Nvidia Go Boom (Graphics card crap)
Count Four:
Windows XP SP2 Media Center
Nvidia GeForce 6150LE
Computer crashed randomly during normal operations. Computer crashed repeatedly on Windows boot up, requiring repeated attempts to get Windows to start. It didn't crash in Windows Safe Mode; after awhile in Safe Mode, it booted Windows in normal mode just fine.
I've narrowed this down to the graphics card, via PC Doctor. All other diagnostics turn out fine; attempting to run PC Doctor test on the graphics card causes the computer to crash as soon as PC Doctor's test animation starts.
Okay, so I need (probably) a new graphics card. I'm not surprised, this machine isn't exactly new.
(I'm curious, though, exactly why this is happening--what goes wrong with a graphics card that makes it start shitting the bed?)
But what I really need to know is HOW do I find out what new graphics cards are compatible for this machine? What info do I need about the machine? What info do I need about a potential new graphics card? I'll probably be ordering a new card over the internet, rather than taking the machine to a computer repair shop or something like that, so it'd help if I know how to get these infos myself.
In the meantime, what can I do to reduce crashes with the failing card? (I need to back shit up, which might be kind of hard with the computer biting the big one at random moments.)
Hegelian:
You would need a test bench and specialized equipment (and knowledge) to determine which circuit or component of the video card is failing. Although, if the fan is not spinning when the machine is running, that would be the obvious first place to start.
The GeForce 6150LE is a graphics controller integrated into a motherboard with an nVidia nForce chipset. Do you actually have a stand-alone graphics board that plugs into a socket on the motherboard?
Assuming that the motherboard in your PC will accept a stand-alone graphics card:
To choose a new video card, you need to know how old the PC is; i.e., is it so old that it requires an AGP card or is it sufficiently new to use a PCI-E card? You can probably get this information from Windows's Device Manager (right-click the My Computer icon, choose Properties, select the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button). Under Display Properties, your graphics controller will be listed. If it doesn't state AGP or PCI-E, Google the part to find out. Alternatively, you can right-click on the desktop, choose Properties to open Display Properties, choose the Advanced button on the Settings tab, and choose the Adapter tab to see your graphics controller (video card). If neither of these options gives you the interface information (AGP or PCI-E), you should open the case and find the model number printed on the motherboard, and then look up the specifications at the manufacturer's Web site.
If you need a PCI-E card, then it's pretty easy to make a choice. Tom's Hardware has a handy monthly feature on "best video boards for the money" for a variety of budget levels. At the present time ATI's Radeon HD 4600 series is excellent value for the money, particularly the HD4670 at around US$65. Although not from this series, we have both an RX3870 and an R4830 from MSI, and they have been excellent performers at attractive prices.
If you need an AGP board, your options are quite limited, as this is now an obsolete technology. Although you can buy new AGP boards, the AGP versions of ATI's HD-series boards are reportedly plagued by bad AGP drivers, so your best bet is probably eBay, where you can get a high-end Radeon X800-series board for less than US$100.
If you cannot install a stand-alone video board in your computer, it is time for a new PC. Given the age of the GeForce 6150LE, it is likely that the upgrade path for your present machine is close to non-existent, and probably not worth the cost in comparison from ordering a new PC from HP.
I can't tell you anything about nVidia-based products. However, you will need to delete all the nVidia drivers and nVidia video apps from your computer before installing a new board (no need to delete the nVidia DDS tools if you have them). However, since your graphics controller is probably integrated with the motherboard, you will need to be careful to delete only the video drivers, and not the motherboard chipset drivers.
Assuming your motherboard has built-in graphics, you will need to disable the on-board graphics, either in the BIOS, by a jumper setting on the motherboard, or both. You will need the user manual for the motherboard to determine the correct procedure.
J. M. Pescado:
Woah, shit, they're up to 4600s now? I wonder how those compare to my aging X1950. I mean, I've known there were better for some time now, but I've just never had an actual REASON to upgrade, since everything runs at acceptable speed.
Hegelian:
Quote from: J. M. Pescado on 2009 December 10, 18:55:29
Woah, shit, they're up to 4600s now? I wonder how those compare to my aging X1950. I mean, I've known there were better for some time now, but I've just never had an actual REASON to upgrade, since everything runs at acceptable speed.
Actually, the 4000 series is (now) a mid-range line. The top line is the HD 5000 series.
The new GPUs have more renderers and pixel pipelines (especially the latter) than the older boards, and they support DX10 in hardware. In some ways the most attractive feature is that many of them offer lower power requirements (hence less heat and noise) than older boards with equal or lesser performance.
For example, a typical X1950 Pro features the following:
Core Clock 575MHz
PixelPipelines 12(36 Pixel shader processor )
Memory Clock 1380MHz
Memory Size 256MB
Memory Interface 256-bit
Memory Type GDDR3
The MSI R4670-MD512 features:
Core Clock 750MHz
Stream Processors 320 Stream Processing Units
Memory Clock 1600MHz
Memory Size 512MB
Memory Interface 128-bit
Memory Type GDDR3
Price: $65.00 less $10 mail-in rebate
The MSI R5970-P2D2G features:
Core Clock 725MHz
Stream Processors 3200 (1600 x 2) Stream Processing Units
Memory Clock 1000MHz (4.0Gbps)
Memory Size 2GB
Memory Interface 512 (256 x 2)-bit
Memory Type GDDR5
Supports DX11 in hardware
Price: $650.00
Speaking of good old technology, for an AGP machine I have just picked up from eBay a new X850 XT. This was the most powerful gaming board available when it was released, at a MSRP of US$550. I got it for US$65 shipped. ;D
J. M. Pescado:
I wonder what the purpose of all those new cards is...because I haven't encountered anything that doesn't run on my aging X1950 at full settings.
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