Graphics card for win 2003 server

[JoeCDaMan]

I am trying to build a machine that runs windows 2003 server, I have all the other components selected, but the graphics card to use is a point of contention for me. I do not need a sophisticated / expensive card. I just want something that has drivers for win 2003, possibly x64 bit version. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also if there is a place just to look I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Drakkon]

are you using it as a server? or as a true workstation where you need something fancier than a Geforce2?

 

[JoeCDaMan]

It will be just used in a server capacity. I don't need anything fancy... so are you saying a GeForce 2 has win 2003 drivers and will posibly run the 64bit version?

 

[Drakkon]

i had no problem running a geforce2 off the base drivers that installed with win 2003

 

[JoeCDaMan]

That sounds great, I think I will need something more modern though. The motherboard that I have selected only has pci and PCI Express X16 slots available. Is there a pci e 16 graphics card that will support 2k3 server? I know its a tall order but again I don't need something super great, so is there something reasonable in price?

 

[MerlinRML]

Most servers that I've seen today come with an embedded ATI ES1000 chip. Before that, I saw a lot of ATI Rage XL. Prior to that, I recall seeing a chip by S3, but I don't remember which one.

So you're pretty much guaranteed to get an ATI driver or an S3 driver. I would expect that some of the older Nvidia cards out there would also be supported. Even if the driver is not included, you'll get a generic VGA driver working and you can load the correct drivers after that.

I'm currently using a Geforce 7300 in a workstation machine that is running a server OS.

 

[vhx]

There are only 64 bit nvidia drivers afaik. Do you guys just resort to using the standard vga driver off 2003 32-bit then?

 

[JoeCDaMan]

Yea I think that's what they are saying... and that may work for me as well, but at least I'd like to handle 1024 X 768 with 32bit colors.

 

[Drakkon]

It seemed to just isntall the standard which ran at 1024x768 then the first windows update got me the upgraded nvidia set which allowed for up to 1280x1024 at 32 bit on the card i used (MX400)

 

[MerlinRML]

The Standard VGA driver actually works pretty well in win2k3. Some people leave it there forever.

For myself, I use it long enough to get the appropriate graphics drivers loaded. The one thing the generic driver does not do well is command prompt text. Go to a cmd prompt and type dir. If you can watch each line draw on the screen, you're using generic drivers. I spend too much time at the prompt to wait for that.

 

[JoeCDaMan]

Ok, well thanks for the info, but all discussions about generic drivers vs. specific drivers aside, can anyone recommend a cheap pci-e x 16 card that has drivers for win2k3? I really don't want to make a purchase for a card that isn't totally supported by windows... who knows some time in the future I may need a higher resolution than 1024 x 768

Thanks

 

[GZeus]

I'm not 100% on this but someone here will know...

try this MSI 7300LE for $33 delivered at ZZF

More features than you need but the price is right.... if it works. Anyone know if this won't work??