jagged edges/card problem?

[flatiron1]

The other day I decided to play around with my video card settings and only changed a few things, ended up with jagged edges in cockpit frames. Set everything back to what I had before and it still had same problem. Did a restore back to prior to the changes and still jagged . Beginning to think maybe my card is going bad.

Anyhow I have tried all the anti aliasing tricks I know and have decided maybe this is the time for a new card. Picking a new card is a mystery to me and I hope if I put my specs up I can get some good advice. I already know I will need a larger power supply(250 watt now) 500 watt minimum I guess.




Thanks in advance for any advice on fixing what I have now or upgrading.


System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/10/2009, 05:28:03
       Machine name: JAMES-PC
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.090302-1506)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: Inspiron 530
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E6550  @ 2.33GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
             Memory: 3326MB RAM
          Page File: 683MB used, 6160MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 6.00.6001.18000 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8300 GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0423&SUBSYS_049410DE&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 1521 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 113 MB
    Shared Memory: 1407 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
      Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
   Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7824 (English)
      DDI Version: 10
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 14:33:00, 5963776 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp:


picture does not reaaly show the jaggs that well. shows up best on the main top caopy bar and the the vertical bars beside the gun sight

[BaldEagl]

You should be able to install any PCIe x16 graphics card.  It won't matter if it's a 2.0 card or not as they are cross-compatible.

I'd look at the NVidia 9500, 9600 or 9800 series cards depending on your budget.  You'll want GDDR3 or higher with the fastest core and memory clock speeds you can get for the respective series you are considering.  Stick with a 512 Mb memory card.  Respected brands include eVGA, BFG and XFX but Asus is making some pretty fast 9500 series cards.

PC Power and Cooling makes a 500 or 550W Dell upgrade PSU.

All of this is available on newegg.com.

[Getback]

I'm not sure of this but is vsynch on?

[715]

Although it's hard to tell (and JPEG compression can mess up edges), it looks to me like the AA is turned on in your pic, it's just not very good.  When I had an Nvidea card I recall the control panel had two different places to change settings: one for "general" 3D and one for specific programs, i.e. there was a separate location to change the values for AH (yes the Nvidia drivers I had knew about AH and would use separate settings when it detected AH running).  Perhaps look harder to make sure the proper level of AA (perhaps 4XAA?) is enabled for AH??  Just a thought.

[flatiron1]

would this be a good choice

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143185

power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009


plus how can I tell if they will fit my computer

[Getback]

would this be a good choice

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143185

power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009


plus how can I tell if they will fit my computer

Great big yes on the PS. Great price too!

Sorry, don't know much on video cards. I tend to favor ATI at the moment.

[BaldEagl]

would this be a good choice

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143185

power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009


plus how can I tell if they will fit my computer

Using a video card with 1 Gb of memory is going to reduce your available system memory to about 2.3 Gb from the 3.3 Gb you have available now.  That's part of the reason why I recommended you stick to no more than 512 Mb of GPU memory but in the end it's up to you.  The other reason I recommended that is that the 1 Gb cards typically have lower memory clock speeds and, in the end, offer lower performance than the 512 cards.

As to the PSU most Dells use proprietary motherboard connectors.  You'll have to open the case and see if you have a standard 24 pin motherboard connection and also measure the PSU to see it it's a standard ATX PSU.  If not then you're going to need to buy a PSU specifically built for a Dell.

[Masherbrum]

You have a Dell.   Consider this PSU:  The other PC&Cooling units stand a good chance of not fitting, this PSU will.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703016


As for a Video Card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143130

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130435

Both Companies have a very good RMA history and Tech. Support.   You cannot go wrong with either company, it's your choice as to what card to get. 

[flatiron1]

just talked to a dell representative and he has me really confused. He says I cannot put a larger power supply in my computer as it will cause damage. He did say these two video cards would work fine with the 300 watt ps  I have.

My head is stating to hurt LOL


 Radeon™ X1550 256 MB PCI Graphics Card from VisionTek
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Graphics_Cards/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1133766


XFX GeForce 9800 GT
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Games/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A2162309

This is the xfx on new egg which says it needs minimum 400 wattts ps

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323


He personally recommended the Raedon

[Masherbrum]

just talked to a dell representative and he has me really confused. He says I cannot put a larger power supply in my computer as it will cause damage. He did say these two video cards would work fine with the 300 watt ps  I have.

My head is stating to hurt LOL


 Radeon™ X1550 256 MB PCI Graphics Card from VisionTek
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Graphics_Cards/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1133766


XFX GeForce 9800 GT
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Games/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A2162309

This is the xfx on new egg which says it needs minimum 400 wattts ps

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323


He personally recommended the Raedon

The PSU I listed above is "Dell Proprietary" size.   It'll fit. 

If you get a 9800GT, go with the one I listed as BFG Tech smokes XFX in both Quality and Cust. Serv.   

[flatiron1]

why would the guy at dell tell me that I can't get a larger power supply? what I was understanding him saying was not the physical size but putting in more watts that what I have will cause damage.

[BaldEagl]

just talked to a dell representative and he has me really confused. He says I cannot put a larger power supply in my computer as it will cause damage. He did say these two video cards would work fine with the 300 watt ps  I have.

My head is stating to hurt LOL


 Radeon™ X1550 256 MB PCI Graphics Card from VisionTek
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Graphics_Cards/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1133766


XFX GeForce 9800 GT
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Games/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A2162309

This is the xfx on new egg which says it needs minimum 400 wattts ps

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323


He personally recommended the Raedon

First of all there's no reson that a larger PSU will damage your machine.  Damn I hate those 1st tier tech support guys.  So anyway, don't worry about that but you still need to open the box ans see what type of motherboard connector you have and measure the PSU.

The 9800 is the better of the two cards he suggested.  There is no difference between the one on the Dell site and the one on newegg other than the price.  Back to 1st tier tech support Dell's own web-site lists that card as compatible with:

Dimension XPS Generation 3
Dimension XPS Generation 4
Dimension XPS Generation 5
Precision WorkStation 380
Precision WorkStation 390
Precision WorkStation 470
Precision WorkStation 490
Precision WorkStation 670
Precision Workstation R5400
Precision Workstation T3400
Precision Workstation T5400
Precision Workstation T7400
XPS 600
XPS 700
XPS 720
XPS 720 H2C
XPS 730
XPS 730X

... none of which you have.  You will need a larger PSU to run that card or you'll either burn up the card or the power supply or both.

The ATI card is listed as compatible with your system but I'd personally follow the other route; bigger PSU + better card.  No wonder he recommended that one. 

The PSU Masher recommended is what you want if you need a special Dell PSU.

[Ghastly]

Using a video card with 1 Gb of memory is going to reduce your available system memory to about 2.3 Gb from the 3.3 Gb you have available now. 

What!???  It's been awhile since I last delved into video subsystem design, but last I knew (unless you have a crappy onboard video system that uses system memory for video - i.e. many laptops and low-end systems from commodity manufacturers like Dell) the video memory doesn't take up system memory space - the video card is accessed via a aperture (usually 256 MB).  Did they change the architecture somewhere along the line and I missed it?

And if so, then how could a 4GB card like this one even be viable?  Your 4GB 32-bit address space - 1GB for the system - 4 GB for video memory would leave you at a -1 GB available for applications.

http://www.techpowerup.com/95445/ASUS_Designes_Own_Monster_Dual-GTX_285_4_GB_Graphics_Card.html

The other reason I recommended that is that the 1 Gb cards typically have lower memory clock speeds and, in the end, offer lower performance than the 512 cards.

That I do agree with - until you need more video memory than you have, less faster is going to be faster than more slower.  The problem is that the way things are headed (speaking generally, not AH-specifically) for many of the newer games more slower is going to be faster than less faster because they seem to be targeting more RAM for texture caching.  And unfortunately, last time I tried to figure out how much memory is actually in use it seemed to be unreasonably difficult.

He says I cannot put a larger power supply in my computer as it will cause damage.

I'd call this BS.  A high-wattage power supply that is too lightly loaded may either not run or may over voltage - but if you load it appropriately for it's wattage it's going to provide exactly the right voltages to exactly the right places and will be indetectable to the "computer" from the lower power one it came with. (Overloading the lower wattage "cheapest-they-could-get" original supply by adding stuff is far more likely - especially if yours is one of the 1 weeny 80 mm 3500 rpm fan to cool everything - CPU, PS and case! - Dells).

<S>

[flatiron1]

Back to 1st tier tech support Dell's own web-site lists that card as compatible with:

Dimension XPS Generation 3
Dimension XPS Generation 4
Dimension XPS Generation 5
Precision WorkStation 380
Precision WorkStation 390
Precision WorkStation 470
Precision WorkStation 490
Precision WorkStation 670
Precision Workstation R5400
Precision Workstation T3400
Precision Workstation T5400
Precision Workstation T7400
XPS 600
XPS 700
XPS 720
XPS 720 H2C
XPS 730
XPS 730X

I asked him about that and he said it would be OK. makes you wonder don't it. Think I will call back and talk to some one else just for fun.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

why would the guy at dell tell me that I can't get a larger power supply? what I was understanding him saying was not the physical size but putting in more watts that what I have will cause damage.

He was either bulls..tting you or he just didn't have a faintest clue what he was talking about. Either way he should get fired.