I'm having a display adapter problem and would like some advice. Thanks.

[Audio_Al]

4/18/08

I have an HP 9680c and we have encountered a display problem which we believe is due to a malfunction in the display card.
The system card is an ASUS Nvidia TNT2 Vanta AGP Video Card. Clearly, this is an AGP slot card.

In trying to replace this card, I obtained a Nvidia PCI slot card. I believe that using the PCI slot for the display adapter should be OK.

However, when I arrived home, I found that the minimum system requirements listed on the box state that a 250W -- or greater -- power supply unit is required.

The power supply in the 9680c states that it has a maximum of 185W.

I have an inclination to just try it and see if it works. However, I have received conflicting advice. The salesperson who sold me the board cautioned me that attempting to use this card in an underpowered system could result in damage to the card, and possibly to the power supply.

A salesperson in another store claimed that the first person “didn’t what he was talking about.” He said that it might possibly work, and if it didn’t, there would no damage to anything – it just wouldn’t work.

In another store where I was still searching for the replacement adapter, TWO people advised that they would just try it and claimed that there was no likelihood of any damage, and again, the worst that would happen would be that it wouldn’t work.

So, I would like to go ahead and try to solve the problem with the board we have on hand, but we don’t want to risk damaging anything. I’m puzzled as to whether anyone out there could provide any advice based upon your personal experience.

Respectfully,

Audio Al (husband of Radio Lady)

[DaveJ]

1. A power supply cost $15

I'm not recommending THIS one but here's an example:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0259717

However, I personally doubt damage would be done to the card or the PC at any rate. Just my guess. I've put too much load on my power supplies many times and it just results in device or two not turning on, no damage.

I wonder what the actual current draw is of the video card. If you only have one hard drive and one CD drive it may be okay. You just need to add up (or make an educated guess at) the total wattage of the connected peripherals.

[Gore1FL]

2. I'd return it

either is is PCI express, which is compatible with AGP.

Or is is PCI which is 33Mhz and therefore crap.

IMO if I am going to replace an AGP card, I'd look to find a speicific AGP card made by ATI or Nvidia with 256 MB. Ithing the 9800 seriesis ATI's best. Don go for one designaterd as LE either -- you'll want a XT.
Complain to whoever sold you the card when you return it about employee training.

It may not break, but it surely won't work. You won't likely find anything AGP in a retail store anymore. If you do, it is probably a piece of shit.

If I am not mistaken the 9800 XT Radeon series of ATI was about the best prior to the move to PCI express. For PCI express I'd currently go with Nvidia.

[Gore1FL]

3. Here is a non-ebay link

http://www.colordrives.com/radeon-9800xt-agp.html

[Audio_Al]

4. I did buy a PCI (not Express) and not running any games. We just wanted to get a few more miles

out of this old machine! Here's the thread that developed in General Discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3178290

I installed the card this evening and didn't have any problems at all.

Everything seems to be working fine. We know it's just a Band-Aid repair, but frankly, we don't have the money to spend on new equipment. We got a lot of good advise in the General Discussion forum before I tried to install.

Thanks so much to everyone who responded.

Respectfully,

Audio AL