Express technology, which means that the signals sent from the processor to the graphics processor are compatible with PCI Express standards. However that doesn't necessarily mean that they also have a PCI Express slot.
Both desktop and laptop PC's can have integrated graphics (the graphics chip is integrated into the motherboard) and also provide a slot for a video/graphics card.
Dell graphics cards are proprietory, which means that they can usually only be upgraded if Dell supplies a choice of graphics options for that particular model. When you buy a Dell PC online you can often choose from a range of graphics cards. Note, however, that Dell can use several makes of LCD screens on the same model and high-end graphics cards may only work with certain makes of LCD screens. The following webpage list the graphics options of each Dell laptop: http://www.bay-wolf.com/videoupgrade.htm.
You should also note that the laptop's BIOS has to be compatible with the new graphics card. A particular laptop could use an MXM-compatible or AXIOM-compatible card (more information on that compatibility is provided below), but its BIOS could be hard-coded with the configuration details of the card that was originally installed. If that is the case, a BIOS update that supplies the configuration details of the new card would have to be installed.
In most cases when you purchase a laptop computer, you cannot upgrade the graphics. Fortunately, you are in luck, because the Dell Inspiron 9000 has integrated Intel 915GM graphics and can also be fitted with an ATI Radeon graphics card. Having first checked the position with Dell, you should be able to purchase one from Dell and fit it yourself, or, if you don't trust yourself to do the job, send the laptop in to Dell for the fitting. Remember that even opening a laptop computer can be difficult. If you don't know exactly how to do it, you can break plastic tabs, etc.
Desktop PCs have just one PCI Express standard for graphics card slots, but there are two 'standards' for laptop/notebook computers. nVidia calls its version MXM, which stands for Mobile PCI Express Module, and ATI calls its version AXIOM. Apparently, each version has several types with different size and heat dissipation requirements. Some laptop manufacturers have customised the BIOS in their systems so that only the MXM cards that they supply can be used. Some laptop manufacturers, such as Toshiba, have their own non-standard slots for graphics processors.
Unfortunately, most of the laptop computer manufacturers will only guarantee compatibility with their own graphics cards. Moreover, most of them don't even provide the information that their laptops have an MXM or an AXIOM slot.
Here is the information I have found on MXM:
MXM -
"As early as 2004, NVIDIA introduced a standard for mobile modular graphics cards. MXM, which stands for Mobile PCI EXpress Module, aims to allow notebook manufacturers to bring their product faster to market and to design a single platform which suits a manifold of graphics modules. On top of that, the standard is open, which means that an ATI MXM card is possible, allowing manufacturers an even greater flexibility. Based on 16 lanes of PCI-Express (the same as its desktop brethren), MXM is here to stay for the long run. Now that most new laptops are based on new chipsets, which feature PCI-Express technology, more and more MXM powered laptops are arriving on the market. MXM's history looks bright indeed!" -
"If your laptop is not in the list of MXM powered parts that can be found here, there's still a chance that there's an MXM under the hood. This page contains tips and tricks. But before you proceed, you should understand that opening up your laptop will void your warranty. Furthermore, it is quite a bit more complex then opening up a desktop PC. Laptops are not really made to be taken apart, especially not by inexperienced hands. If you don't know exactly what you are doing, chances are you're going to break some tabs, damage the interior of you're going to find yourself being generally unable to assemble all the parts together again. So, leave your laptop alone if you're not exactly sure what you're doing!" -
http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Notinthelist.html
The Google search box provided at the top of this page (with its web radio button enabled) can be used to locate information on ATI's AXIOM.
What kind of AGP support does my video/graphics card need?
Question
My motherboard only supports the AGP 1.0 standard. However, in error, I have purchased an Elsa 511 Gladiac 400 MX that requires AGP 2.0 support. I only realised my mistake when I got home and checked my motherboard's manual. I telephoned the store where I bought it, and the helpdesk operator suggested that I install it and see what happens. I did so, and for a while everything worked just fine, but then every game I played started freezing the system, and I had to reboot. Is this because of overheating, or is it because I am using a 4x card in an AGP 1.0 slot?
Answer
To work as it should at all times, an AGP 2.0 video card requires a motherboard that supports the AGP 4x mode. The AGP 2.0 standard adds 4x mode, and writes data faster than AGP 1.0, which supports the 1x and 2x modes. AGP 1.0 cards run at 3.3 volts, and AGP 2.0 cards run at 1.5 volts for 4x data transfers, and at 3.3 volts for 1x and 2x data transfers. AGP 1.0 and AGP 2.0 video cards have slightly different edge connectors. (An edge connector is the metallic part of the card that fits into the slot on the motherboard.) Unfortunately, new 4x cards such as a GeForce 3 card has a slightly different edge connector to an ordinary AGP 2.0 edge connector, which it is supposed to support, so that a GeForce 3 card will not even fit into an AGP 1.0 slot.
Note that many of the motherboards that first supported AGP 1.0 employed cheap components that do not keep the voltage to the card stable. Therefore, if a high-end AGP card, such as a GeForce or Voodoo, is used with such a motherboard, it will probably work properly in 2D mode, but, sooner or later, is likely to crash the system when playing games that use 3D mode.
Moral of the story - for the best gaming performance you must have a motherboard that supports the video card that you intend to use. So, before you upgrade your existing video card, or build a new system from scratch, make sure that the video card is fully supported by the motherboard. Check the motherboard's website, and, if necessary, its ALT newsgroup, for the information you require.
For more detailed information on AGP compatibility, click the link below.
AGP Compatibility - http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agp.html
Windows 98 SE won't install a video/graphics card upgrade in my dual-boot PC running Windows XP and Windows 98 SE
Problem
I have a dual-boot PC that runs Windows XP and Windows 98 SE. I upgraded the graphics from a 16MB PCI Voodoo video card to an 128MB AGP nVidia GeForce FX5200 card. I downloaded the device drivers for the upgrade from nVidia.com for both versions of Windows, shut the system down, removed the old card and installed the upgrade. When I booted into Windows XP, the card was recognised, the drivers were installed, and the card worked properly. However, when I booted into Windows 98 SE, the card was recognised, but I could only boot into Safe mode. When I try a normal boot, I get a blank screen and the computer either hangs or closes itself down. Is there any way in which I could install both video cards so that I can use the new card with Windows XP and the old one with Windows 98 SE?
Answer
Yes, you should be able to have both cards installed, because Windows 98 and Windows XP have separate hardware lists. Just open the Device Manager in each version of Windows and and disable the card that you don't want to use with that version. In Windows XP, right-click on the Voodoo card's entry and click Disable on the menu that presents itself. When you open the entry for the nVidia GeForce FX5200 card in Safe mode in Windows 98, look for the option that disables that card.
Unless you make use of a KVM switch that allows you to connect two video cables and switch between them, you'll have to swap the video cable every time you change the operating system. If you have a second monitor, you could have a two-monitor setup, probably in both versions of Windows, but at least in Windows XP.
You could also try using the nVidia card in Windows 98 with the standard Windows Super VGA driver, which would use a screen resolution of only 800x600, but it might be adequate for your needs.
Of course, it would be best if you could use drivers that allow you to run the nVidia card in Windows 98. You could try looking at this site for suitable drivers: http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/. Search under Downloads if this link doesn't work:
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemId=8509
After you have Windows 98 running in normal mode by reverting to the standard Windows Super VGA driver in Safe mode and then rebooting, you can try installing any suitable drivers that you found and downloaded from the above site.
A typical problem with DirectX
The computer keeps booting into Safe mode because of an incompatibility between its video card drivers and DirectX 9.x
If after having installed some gaming software your system crashes, and then will only boot in Safe mode, the chances are that you installed the latest version of the gaming software driver DirectX 9.x, and it is incompatible with your video card's drivers. Installing DirectX 9.x will probably have been required, and hence will have been provided along with the game.
To rectify the situation, you will have to find out the make and model of video card that is installed in order to download the latest drivers for it from its manufacturer's website - or from the chipset manufacturer's website.
The problem will probably have been compounded, because Windows will install its standard VGA driver in order to boot in Safe mode, so you will not be able to identify the video card in this mode (in the Windows Device Manager by right clicking My Computer, and clicking Properties).
If the video chipset is built into the motherboard, you will be able to identify it in the motherboard's manual. If you don't have a manual, you should be able to download a manual from its manufacturer's website - using another computer connected to the Internet, since the problematic one is out of action.
To identify a video card for which you have no documentation, and which is installed in either a PCI or AGP slot on the motherboard, sometimes you can find out its make and model from a printed label on the card itself, or you might be able to read that information from the Start-up boot message that usually flashes by too quickly to read. Unfortunately, you can't freeze the screen, since the Pause key will not pause the installation at that point of the Windows start-up.
However there is still a way to identify the card by using the Debug program that is built into Windows.
Go Start => Run, type in Debug and press the Enter key. A DOS window appears with a hyphen as a prompt. Type in dc000:0,ff (four zeros, not capital Os), and press the Enter key.
On the left of the window several lines of figures will appear, and the video card's chipset and manufacturer will appear within the figures to the right of them.
Here is an example. -
ATI MACH64 C000:0090 53 44 52 41 4D 20 42 49-4F 53 20 33 2E 30 38 35 SDRAM BIOS 3.085 C000:00A0 0D 0A 00 28 43 29 20 31-39 38 38 2D 39 37 2C 20 ...(C) 1988-97, C000:00B0 41 54 49 20 54 65 63 68-6E 6F 6C 6F 67 69 65 73 ATI Technologies.
This means that the video card is made by ATI and it uses an ATI Mache 64 chipset. In this case, both the chipset and the card itself are made by ATI, so you would be able to use another computer to download an AGP or PCI Mache 64 driver, depending on which kind of slot the card is installed in.
The voltages used by the different kinds of AGP video/graphics cards
| | |
|
|
| 3.3 Volts |
1x at 267MB/s, 2x at 533MB/s |
|
| 1.5 Volts |
1x at 267MB/s, 2x at 533MB/s, 4x at 1067MB/s |
| | 0.80
Volts | 4x at 1067MB/s, 8x at 2133MB/s
|
Problem
I want to upgrade my ageing motherboard, processor, and RAM, but I'd like to be able to use my existing video card with the new motherboard. The video card is an Inno nVidia Tornado TNT2 32MB model, and the new motherboard I want to purchase is the Asus A7N8X Deluxe. I need to know if the old video card will work with the new motherboard.
Answer
The first generation of AGP 1x and 2x video cards use 3.3V, which is the same as PCI video cards. (X = the speed/frequency of the PCI bus = 33MHz.) But because there is a power limit of 25W on the AGP bus, 4x cards and higher draw more current and so have to use lower voltages. Most 4x cards are built to the AGP 2.0 standard and use 1.5V, but some use 3.3V. 8x AGP 3.0 cards run at 1.5V or 0.8V. The AGP Pro standard was developed for cards that need to exceed the 25W power limit of the standard AGP bus.
Note well that installing a 3.3V video card into a motherboard designed for 1.5V cards will usually destroy the motherboard.
Fortunately, the video cards are keyed with slots in the connector that only allow the card to be inserted into an AGP slot that supports it. If a card is keyed to fit both 3.3V and 1.5V AGP slots, then it is usually a dual-voltage card that can safely auto-configure itself to use the correct voltage.
However, note that some cheap AGP cards are keyed - have slots for both voltages - but only support 3.3V. So, if such a 3.3V card is installed in a 1.5V motherboard, it won't destroy anything, it just won't work.
The Inno nVidia Tornado TNT2 video card is AGP 2.0 compatible, so it should work well with the Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard.
For more detailed information on AGP compatibility, click the link below.
AGP Compatibility - http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agp.html
Voltages
Question
What AGP slot voltage do GeForce cards use, and is this compatible with Intel Pentium 4 motherboards with the Intel i845 and i850 chipsets?
Answer
The Intel i845 and i850 specifications contain the following statement: AGP 1.5 V Connector support only (AGP 2.0). No support for 3.3 V or Universal AGP connectors (AGP 1.0). However, this should not be an issue for GeForce cards, because they are all AGP 1.5V devices that are compatible with those Intel chipsets.
Can't install an old 2x AGP video card on my new Asus motherboard
Here is an interesting e-mail conversion I had with someone about his inability to install a 2x AGP nvidia Riva TNT video card on his new Asus motherboard:
I've just bought an Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard, but when installing my old Guillemot Maxi Gamer Xentor (AGP 2x 16MB graphics card, based on NVidia Riva TNT2 chipset; it has both 1.5V and 3.3V keys), the red led indicating "Incorrect AGP Card" turns on, and the system refuses to boot. Do you know what's wrong with this combination of MB / AGP card? I supposed that a 150 euro motherboard should support it without any problem ...
Marti, I checked the motherboard's manual - that board only accepts 8x-compatible cards running at 1.5v. If you don't have a copy, You can download one from the Asus.com site.
Thanks a lot for your help. The 1.5V constraint seems quite convincing, considering that the motherboard's AGP slot has a 1.5V "key", and BIOS only mentions voltages around 1.5V. However, it seems also coherent that if the card has both "notches" (1.5V and 3.3V) the combination should work anyway. I've read at: http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/agpcompatibility.html that cards with both notches are "Universal", supporting both voltages. But it seems that I'm missing something in the way, because my current case is a contradiction to this "rule of thumb".
Things are such these days that you can usually only use current video cards with current motherboards. I think the industry needs the sales.
Yeah, sales, sales... as always. The funny thing is that my dazzling and expensive new MB doesn't support the old good TNT2 2x AGP card and, on the other hand, it has no problem in supporting a crappy 1MB S3 PCI card... LOL! High-tech paradoxes... I've seen manuals from other modern motherboards equipped with an AGP Pro (3.0) slot, and those which don't support the 3.3V AGP cards, stating it VERY clearly even in the first page of the manual. ASUS says it with small letter, and no word about that on its website. Now I'm testing a 4x ATI Radeon 7000 with 64MB, but it has a very poor D/A [digital to analog] conversion, I can't stand it. People only look at 3D performance, but forget such an essential point. Text loses definition at high resolutions (1152x864 and above) and "ghost" or "echoe" images appear close to vertical lines. Darn, if I could still use my TNT2... I hope all this conversation helps you to warn some users from your nice website.
My old AGP video card fits, but the wrong way around
New motherboard fitted, installed an old AGP video card. It won't fit in the AGP slot on the motherboard (well it will fit but the wrong freakin' way round. The actual VGA port part of the card is facing the opposite way to the rest of my I/O devices. What is going on???
What you say is true. They're made that way so you won't burn up your motherboard by using the wrong card. You didn't do your research. Your new motherboard has an AGP 8x slot. The older video card runs at a different voltage and won't work with the newer motherboard. In fact, if you could install it, you'd probably blow it and the motherboard. That's why the slot is made so that an old card can't be fitted. Buy a new video card.
So I've got to buy a new graphics card as well. Why do they make it seem as if any AGP graphics card will fit when it won't. I feel fiddled, since you only find out after it's too late. Will only an 8x graphic cards fit?
The video card you have is several years old. Over time, standards change. A new 4x card that runs at the same voltage as the 8x cards would work. Unless you're using the latest of both, it's always best to check if a video card is compatible with a motherboard before you buy or fit it.
A problem installing adapter cards in a Windows XP system
Problem
I purchased a new motherboard and installed it in your Windows XP system; successfully for the most part, but whenever I try to install a sound card or network card, and then boot the system this message come up: "An error has occurred during the installation of this device. The data is invalid." For some reason, I haven't been able to install an AGP video card, but I have been able to install a PCI video card. I also tried unsuccessfully to install two different makes of network and sound card. The other measures I have taken to rectify the problem are: - reflashed the BIOS with the latest update, and tried replacing Windows XP with its forerunner, Windows 2000. Because the same error occurs with both versions of Windows, I suspect that the problem has to be hardware-related.
A possible solution
The usual cause of this problem in Windows 2000/XP systems is Registry keys that are set as read-only.
From the Start menu, click Run and enter RegEdit to run the Registry Editor. Open the following - Keys => HKey_Local_machine => System => CurrentControlSet => Enum => PCI.
You will see several keys in this form - Ven_xxxx - where xxxx represents a string such as - 1102&Dev_004&Subsys_00011103&Rev_04.
In each of these folders there is another folder that has a long numerical name. Open each of these folders, and look for the DeviceDesc entry that matches the type of hardware that you are trying unsuccessfully to install. Use the right mouse button to click on the Ven_xxxx entry for that device, and click Permissions. If it is set to read-only, then that is the cause of the problem. To rectify it, change it to Allow Full Control.
USB TV Tuners/PCI Tuner cards: What is the easiest and cheapest way to copy VHS video tapes to DVDs?
Question
I have a new Sony Vaio VGN-FE41E notebook/laptop computer that is running Windows Vista Home Premium version of Vista. It has one ExpressCard and one Cardbus (PC Card) adapter slot, an Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 dual-core processor, nVidia GeForce Go7400 graphics with its own dedicated 64MB of graphics RAM memory, and analog D-sub VGA video output and a S-video port, but no TV tuner. I use Nero 7 Premium application to burn DVDs. I have several VHS video tapes that I would like to save to DVDs, but I have no idea how to go about doing that. My VHS video recorder only has a SCART socket. Could you please tell me what the easiest and cheapest method is?
Answer
You could purchase a video-capture adapter that plugs into a PCMCIA (PC Card) slot. However that is relatively expensive compared to the cheapest method, which is to use a USB TV tuner to copy VHS video to your laptop computer.
The Terratec CinergyHybrid T USB SX TV tuner from http://www.terratec.net/ (USB stick tuner - analog and digital TV - fullscreen Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) - excellent PowerCinema 4 and CyberLink MakeDVD software - priced at around £65) can record a composite video input. You would use an adapter that converts a SCART socket on the VHS recorder into composite video output that connects to the composite port (a yellow phono-type input port) on the TV tuner. The adapter has part code L50A from http://www.maplin.co.uk/. The CyberLink MakeDVD software bundled with the tuner can convert VHS video files into a DVD video format with a menu system.
Using a riser card to overcome a lack of space in a computer's case
"As I was staring at a dismantled Toshiba Magnia SG20 appliance in hopes of upgrading the CPU, I had it stuck in my brain that I needed a specifically designed AGP video card that would fit into the tight quarters. Later, it dawned on me that there are all sorts of riser cards made for just this sort of situation. They aren't terribly expensive, and come in hundreds of flavors. Google is your friend. As an example, I found one page with just the right item for $15.00. They sell cards that are configured so the card can be installed on either side of the AGP slot, depending on the need, and there is a choice of 3.3V, 1.5V or universal models, which is an important consideration to be sure the card fits into and talks to the slot properly." - From the Lockergnome Tech Specialist newsletter, which no longer exists. It is now called IT Professionals. Other relevant newsletters are called Windows Fanatics and Tech News Watch.
A new AGP video/graphics card causes a computer to lock up
Problem
My PC originally had a Gigabyte GA-5AX motherboard, an AMD K6-2 500MHz processor, 64MB PC100 SDRAM, a 2MB Cirrus Logic video card, and runs Windows 98 SE. But when I upgraded the RAM to 128MB and the inadequate 2MB video card was replaced with a 64MB AGP card made by Sapphire that uses an ATI Radeon 7000 graphics engine, the computer operated in normal application mode, but locked up after running any game that uses OpenGL and DirectX (the Direct 3D component of DirectX). Any ideas on how to fix the problem so that I can play games?
Possible solutions
The problem could be caused by a hardware fault, or problems with the firmware (BIOS), or the device drivers.
An inadequate power supply unit (PSU) could be responsible. Many cheap PSUs do not deliver their stated outputs. Or it may be that the motherboard cannot deliver the correct power requirement to the new video card, which is installed in its AGP slot.
It would be a good idea to visit Gigabyte's site to read any information on hardware compatibility issues that it provides, and, better still, to subscribe to Gigabtye's ALT newsgroup - alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte - and post an enquiry asking if anyone has experienced any problems with that make, model, and revision of the board and a video card running the Radeon 7000 graphics engine.
I don't know if there are any such problems with Rev 5 of that motherboard, many users have reported that earlier revisions failed to deliver enough power to certain power-hungry AGP cards. There are also reports of such lockups taking place when the PSU was upgraded, so the motherboard itself might not be responsible.
There have been reports of compatibility problems, mostly with some motherboards using Intel chipsets and Radeon 7000-based cards. The Gigabyte GA-5AX uses an ALi chipset. All the same, the Radeon 7000 grpahics engine has a low user-satisfaction rating, with the main reason being cited as unstable device drivers. Apparently the latest drivers are much improved, so installing the latest driver file might solve the problem. It is also important to update the ALi AGP driver that works with the video card's driver.
Try doing the following in this specific order:
1. - Download the latest driver file for the video card from ATI's site, the latest AGP driver from ALi's site, and obtain the latest version of DirectX from - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.asp.
If you need to know the ALi chipset's name, the motherboard's manual should provide it.
2. - Enable Video BIOS shadowing in the BIOS, and check its Chipset Features page to make sure that all of the options are set to the default values. The motherboard's manual has a BIOS section that provides this information. If you don't have a printed copy, download one, which is usually in the PDF format that requires the free Adobe Acrobat reader.
3. - Now install the latest driver files. It is always best to remove the existing driver first by installing Windows' standard VGA driver, which can be done via the card's entry in the Device Manager. The quickest way to open it is to enter devmgmt.msc in the Start => Run box in Windows 98/Me/XP. You can open Search and make use of the left-hand Search box in Windows Vista that is used instead of the Run box.
After that has been done, first install the latest AGP driver file, followed by the driver file downloaded from ATI's site.
It is important to follow that particular installation sequence, because driver problems could result if a different sequence is used.
If the card still doesn't work properly, you should repeat the process, but this time install the latest version of DirectX first.
Don't update DirectX unless the drivers' update fails to work, because the latest version of DirectX could itself be the source of incompatibility problems.
It that fails, reflashing the BIOS file with the latest update from the motherboard's site might succeed. Otherwise, try a different make an model of video card - preferably to one that the alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte newsgroup's members have suggested.
A new video/graphics card causes several kinds of distortion to occur
Problem
I have removed a GeForce 2 video card and installed a GeForce FX 5200 card in my computer, but words are garbled, objects have shadows, and white lines extend to the edge of the screen while playing games. I have removed the drivers and installed the latest driver file from nVidia's site, but doing that didn't fix the problem.
Answer
The lowest setting for the monitor's refresh rate for the GeForce FX 5200 is 85Hz, so, if your monitor has a lower maximum refresh rate than that, buy a monitor that meets the card's requirement.
You should always find out if your system is up to running a new video card before you purchase it. Reading the other problems and the answers given for them on this page (and the information on the AGP page of this site) should give you a good idea of what to look out for.
I have also read that updating the BIOS by reflashing it with the latest BIOS file from the motherboard manufacturer's site has fixed this problem when the monitor's refresh rate and the type of AGP card is supported by the monitor and the motherboard respectively.
Highly confused about analog, digital, DVB, TV and video/graphics cards
Questions
I want to connect a Sony flat-panel TV set and a projector to a Shuttle Spacewalker XPC ST61G4 motherboard, which has an onboard ATI Radeon 9100 AGP video chip, an Intel Pentium 4 3GHz processor, 1GB of PC3200 DDR RAM, and an LG GSA 4081BB 8x DVD-R/RW drive. I have Sky Digital satellite TV and I want to connect it all up via the motherboard instead of through the Sky digital receiver and a VCR/DVD player. Spare PCI slots and a free AGP slot are available in the computer.
Having investigated ATI's All-In-Wonder video cards, which seem to be superior to the motherboard's onboard video chip, TV tuner cards, and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) cards, I am now thoroughly confused about analog and digital signals, free-to-view, and subscription-channel TV. The TV tuners don't seem to receive Sky Digital satellite broadcasts, and a TV tuner card makes use of a PCI slot that I would prefer to be used by a modem. Moreover, the All-In-Wonder video cards only seem to be analog cards. DVB cards allow satellite Internet access, which I would like to use, because I live in a non-broadband area of the UK, so I'd like to know if they're compatible with subscription TV, and if I would need to use a separate modem.
Answers
In the UK, the standard five terrestrial television channels use analog signals that any television can pick up. Digital broadcasts can be picked up by satellite, cable, and suitably equipped terrestrial equipment. For most people, only tuning into the terrestrial broadcasts is worthwhile via a PC in the UK.
To view Freeview digital television, DVB-terrestrial (DVB-T) PCI cards or USB boxes can be used with a terrestrial aerial. Note that many but certainly not all homes will be able to receive digital terrestrial television without upgrading to a digital aerial. These channels include BBC3, BBC4, ITV2, several radio stations, and interactive text services.
Although it's possible to tune into satellite television broadcasts directly with a PC, this isn't possible with Sky Digital because the broadcasts are encrypted. Thus, the only way to tune into Sky is by using a Sky Digibox. However, a DVB-Satellite (DVB-S) can be used to tune into the free shopping, BBC, and foreign channels that aren't encrypted.
An ATI All-In-Wonder video card would be perfect for what this user wants to do. It would most certainly be better than the onboard video that he already has. It's a relatively inexpensive analog card that can be connected to a Sky Digibox. The second TV output on a Digibox is an analog output.
Because analog is still the king by a long way, digital video cards - with DVI input/output, such as the ATI Radeon 9700 - are presently much more expensive, so unless the user wants to pay more for a digital video card, he should buy an analog card.
To change channels he would use the standard Sky remote control. An ATI All-In-Wonder card comes with excellent software for recording and pausing a television broadcast. All of these cards also come with a remote control and launcher application that allows the use of shortcuts to common entertainment functions.
Television pictures and DVD movies often don't appear at their best on an LCD monitor, because the images are displayed with such sharpness that any natural or unnatural defects in the footage or the interlacing used by television broadcasts will become noticeable immediately. Interlacing, which skips refreshing alternate lines of the screen, can create jagged edges that are more noticeable on LCD screens. Moreover, LCD screens often have to be viewed from directly in front of the screen to avoid a deterioration in the picture quality, but this is not the case with CRT monitors. Therefore, if the user's PC has an LCD monitor, he will benefit from watching television and DVD movies via his TV set. To connect the PC to a television set requires the use of an S-video or composite connection and cable.
Note that Microsoft has launched the Windows XP Media Center Edition, which uses Microsoft's new Media Center to integrate television into Windows. It's also able to control a Sky Digibox via a PC. Unfortunately, at present, it's only available with a new computer as part of the new edition of Windows XP, which is designed to be used where a television set is the only available display option.
With regard to satellite broadband, AVC - http://www.avcbroadband.com/ - offers a decent 768Kbit/s connection. A USB Hauppauge DVB-S card is provided that would allow the user to view free satellite television and use a broadband Internet connection in addition to connecting an analog video card to a Sky Digibox.
Unfortunately, since a satellite dish can only receive a signal, and the user can't use cable or ADSL, a dial-up 56K modem would still be required to send data across the web.
Is this a video/graphics card problem? - Playing games makes my PC shut down
Problem
I have a PC running a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 processor and Windows XP Home edition. It works properly when I'm using it to run applications, utility programs, and when I'm accessing the web, but as soon as I attempt to play any game at all, after about 30 seconds, the PC shuts down suddenly as if the plug has been pulled out of the mains socket. I can't reboot until I've removed the mains lead for a few seconds and the red LED light on the motherboard goes out. I ran the Sisoftware Sandra Standard 2004 utility and under Mainboard Information, under the Temperature Sensors section, it states that the motherboard's temperature is 27ºC, the CPU temperature is 28ºC, and the Power/Aux temperature is 69ºC. These readings never differ, even after first booting the system. There are several case fans installed, and I changed the standard heatsink and fan unit for a copper one, and used thermal compound between the processor and the heatsink. The heatsink on the processor doesn't get hot to the touch. So, I'm wondering if I have a problem with my video card, which is a Gainward Ultra 1100XT Golden Sample, which uses an nVidia 5900XT chipset.
Answer
Unfortunately, this kind of problem can have many possible causes.
It's unlikely to be a problem caused by overheating of the processor if you've installed the copper HS&F cooling unit and applied the thermal compound properly. Only a thin layer of thermal compound is applied evenly over the top of the Pentium 4 processor prior to fitting the cooling unit.
For your information, third-party utilities, such as Sandra, can provide inaccurate temperature readings because not all motherboards use the same methods of providing temperature information. In fact, no readings at all can be provided if the motherboard isn't able to record temperatures. Even the temperature readings that the BIOS can provide (under a section called something like Hardware Monitoring) if the motherboard provides them, are sometimes inaccurate.
In case you're wondering what the Aux/Power temperature is, it's only provided by some motherboards. A power supply unit (PSU) temperature sensor can be plugged into a pin header on such a motherboard and then attached to the PSU, but in most computers with motherboards that provide the pin header, the sensor isn't installed.
Since the problem only occurs whenever you attempt to play a game, the cause is most probably someting wrong with the video card or its software device driver. Downloading and installing the latest device-driver file for Windows XP for your video card from its manufacturer's site might be all that's required for a fix. If not, it could be the processor on the video card itself that is overheating.
Your video card came has a large cooling unit installed on it (all current high-end video cards come with the a large, impressive-looking cooling unit installed on them), but this can come loose from the graphics processing unit (GPU) that it keeps cool, or its fan can seize up, even if it's a new card or it came installed in a new system.
The large circular device on the high-end video card shown below is the cooling unit that is part of it.
If the cooling unit on the video card is properly installed, apart from taking the computer's base unit into a repair shop, you'll have to try swapping the components one by one with ones known to work.
To eliminate the video card as the cause, start by replacing it with one of a different make and model. When the video card is eliminated as the cause, try a different power supply unit, followed by different RAM modules. If there is more than one RAM module installed, you could try using only one, because the system can operate with only one DDR RAM module. Try using each module on its own. You could also test the RAM with the free Memtest86 utility from http://www.memtest86.com/.
If the PSU and the RAM aren't faulty, that leaves only the motherboard to replace.
But before you try using another motherboard, try reflashing the BIOS on the existing one with the latest file from it's manufacturer's site. You can also try experimenting with different BIOS settings. It could be that your video card doesn't agree with one or more BIOS settings. The Definitive BIOS Guide is a recommended site for information on optimal BIOS settings.
Sandra can identify your motherboard, but if anyone else needs to identify a motherboard, click here! to go directly to some free utilities on the second of the four Links pages on this site.
When I had a problem that required swapping many different components, I bought them on eBay, used them for testing, and then resold them at a profit. If you do this, just make sure that you buy them from sellers that have very good feedback records that stretch over a year or more. I bought a motherboard, processor, and RAM bundle that I resold after installing it without fixing the problem, and the result led me to the culprit - a faulty PSU.
An installed wireless network card is the apparent cause of a boot (start-up) problem - but it's really a video/graphics card and monitor cable problem
Problem
Ever since I fitted a PCI Belkin 802.11g wireless network adapter I've had trouble booting my computer - a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 8685 desktop PC running Windows XP Home. To fix the problem, I formatted the C: drive and reinstalled everything from the CDs. This didn't work. On at least two out of three start-ups the Windows desktop fails to appear, but this message "Video cable connected?" does. If I switch the computer off and on again it eventually completes a full boot, usually after the third attempt, after which the computer runs perfectly, including the wireless network adapter, which connects as it should to my Belkin router. Should I try a different wireless network adapter?
Answer
I don't think that the network card is the culprit. The message "Video cable connected?" is asking you if the cable to the monitor is connected properly, because the monitor isn't receiving the proper signals from the computer. So, the first action to take is to check to make sure that the video cable between the video card and the monitor is connected properly between the two devices. If it is, remove the cable and examine it to make sure that there isn't a bent pin on the end of the cable that connects to the video card. This computer has a CRT monitor, not a digital DVI LCD monitor, and therefore has a standard d-sub VGA cable. Note that the second-to-last pin in the middle row of the VGA connector on the cable is supposed to be missing.
If the cable isn't damaged and is connected properly, the next most likely cause of the problem is a video card that isn't seated properly in its slot. The fact that the computer usually only boots on the third attempt could be because the video card is not making proper contact with the slot when the computer is cold, but does when it warms up because of the expansion of the metal connection points. So, you should try reseating the video card.
It is also a remote possibility that you damaged the video card with a discharge of static electricity when you installed the network adapter. Click here! to read about protecting against static electricity on this site. If reseating the video card doesn't work, try using another video card.
An Interrupt Request (IRQ) conflict wouldn't normally produce that error message, but if none of the above solutions work, moving the wireless network card to a different PCI slot would be the easiest way to find out if that is the cause of the problem.
Read this Q&A on this site if you want to know more about IRQ conflicts: How things can go wrong with a USB device: an IRQ conflict.
Windows Movie Maker won't work and says I don't have enough memory on my drive
Problem
I'm running a Windows XP Home system. I've made a large movie that has sound, background music, and titles, etc. However, when Windows Movie Maker reaches its final step in the process, running Finish Movie only produces whirrs and clunking sounds for a long time before it informs me that I've run out of memory on my hard drive, but there is 512MB of DDR RAM and 50GB of free disk space on the hard drive that contains the movie. Movie Maker is installed on the boot drive with 10GB of free space, which should still be more than enough.
Answer
If you're using Movie Maker 1, downloading and installing Movie Maker 2 from http://support.microsoft.com/ might fix the problem.
If doing so doesn't fix the problem, there are three possible causes of that error message. 1.) There is really not enough disk space (not likely in your case). 2.) There is a known problem with one or more of Movie Maker's files. 3.) Your movie is too complex for Movie Maker to handle.
As you create the movie, Movie Maker saves data to two locations - the drive and folder you chose when running its setup Wizard - and a temporary storage location that you can locate by following this path: Tools => Options => General tab => Temporary Storage. If this is on a drive that doesn't have much free disk space, placing it on a drive that has plenty of free space might fix the problem.
If doing that isn't the case, or it doesn't solve the problem, and you're saving the movie in the WMV format, there is a known problem with a file that Movie Maker uses called QASF.DLL, which should have been updated if you installed Movie Maker 2, but it's known that there are occasions when the update doesn't happen. You should therefore check the file in the C:\Windows\System32 folder and make sure that the version in use is at least version 9.
See this Knowledge Base article: FIX: QASF Update Improves the User Experience for Windows Media Player Content - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=830415
If you still have the problem, then it could be that the movie is too complex for Movie Maker to handle. You can try splitting the movie up into two or three sections. Save each section in the High Quality Video (large) of DV-AVI formats. Doing it this way, Movie Maker has less to do, and it therefore might be able to achieve the more fiddly bits that it might not be able to do on the single large file. Then all you to do is use Movie Maker to combine the sections into a single file. Just make sure that you have back-ups of the sections just in case something goes wrong when Movie Maker attempts to combine them into a single file.
Why can't I install a Hauppauge TV tuner card?
Problem
I e-mailed Hauppauge, the manufacturer of the WinTV PVR USB TV tuner card (model 8930), to find out if it was compatible with my notebook computer running Windows 98 SE. [The PVR in the name stands for Personal Video Recorder.] I was told that it would work, but when I bought it, I discovered that it wouldn't work no matter what I tried. I sent Hauppauge a copy of the System Information that the system provides when you enter msinfo32 in the Start => Run box. This time I was told that the TV tuner was incompatible with the SiS graphics chip on my notebook's motherboard. There was no warning about this in the installation manual. Is there any way to install it, or is there another external USB TV tuner card I can use with my notebook computer?
Answer
Integrated SiS video chips are usually found on the cheapest notebook computers, and even on those it is rare to find them being used. All of the relatively new notebooks I've seen reviewed employ either ATI Radeon or Intel Extreme graphics chips.
In any case, getting a TV tuner (PCI card or external USB device) to work has always been a bit of a hit or miss affair. Displaying television taxes the system, and, as such, can quickly bring incompatibility issues with the rest of the system to light that even the manufacturer of the TV tuner isn't aware of.
Hauppauge has reported several incompatibility problems on its site. For example, it is known that some non-Intel PCI controller chipsets on the motherboard, made by manufacturers such as SiS, VIA, UMC, ALi and OPTi, won't allow a TV tuner to access the graphics system without causing a system lockup.
Your computer/notebook user manual or motherboard's manual should provide the names of its chipset manufacturers. If you don't have such a manual and can't download a copy from the manufacturer's site, try using the free Belarc Advisor utility that can be downloaded from http://www.belarc.com/. It can identify the motherboard manufacturer and the makes of chipsets used on the motherboard. Some motherboards can use chipsets made by several manufacturers.
There are also incompatible video cards, most of which are fairly elderly, and include the S3 964 and 864, the Trio 64, 868, and 968, and Trident and Cirrus Logic video cards. Moreover, video cards that use the nVidia TNT chipsets can't share an Interrupt Request line (IRQ) with any other device on the system.
Click here! to go directly to information on IRQs on this site, or enter the term in the Google search box provided at the top of this page.
If a nVidia TNT video card can't share an IRQ with a WinTV tuner, you have to change the IRQ of one of them - either via the BIOS, which has an IRQ setting for the video card, or via the the Resources tab in the Windows Device Manager. Note that you have to disable the Use automatic settings in order to be able to change an IRQ setting, and you should change it to an IRQ line that isn't being used by another device - even if IRQ Steering that enables one IRQ to be shared with several devices is enabled. The video card and the TV tuner should each have an IRQ that isn't shared.
Installing the latest WinTV driver file, updated device drivers (obtained from the video card and motherboard manufacturer's sites), or reflashing the BIOS file (obtained from the motherboard manufacturer's site) with a higher version might solve an incompatibility issue. Moreover, Hauppauge's site - http://www.hauppauge.com/ - lists some BIOS settings that should be used.
As a last resort, there is a DIB DRAW mode that the latest WinTV driver provides that is meant to make incompatible video cards run with the TV tuner. This is enabled by going to Start => Programs => Hauppauge WinTV => Primary, where you click on the DIB DRAW option and then close the program. Note that the use of this option usually results in a TV display that is poorer in quality than it would be if it wasn't used.
Finally, you aren't likely to have better luck in getting a TV tuner to work that is made by any of the other manufacturers if you can't get one of them to work on your system. Since you can't upgrade the graphics chip being used in a notebook computer, if you want to use a TV tuner with a notebook computer without experiencing problems, the best avenue to take is to buy one that uses Intel chipsets on its motherboard, and ATI Radeon or Intel Extreme graphics chips.
Click here! to go to the information on TV tuners on this site.
I can't update the video/graphics card drivers for my Tiny notebook/laptop computer
[Note that Granville Technology, the holding company of Tiny, went out of business and into administration on July 27, 2005.]
Problem
I have a laptop computer that I purchased from Tiny. It has an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ processor, 1GB of RAM, and it uses a Mobility 9600 graphics chip made by ATI. The problem is that when I try to play Everquest 2, it won't run properly. The computer freezes at any time during the game. It stops immediately, and there is no sound, and the mouse and the keys don't work. The first thought that came to mind was that the graphics driver was to blame. By looking under Display Adapters in the Device Manager of Windows XP Home,I found out that the version being used is 6.14.10.6378, dated August 12 2003. I tried to obtain an update from ATI, but came up with a message that said that I had to obtain the driver update from the computer's manufacturer because notebook computers are specifically customised by each manufacturer to match the specifications of each particular computer. I then tried to obtain an update from Tiny, but soon discovered that the company doesn't have any drivers that are dated after 1999. I got no reply from my attempts to contact Tiny's technical support from its site, and I don't want to have to pay £1 a minute on premium-rate calls just to find out that there is no update available.
Answer
Computer manufacturers such as Time Computers and Tiny, which are part of the same group, really have them made in the Far East by manufacturers that don't create driver updates. They just create the drivers that ship with the laptops. This can also be the case with spare parts: they don't carry a stock of them.
The chances are excellent that even if such a manufacturer makes the drivers available for download, they will be the same versions that were installed on the computer.
In short, if you want to update it and be sure that replacement parts are available, you should buy a notebook/laptop computer from a brand-name manufacturer such as HP, Dell, Toshiba, Packard Bell, etc.
In your case you are in luck, because someone called Angel Trinidad creates his Omega drivers that are based on the official ATI drivers. He modifies the drivers for gaming performance and provides installers that make the installation easy and which cover all of ATI's video cards/chips, including ATI's Mobility series. They provide mobile and overclocking options into the bargain. They are available free of charge, but you can make a donation at his site: http://www.omegadrivers.net/
If you want to keep to the official ATI drivers, you can use the Catalyst drivers for the 9600 Mobility series. They lack the special mobile options, and they are certified by the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL), but they should work properly. However, the installation won't be as easy as installing a customised driver.
Fortunately, the Catalyst drivers can be modified to add Mobility options and make the installation easier.
For laptop computers that use non-ATI drivers (nVidia drivers, etc.), you can try searching for other computer manufacturers that make laptops that use the same graphics chips. If a driver dated later than the one you have can be found, try using it.
How do I connect a notebook/laptop computer to a projector and how do I make it display PowerPoint presentations?
Question
As I want to buy a laptop/notebook PC, I need to know what kind of connection I need to have that allows it to be connected to a digital projector. The software I want to use sends a different picture to the projector than the Windows screen that goes to the laptop's screen. It requires dual-monitor support. It's minimum hardware requirements are 1GB RAM memory, 2GHz dual-core processor, and a video card with 256MB of graphics memory.
Answer
Any laptop/notebook computer that is running Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/Vista and which has a D-sub VGA or DVI graphics port supports an external, extra display/monitor. At the time of writing this, you could buy a laptop with those hardware requirements for under £600/$1200 in the UK.
All projectors - digital or analog - have a standard D-sub VGA port of the kind that connects a standard analog LCD flat-panel or CRT monitor to a computer's video/graphics card.
Visit the Video & Graphics pages on this site for images and explanations of the graphics ports mentioned here.
Which of the other available ports are provided depends on the cost of the projector. All projectors are expensive, but some are significantly more expensive than others. If the projector has composite video or S-video connections, they can be used to connect a range of devices such as DVD players and games consoles. Some projectors have component video and digital DVI ports.
Projector Central is a good site for information on projectors. Here is an example of what it has to offer:
So what is "Component Video" anyway? - http://www.projectorcentral.com/component.htm
Here are some of the ports found on most digital projectors: DVI-I, VGA-In, VGA-Out, USB 2.0, RS-232, S-video, (composite) Video (a round yellow port that is found on most television sets for connection to a VCR recorder), Audio-In, and Audio-Out.
Most laptop/notebook computers have a standard D-sub VGA port that can be used to attach any external monitor or projector. Some notebooks also provide a digital DVI port, but if you buy one that only has a DVI port, you can use it with a DVI-equipped projector, or attach it to a standard analog VGA projector by making use of an inexpensive DVI-to-VGA adapter.
DVI-to-VGA Adapter - http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase8.2&prodID=B84437
If that link doesn't work, or you live in a country for which it doesn't apply, you can make use of the Google search box at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled) to search for dvi-to-vga adapter. You can also make use of it to search for more information on any of the other terms used here.
Your new laptop will no doubt have Windows Vista pre-installed, but the following procedure is much the same in Windows XP. For more information on how to do it, read an article called Using Multiple Monitors with Windows XP on Microsoft's site.
To get the laptop to display the correct image on the correct display, turn the projector on and plug the display's cable into the laptop's monitor port. Windows Vista should display a New Display Detected window. Click the "Show different parts of my desktop on each display (extended)" radio button, and then select whether the external display is on the right or left of your laptop, then click OK.
The external monitor's default screen resolution may not be the correct one for your projector. (Visit the Monitors pages on this site for information on screen resolutions and how to set them.) To change it, use your mouse or touch pad to right-click on an empty space on the Windows Desktop, and click Personalize. Next, click the Display Settings link, which should show a graphical representation of your laptop's screen and your external monitor. Click on the Identify Monitors button to find out which monitor is number 1 and which is number 2. Now click on the icon for the external monitor and adjust the screen-resolution slider to the correct resolution. Click OK and you should be set up properly.
MultiMonitor Support and Windows Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/multimonVista.mspx
If you need to know how it can be done in Windows 98 or Windows Me, use a search term such as two + monitors + "windows 98", as is, in the Google search box provided at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled).
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