back from a long hiatus with a new computer and Video problems

[Captfish]

How do i put my direct X back to 11?

[FLS]

Don't assume you need a new power supply. Find out if you actually do based on which video card you look at. Also I'd wait for Skuzzy to check in before making any final decisions.

Your DX is still at 11. Installing DX9 does nothing bad to your system and does not need to be removed. Note your DXdiag still lists DX11.

[ink]

there are older low power GC's out there...I got the ati 4830 1 gig card that is very low wattage usage.....for under 100$

they are very easy to install....before you install the card,  I think you may need to go into your BIOS and shut off the on board graphic chip.....

[gyrene81]

Oh well, No AH for me. I tried to make a come back. Guess I'll again in another few years when i upgrade.

Thanks for the help anyway. 

don't give up so easily there. like fls and ink said there may still be some hope. you may not be able to run ah in full eye candy but you might at least be able to play without all the strange graphics.

[Captfish]

OK I pulled my graphics card from my old pc.  an geForce 8500gt 512mb PCI-e?  I plugged it in to its slot but when I did the computer wont startup at all, so I think there is a power conflict, maybe a jumper needs to be changed to disable the on-board video chipset...anyway I am going to contact Dell and see what I need to do to hook up the card.

[FLS]

Did you disable the onboard video in BIOS, then shut down and install the video card?

[Captfish]

Dude that's the weird part. when we looked in the Bios there  were no options for disabling it, in fact it didn't even look like the computer had any video hardware at all. also My 600 watt power supply does not have enough connections on it to work with this computer so i need to get another PS, and I might just look at newer video cards while at the PC parts place. I'll get them to install it too if so.

Any not too pricy video cards you suggest? what specs should I look for?
the one i have to use is an EVGA Geforce 8500gt 512 mb. i was thinking maybe i want something a little newer?

[FLS]

Contacting Dell sounds like a good idea. The video card you have now should work. I would try that first before buying anything new. You just need to find out what to do about the onboard video.

[gyrene81]

with that dell, when you put a video card in, the onboard is disabled.

[FLS]

Just to be sure I'll ask if you moved the monitor cable to the video card and didn't keep it on the onboard video connection?

[Captfish]

I has hoping skuzzy was going to chime in, but I guess since he didn't it means we figured out the problem.

[Skuzzy]

Pretty much.  I am reading it and if I can think if anything to add, I will, but seems you are getting some good support from the community and I do not want to interfere.

There are people in the community who know more about OEM computers than I do.

The base problem you are having with the Intel chip is of some conern for us.  A screenshot of the problem would go a long way to helping us debug it.

[Captfish]

I am reading it and if I can think if anything to add, I will, but seems you are getting some good support from the community and I do not want to interfere.

ok great    Thanks, for chiming in.

A screenshot of the problem would go a long way to helping us debug it.

[Skuzzy]

Is it just the icons?  What game settings are you running (video and graphic detail)?

[Captfish]

It is only the icons and crt+I screen. All player icons and names appear grey and the will flash there respective color (red/green) as they move across the screen, but they are mostly grey. I have run the setting at all levels and it always happens. I can max out everything and the game still performs fine except the icon colors, or i can reduce everything texture to 128, min visabilities all shadows and reflections off everything min. and it still happens. quite strange.