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Video Card for Old Computer

J

jgonzalez

Junior Member
My computer is an old crappy Pentium 4 machine. It is a small form factor computer and only takes low profile AGP cards. It currently has this video card that came with it:

http://i28.tinypic.com/sztlzm.jpg

I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?

Is that best I can get? Remember it has to be AGP and low profile (or low profile "capable").

Also, how can I embed images into my posts?
 
Originally posted by: jgonzalez
I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?
Click to expand...
That card does not include a low profile bracket and you will lose the VGA D-Sub connector in order to use one. Only the DVI port and perhaps the S-VID output will be useable with a low profile bracket.

Your options are bleak. There is nothing low profile in AGP that will significantly improve on the NVS 280/285 you have. If there is, it will be obscenely expensive. Low profile market has 1/10th the selection at 5 times the price.

PCI Express low profile is a bit better than AGP, but not much.
 
If you're looking for a performance card it's probably cheaper at this point to build a new system rather than trying to find a low-profile card for an old slow P4 box.
 
Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.
Click to expand...
How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

Originally posted by: Powernick50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102730

3850 AGP i think is THE BEST agp card out there..

That being said..p4 prolly is a bottleneck.
Click to expand...
That one isn't low profile and it looks like it can't be adapted.

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Originally posted by: jgonzalez
I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?
Click to expand...
That card does not include a low profile bracket and you will lose the VGA D-Sub connector in order to use one. Only the DVI port and perhaps the S-VID output will be useable with a low profile bracket.

Your options are bleak. There is nothing low profile in AGP that will significantly improve on the NVS 280/285 you have. If there is, it will be obscenely expensive. Low profile market has 1/10th the selection at 5 times the price.

PCI Express low profile is a bit better than AGP, but not much.
Click to expand...
My monitor supports DVI and I could just use an adapter if I had to deal with a monitor that didn't.

Originally posted by: Denithor
If you're looking for a performance card it's probably cheaper at this point to build a new system rather than trying to find a low-profile card for an old slow P4 box.
Click to expand...
Well with my next paycheck I'm going to have enough to buy a new computer so the reason I'm upgrading this old one is to give it as a present to my little brother. With an upgraded video card and more RAM it could run Half-Life 2 smoothly. That'll run me about 100 bucks based on my current choices, so I don't see how buying a brand new computer is cheaper.
 
The very simplest answer is rather cheap as well. Pull the guts out of the current SFX size box, and transfer it all to a proper size case. Directron, eWiz, Newegg, ZZF, et al, all will have overstocks, scratch & dent, etc sales from which you can get a properly sized case, shipped, for less than $25 (yup, it will probably look cheap, and perhaps be flimsy -- so what?)
 
Originally posted by: jgonzalez
Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.
Click to expand...
How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS
Click to expand...
Is that one low profile? I see nothing to indicate it is. If it is, then I agree with you.

I like Kiwi's suggestion, too.
 
Originally posted by: Kiwi
The very simplest answer is rather cheap as well. Pull the guts out of the current SFX size box, and transfer it all to a proper size case. Directron, eWiz, Newegg, ZZF, et al, all will have overstocks, scratch & dent, etc sales from which you can get a properly sized case, shipped, for less than $25 (yup, it will probably look cheap, and perhaps be flimsy -- so what?)
Click to expand...

I don't think that would work because this motherboard is very specific to this case. It is a pre-built Compaq, so it's not just a regular Micro ATX motherboard.

Originally posted by: dderolph
Originally posted by: jgonzalez
Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.
Click to expand...
How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS
Click to expand...
Is that one low profile? I see nothing to indicate it is. If it is, then I agree with you.

I like Kiwi's suggestion, too.
Click to expand...

It's not low profile, but it can be adapted with a cheap $5 adapter they sell on that same Amazon page.

If you look at this picture: http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com...d7a02e3d1ee35110.L.jpg you see that I can just remove the cable for VGA out and put in the new smaller bracket.
 
that does not seem right, most cases have tons of holes for various placements and standards, I Doubt compaq would go and make a special motherboard with special hole configuration, even if they did, with a little work you can still make it fit (aka, drill holes in the case's backplate to attach the motherboard to, it is just a sheet of metal)
 
i vote for the 6200 you found at Amazon. it's decent, you're not spending too much
money upgrading older hardware, your brother gets a decent computer.
 
Originally posted by: taltamir
that does not seem right, most cases have tons of holes for various placements and standards, I Doubt compaq would go and make a special motherboard with special hole configuration, even if they did, with a little work you can still make it fit (aka, drill holes in the case's backplate to attach the motherboard to, it is just a sheet of metal)
Click to expand...

This is the machine: http://h18000.www1.hp.com/prod...349_div/11349_div.HTML (the first one)

Even if I could disassemble it, get the motherboard out, and use a new case (and new power supply), I don't think the hassle and especially the price is worth it just to use a full size AGP card.

Originally posted by: wwswimming
i vote for the 6200 you found at Amazon. it's decent, you're not spending too much
money upgrading older hardware, your brother gets a decent computer.
Click to expand...

Yea, unless anybody has a better idea, I'm going to get the 6200 and upgrade the RAM on the computer to the full 2GB. It'll make a pretty decent machine.
 
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