Author Topic: Video Card help, AGP vs. PCI (Read 406 times)

najdorf · « **on:** June 17, 2003, 08:45:31 PM »

I just got my new Gainward Ti4800SE Golden Sample card out and went to install it. Guess what, it don't fit. Gainward doesn't have 24 hr tech support so I call HP and tell their tech guys I have an hp pavilion 514n. He takes off and asks someone, says Gforce 4 card should be compatible, then says I have PCI expansion ports and it's an agp card.

When I checked back at the google gear site, which is where I ordered the damn thing, all they have are agp cards.

I had no idea about the difference, been out of computer shopping for a while. My last computer was Packard Bell from 1996.

Suggestions?

blackfalcon4 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:53:41 PM »

HP? ohoh

Sounds like you have onboard vid with no agp port

basically in a nutshell, your screwed.

only advice I can give is you can probably get a gf in pci, disable onboard.

sorry it wasn't better news

Karnak · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:40:30 AM »

Hiya Bfalcon.

naj,

I'm sorry to say that finding a decent PCI video card really isn't possible. PCI just isn't fast enough.

If your computer is from 1996 you'll be wanting to upgrade soon. Fortunately there are cheap options out there. If you want my advice on it, just ask on squad night.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2003, 07:23:36 AM »

Just FYI Karnak. Most new HP Pavilions come without an AGP slot and have the video chip onboard.

Up until recently, they were using the TNT2 chip, and now they have switched to some Intel graphics chip, which uses system ram for the video.

najdorf · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2003, 08:54:25 AM »

What really burns me up was that when I went into Best Buy to get the computer, I specifically told the little goober who sold the thing to me I wanted it for playing on-line video games which are very graphics intensive.

His reply was that I should buy a system like the one I bought with decent overall processing capacity and then upgrade the video card. As a matter of fact, he tried to sell me an AGP Ti4200 that day. I wish I would have bought it and tried to put it in so I could have returned it immediately, now I'm probably stuck.

Pfunk · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2003, 10:05:08 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by najdorf
What really burns me up was that when I went into Best Buy to get the computer

Problem #1

najdorf · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2003, 10:32:51 AM »

Ya Pfunk, never again. Build my own next time.

Next, PNY makes an FX 5200 PCI card. Should I even bother, will it help. I only get an average of about 23FPS now, goes into teens on smoky airfield.

Chairboy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2003, 11:23:09 AM »

Buying a PCI video card now is going to be like spending $2000 to put a new transmission into your 1982 Toyota Celica. Sure, it'll work, but you'll regret it after a few months.

Keep the AGP card and get a new motherboard. If you go to a good computer store, they should be able to figure out a motherboard you can put all your current stuff on. Bring a list of the type of memory and CPU you have, that should be enough to get you a compatible motherboard.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2003, 01:15:32 PM »

The 5200 card is a bit slower than a GF2 Ultra. Even the lowly MX cards are faster than the 5200.

Modas · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2003, 02:02:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pfunk
Problem #1

AMEN TO THAT!!

Best Buy basically screwed me out of my last computer that I bought from them. I blew 2 motherboards in it and when I bought the computer, also bought an extended warranty (5 years).

So after the second MB died, I sent it in, they sent it back with the CPU out of the socket with several of the pins broken off.

The note that came back with the computer was... "computer has customer induced damage, not covered under warranty, remainder of extended warranty is voided"

WTF??? So I call the tech support place to squeak, went up as high on the ladder as the district manager for the midwest and they basically told me to screw myself. The tech guy at best buy wrote that I messed with the PC and that was it. My argument was,

"I have an extended warranty, why would I bother to try and fix it myself?"

So, I did a little research and found out the following. At the time this all happend, the computer was about 3 1/2 years old, basically obsolete. It would have cost $450 dollar to replace the MB with a new one (more than the computer is worth). And as it is my second return, and it is likely the MB will pop again, they would have had to replace my PC completely (3 time return policy)

So, they have the tech break a few pins, write it up as consumer damage, write off the warranty and thats it...

Unfortunately, I can prove none of it....

I will NEVER buy another item from Best Buy again. EVER. Even if I have to pay $100 dollars more for it. Best Buy will never get a dollar from me.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2003, 02:22:30 PM »

be careful of the extended warranties from best buy. I got a 2 year replacement warranty on a boombox I bought. turns out the warranty (about 15% of cost) isn't really a 2 year deal. it's ONE replacement as long as it happens in the first 2 years. so the first one goes out after 7 months and they replace it but then ask if I want to pay another $20 for a warranty on this one. no the 2 year warrant I already bought won't cover this one it expired with the first.

to my way of thinking, if I pay for a 2 year replacement warranty, then I should get a new one anytime it craps out for 2 years.

Pfunk · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:12:49 PM »

This is a great site to look at just to see how badly BestBuy screws people over on a daily basis, not to mention their employees. I worked there for 2 years while in college and what a chithole management was. It's pretty pathetic that 90% of the college kids that worked there could have run the store better than the 40+ year old ex used car salesman did. Screwed me out of back pay, gave raises but they wouldnt show up on the paycheck for 4+ months, and good luck trying to get the months worth of raises you were entitled to.

http://www.bestbuysux.org/

VAQ · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2003, 04:05:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by capt. apathy
be careful of the extended warranties from best buy. I got a 2 year replacement warranty on a boombox I bought. turns out the warranty (about 15% of cost) isn't really a 2 year deal. it's ONE replacement as long as it happens in the first 2 years. so the first one goes out after 7 months and they replace it but then ask if I want to pay another $20 for a warranty on this one. no the 2 year warrant I already bought won't cover this one it expired with the first.

to my way of thinking, if I pay for a 2 year replacement warranty, then I should get a new one anytime it craps out for 2 years.

Exactly what happened to me also, and I feel the same way. I bought a Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold from BestBuy and got the 2 year ex. warrenty. One of my kids zapped the stick (static electricity) after about 5 months and I returned and replaced. Found out that my replacement stick wasn't covered by the same warrenty as the original and I would have to purchase another warrenty blah blah. Annoying.

Having said that, I was just there a couple hours ago buying a power supply cord and an el-cheapo vid card.

Karnak · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2003, 09:24:22 PM »

Skuzzy,

Yeah, I know.

I would never recommend that anybody get a prebuilt system fromany of the big manufacturers. If naj wants my advice I will be telling him the parts I'd get with whatever budget he says he has.