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

[Audio_Al]

I also put this in the Computer Support forum; let me know if that's OK. Can I put it here too for more people to see tonight (Friday). Radio Lady's computer is not working right. I kind of need some help fixing it. Posted by 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)

[Audio_Al]

1. Also, if there is any other site you can recommend for discussing this problem, it would be helpful.

Al

[Audio_Al]

8. Additonal info: The card box says it wants a PCI 2.1 compliant slot.

[Bozita]

11. try the forums here ...

http://forums.dealmac.com/

[coriolis]

2. Plug the card in and use it. Won't hurt a thing.

:D
edit: the PCI card will use less power than the AGP did!

[burythehatchet]

3. did you check with Video_Al??

[Audio_Al]

12. From now on, just call me Ambivalent_Al!

[burythehatchet]

.

:rofl::rofl:

[aquart]

4. You can fit an AGP into a PCI?

[Audio_Al]

6. I have an available PCI slot. The original card was inserted into an AGP slot.

[Captain Angry]

5. Did you get a PCI or PCI-Express card?

I don't think that PCI cards can even draw 250W. Sounds like you bought a much newer (and incompatible) video card.

PCI is a white slot, AGP is a brown slot, PCI-E is usually a black slot.

That said, the power requirements for gaming are going to be quite high. For standard desktop usage, it shouldn't draw THAT much, but it's still not a good idea to over draw your power supply. Other system components could fail.

Do you know which Nvidia card you bought? Is it a Geforce 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000 series? The first digit is the interesting one. The others just expand on the memory and performance of the card.

[Audio_Al]

7. The slot in the computer is a white slot. We're NOT doing gaming and...

The card I bought is e-Geforce FX 5200. Are you familiar with that one? What do you think?

[Captain Angry]

10. Ok, the 5200 shouldn't overdraw that system.

Since it is truly PCI and not PCI-E, you should be ok. I think the MAX that a PCI card can pull is like 135W, and under normal Windows usage, it should pull around 30W.

Just keep an eye out to make sure it doesn't get too hot. It shouldn't since it's not gaming, but it's more powerful than the HP was designed to deal with.

[Captain Angry]

15. I was concerned the store tried to get you to buy the latest.

If you'd bought an 8000 or 9000 series card, it would not have fit, and would want a tremendous amount of electricity and generate an amazing amount of heat.

The 5000s are nice cards. I owned a 4000 series, a 6000 series, am using a high end 7000 now, and as soon as I get a job, I'm treating myself to a 9000 card. :-)

[Audio_Al]

9. It's 128mb, by the way.

[kentuck]

13. Call Hillary.

She'll be up all night.

[Audio_Al]

18. Yes, she may be up, but I'll be asleep with another woman.

That would be Radio Lady.

Thanks, kentuck.

Audio Al

[kentuck]

34. it's all good...

that the Radio Lady is keeping you at home and out of trouble. You know what happens when you start running around with those whiskey-drinking and gun-toting women, don't you? :-)

[Audio_Al]

38. Yep, I know what would happen. I'd be drunk and shot.

:hi:

[Wcross]

14. I don't think it will work.

I have never seen a PCI video card, if you bought one at a store recently then its a PCI-E card which will not work in a pci slot.

[Captain Angry]

16. PCI predated AGP, the one he got is indeed PCI.

I'm surprised they had that old of a card in stock for him.

[Wcross]

19. I apologise, I just looked up the spec sheet for the FX series. It IS a pci???

Damn, I didn't think anyone sold those anymore. I think the power supply should be fine for that card.

[Captain Angry]

For his uses, the PSU should be fine.

If he were going to push some real 3D, that power supply would be unhappy.

[Wcross]

30. I agree, it should be fine for that card.

It will also be a "green" option, why have a 1000 watt power supply running when you can get by with a 175? My desktop has a huge power supply. I went out & bought a laptop so I don't waste energy while browsing the web or checking e-mail.

[Captain Angry]

36. That's what I use my Mac Mini for.

I can leave the supercomputer off until it's game night.

My electricity bill is down to $16 a month now thanks to that change. :-)

[Audio_Al]

17. Wcross, I would try it as long that I could have confidence that nothing can be damaged...

Not working is OK. The box does NOT say PCI-E anywhere I've looked.

Thanks for your comments.

Al

[Wcross]

22. I was wrong, it will work fine in your system.

When I saw your post about the model number I looked up the spec sheet and it is a PCI card. I thought they stopped making those ten years ago but apparently they still sell them. :banghead:

[Breeze54]

20. 185 W's?!? Get a new computer!! - You already answered your own question....

:rofl:

I have a crappy Gateway and it has a 300 W PS!

--------

"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."

YOU HAVE 185 W's!! Do the math!!

[Audio_Al]

21. Breeze, we know this is just a quick fix! We're just trying to breathe a little more life into it!

:hi:

[Breeze54]

24. That's what kept me employed as a Tech Support agent... customers like you!

:P :hug:

[Captain Angry]

23. He's conserving power.

I use a Mac Mini which draws around 60W.

Granted, your Gateway is probably drawing as much as his HP. The 300W rating is the maximum available. Standard usage should be sub-100W at the desktop. Only if you start pushing it with a serious game will you see usage over 100W.

Hell, my gaming rig has a 1000W power supply, but when it's not gaming, it's still under 100W draw.

[Breeze54]

27. Yes but mine CAN draw power...his will crash.

;)

[Captain Angry]

28. Only if he games. The 5200 card shouldn't draw over 35W

in Windows since it is a standard PCI card.

[Audio_Al]

25. OK, I'm going to proceed with the installation. Let's hope nothing goes awry.

The system is backed up onto CD. Let's hope for the best.

Thanks everybody.

We'd love to buy new computers even possibly a laptop to take on our trips. But we spent our budget on DENTAL WORK last year. Let's see -- I just did taxes, and we had a general dentist, two endodontists, one periodontist, and one oral surgeon take our $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ last year. RL just paid $1080 for hers. People have to be able to chew. We had no choice.

[BlueJazz]

26. I work with computers all day long. You'll be fine...although your...

power supply is fairly puny.
If you don't run a lot of drives, you'll be fine.

I would still buy a decent power supply sometime...I bought a 650 watt that has powered 4 different computers over the years..
In your case a 500 watt would serve you for years.. :)

Here's a 550 watt >>

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030

[Captain Angry]

29. Did you look up what kind of computer he's using?

No standard ATX power supply would fit in his chassis.

Those old Pavilions are tight and had proprietary power supplies.

[BlueJazz]

32. You're right.....Damn..it's one of THOSE Pavilions......I haven't worked..

..on one of those for 2 years. I thought they had just about all bit the dust by now.
He'll be OK with what he has but I'm still surprised one of those dinosaurs is still around...

[coriolis]

33. I've tie-wrapped ATX supplies onto the back of some of those old anchors

(I mean on the outside of the case)...it's lumpy but works fine. ;-)

[Captain Angry]

35. I've done some nasty stuff to make a computer work as well.

I just cleaned out a closet and found 28 hard drives, 4 chassis, etc.

[aquart]

39. Question related to answers in this thread.

Is gaming the only reason for a 500-600 watt power supply? Under normal surfing, how much power usage would I be racking up with a power supply like that?

[BlueJazz]

40. In my experience, it's not that a 200 watt power supply can't handle...

..everyday tasks....it's having to make them work so hard to do it.
Plus when you want to add peripherals you make the poor thing work even harder...and get hotter.
Heat is the main enemy of electronics.

I bought a large power supply not so much for running powerful games (Video cards) but just to avoid any problems with my motherboard. (S)

In a nut-shell, more powerful supplies tend to cost more BUT offer much greater protection against shorts, heat build-up and voltage drop-outs plus (Usually) much better filtered current. (No AC "Ripple")

But that's my opinion....

[Pastiche423]

41. Totally off topic...

I LOVE your sig line!

[Breeze54]

31. Here's a laptop and a desktop..pretty inexpensive...

http://www.geeks.com/pix/2008/ASPIRENB.html

$389.00 laptop !!


$249.00 !!



http://www.geeks.com/pix/2008/T180DEAL.html?cm_mmc=geekmail-_-daily_html-_-15apr08_ASPIRENB-_-ASPIRENBbannerT180DEAL

[Audio_Al]

37. ***Ahem, we have ignition, we have lift off.... Up, up, into space!***

Radio Lady and I thank you from the bottom of our elderly hearts!

Great suggestions. Excellent advice.

I'm putting this thread in my journal so I can find it again -- with your suggestions!

Respectfully,

Audio Al