Video Card Question

[Garhead1]

I'm new to breaking apart 'puters & to this board thanks to Codeyf

I'm trying to make some pretty basic SOHO machines out of Dell Optiplex 260's. I have 2 of them. I just need what I would consider basic video cards ( no gaming whatsoever) maybe some movie watching as I am upgrading to R/W DVD cd readers, but I even doubt that. What should I be looking for in the sale & rading room next dooor???
Thanks in advance for any advice
Keith

 

[xtknight]

That's an AGP system right?

Well really any video card will work just fine, like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125217

 

[Garhead1]

What is AGP??

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: Garhead1
What is AGP??

Wow...

Accelerated Graphics Port

Its there for graphics card

 

[xtknight]

Accelerated Graphics Port, the slot where you insert the video card into your motherboard. I need to know first if the PC has an AGP 2x, AGP 4x, AGP 8x, or PCI Express x16. The video card's interface will have to match what your motherboard has (there is some backwards compatibility with the AGP interface).

I can probably find out for you. Is it the Dell OptiPlex GX260 or OptiPlex SX260?

These are OptiPlexes with the video card ripped out I assume and you just need basic video? Are you sure the video isn't integrated into the motherboard? (all you have to do to check is boot up and see if there's any video with a monitor hooked up)

 

[Garhead1]

That guys is my problem both of these machine are freebee's & interesting enough when you boot up the sys will only allow the min resolulation of 480 x 6xx @ 4 bits. I went to Dell & downloaded new video drivers but that didn't help. yes the video is on the MB but I can't get it to work past the crap mentioned above so I was thinking of just bypassing it by using a v-card. I'm open for ideas & work arounds. They both had W2k with this problem so I upgraded them to XP Pro thinking that would also solve the problem.
Thanks again.

 

[xtknight]

Since you can boot up at all, can you run PC Wizard to detect what graphics port you have? Make sure to find out what rate the port is (2x,4x,8x or voltage if that's listed). If PCIe (I doubt it for that system), then rates would be listed as x1,x2,x4,x8,x16.

 

[Garhead1]

Thanks XT I'll get back to my priject when I get home on Tuesday.
Go Michigan!

 

[Garhead1]

OK I ran PC Wazard it has a Intel 82845G/GL/GV/GE/PE Intregrated. I didn't see the info you noted.

 

[Garhead1]

bump