Video Card Upgrade

[MikeM1100]

I'm looking to upgrade my video card but my system is a Dell 4600c and i haven't been able to find a card that is small enough to fit. Does anybody have any idea where a card for my system.

Thanks,
Mike M.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

right well its AGP....whats in there at the moment? or does it have on board?

i would summise that any single slot sized cars should fit, this is a media style pc right? im sure something like a 6600GT would fit, but depends on what your wanting to do. are u wanting gaming performance?


EDIT....oh wait, ive just seen a pic, its pretty small lol

is this the insides?

if so, then man it doesnt even look like its got anywhere to put a gfx card ,

EDIT2: better pic on this page

 

[otispunkmeyer]

ok here you go

"One reason is that Dell's $70 Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 adapter -- the only alternative on the company's Web site; the full-size AGP cards available for the regular Dimension 4600 won't fit -- is stuck at the same DirectX 7 level as the built-in 865G graphics"

basically, due to the width of the case, if you want a graphics card then a half size card is needed, and according to the site in my second link, the only one dell provide is the GF4 MX420 which is OLD

 

[otispunkmeyer]

having a quick look around your basically limited to a small selection of half height cards. and the most powerful so far is a FX5200 or Radeon 9250 (both of which can be had in half height form)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/FX5200_Series.html <- half height FX5200
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/7000_Series.html <-- half height Radeon 7000
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/9250_Series.html <-- half height 9250

 

[MikeM1100]

none of the ones I see there look thin enough am i missing something?

here is what my card looks like now http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9420/pict30582ni.jpg

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: MikeM1100
none of the ones I see there look thin enough am i missing something?

here is what my card looks like now http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9420/pict30582ni.jpg

hmm , the ones i linked are half height PCB's, they look the same size as your PCB (width wise)

but i see yours has a very short back plate also, while the half height cards u buy from the shops have full height back plates. i mean you could buy one, then saw off the bit u dont need.

id imagine thats a Dell specific size of back plate too . infact being dell i wouldnt be at all suprised if the card is actually a custom PCB that is only made for dell

 

[otispunkmeyer]

going by the cards that are possibly available to you i dont even think its worth upgrading

what are you wanting to do with your card? the one you have now serves its purpose well, its simply displays crisp 2D images which is all u need for a media centre

 

[otispunkmeyer]

well basically if those ones i linked dont fit (you'll have to check sizes....should be on manufacturers web site) then your SOL buddy.

chances are thats a part specifically made for dell, for that computer

 

[MikeM1100]

Well I pretty much just wanna run Microsoft FS2004 better than I can now and some of that requires a Directx9 card is a dx8 card.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

that card u have know is a dx7 class card . of all the possible cards the FX5200 is the only dx9 class card .but its dx9 performance is complete rubbish .i think your stuck

 

[MikeM1100]

actually the card you mention earlier is not the card I have mines he GeForce4 MX440 64mb
but i agree that my best option seems to just not do anything

 

[jevans64]

You could probably pick up a decent case/motherboard combo for around $200 and spend another $150 to $200 on a decent video card. You should be able to gut that 4600c and use the components for a new system.

FS2004 rocks in either of the systems in my sig. That little Shuttle cube I have KICKS A$$ for the size.

EDIT.

This 6200 MIGHT work but you would have to cut off the VGA part and place it in the next slot. :lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121542

In the Newegg comments someone EVEN did the modification and put it in a Dell 4600C!!!

Albatron IS coming out woth a low profile 6600 soon.