topic Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card in PCs & Accessories

Trouble upgrading graphics card

Kreni — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 23:43:30 GMT

Hello,

I just tried to install a nVidia FX5600 (256MB) graphics card instead of the old (and originally installed) Ti4600 in my RZ-221.

As it has a 298 Watt there shouldn't be any trouble from that side as far as I read. But after uninstalling the old drivers, rebooting, taking the old card out, putting the new one in, rebooting again and installing the new drivers, the problems start.

As soon as I either try to change the graphics settings or to reboot the computer, my monitor tells me that it doesn't receive a signal.

So, the card works as long as I am in the first mode after physically installing the card, but as soon as I try to actually use it, I loose any picture.

Anybody able to please help with that?

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

kee-lo_ — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 03:50:12 GMT

You need a bit more power than that for one of those cards

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

Kreni — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 09:05:40 GMT

So that means that I can forget the new card? I seem to remember that I read somewhere here or at viao-village that you can't upgrade the power supply?

And is there really that big a difference between 298 Watts and 300? Because that's what should be enough for the card...

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

jumpsuit — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:46:25 GMT

sounds like you need the A Team!

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

kee-lo_ — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:07:53 GMT

Yeah the PSU is not upgradable, which is a shame
I think you'll need 400W for that card

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

William — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:22:20 GMT

The only solution I have thought of for upgrading the power supply and retaining the existing case, requires one fan (from old power supply?), suitable wire, soldering iron and heatshrink insulation.

Install a fan (airflow same as old power supply) where the old power supply went - connect to a suitable power source.

Extend all the cabling on the new power supply to a suitable length and shrinkwrap any soldered areas and have the power supply externally mounted.

Too much trouble for me but if you really want to retain the original case and install a snazzy video card?

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

Kreni — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:29:17 GMT

Yeah the PSU is not upgradable, which is a shame
I think you'll need 400W for that card

Well, according to the specs I need 300W and have 295,4 (checked the power supply in the case.) which in my untechnical opinion is the same.

I even tried starting the PC with disconnected DVD-drives, floppy and TV-card so I have the absolute minimum config and the least draw on power. Didn't make any difference, which looks really odd.

The computer (and the graphics card) works as long as I am in VGA mode or 800*600 safe mode. But as soon as I change anything, the card seems to quit working and if I don't turn it off, it will crash my PC after a minute or two.

I can't really imagine that the card works fine in safe mode, but doesn't in others due to not enough power?

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

kee-lo_ — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:56:24 GMT

Every watt is important, and thats why it's not working

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

William — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 17:25:57 GMT

Ok, clutching at straws now, so don't feel insulted:smileygrin:

Does the card require an additional power source to be plugged in from the power supply?

If "Yes" have you connected it?

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

Kreni — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 18:36:35 GMT

If "Yes" have you connected it?

Unfortunately nothing as simple as that. I triple-checked, but the only power-plug on the card runs from the fan to the board of the card. Not other plug on the card.

But I would still assume that disconneting everything but HD and graphics card should make up for the 4.6 missing Watts. At least to get the card once running. Still doesn't make a difference in the long run. But I'm still reluctant to buy a new case with a bigger power-supply and then finding, that that wasn't the reason 😞

I'll have to find some other computer to try it to exclude that the card in itself is faulty.

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

William — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:50:45 GMT

You need a bit more power than that for one of those cards


Wrong. 

The solution was quite simple. The card itself was malfunctioning. I got it exchanged and now the system runs fine.

Good of you to post back with the solution.

We will add it to the "list" of approved cards.

A happy ending - I like them.

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

Kreni — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 21:03:32 GMT

You need a bit more power than that for one of those cards

Wrong.

The solution was quite simple. The card itself was malfunctioning. I got it exchanged and now the system runs fine.

Re: Touble upgrading graphics card

kee-lo_ — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 19:31:00 GMT

Yeah thanks for letting us know

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

dguiny — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:45:50 GMT

i have the same question. my VAIO pcv-rs202 got an old FX 5200. i'll be interested to install an nvidia 6600 gt, but i'm more than afraid about the power supply 300w. does anyone already tried to install a new video card on such a system ??

if i've got to buy another computer to upgrade my vaio, then that's the first but also the last time a buy a "brand" pc. even the motherboard is "special" for sony.

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

tonez2006 — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:01:53 GMT

first off, if youre planning on forking out £100 odd for a new card, unless you can grab hold of the 6600 new geforce then go for it - but i must warn you, you'll need a monster PC to get the most out of it - especialy if youre going to be utilising it for gaming purposes which im assuming is the case.

I spent £159 on my nvidia 5600 when it came out, i had no idea bout the product although what enticed me to buy it was the fact it had 256MB of DDR video ram...clearly the big memory spec on the box did it for me. Also i purchased it for gaming needs, and at the time my Ti 4200 GeForce4 64mb was impresive - i just got greedy and figured 'now i wonder how much more eye candy i can get with a better card..' and rushed off to pc world and brought the most expensive card I could find on the shelves, in this case it was the 5600.

I better be upfront and honest here, I didnt really see SO MUCH of a difference in the visual effects side of things, perhaps a lot of the cards power hasnt even been tested by the games ive played. strangely enough, all my games are 2004+ old and run smoothly when i tested them on the Ti4200 64mb card. which was suprised me quite a bit.

There was one game that struggled to run on the Ti4200, DOOM 3 namedly. and it REALLY does want a lot of raw power so unless your father owns an oil rig and is biologicaly related to Mr Bill Gates - dont bother wasting money on PC peripherals heh.

I must confess, theres more to just processor speed, physical memory and FX acceleration when it comes to noticing improved gaming performances. Im sure things like bus bandwiths are a major contributor towards much of it, hence why i suspect the most dearest of motherboards out on the market may outdo anything we can readily purchase from a comptuer vendor (unless you buy a gaming orientated monster like the ones alienware and even dell assemble). I still think the new generation consoles outstrip what the current PC market has to offer because theyre technicaly just computers designed solely to deal with the execution of complex gaming code and nothing more. Thats why their architecture suits games.

I really have gone off course here, what were we talking about again ? oh yea...it was your 6600 and the PSU thingy bob.

Well my friend has a 6600 and i believe his PSU is 400watts or 450, i know 300 is not enough because thats the psu i got in my dell 2.2gh pc. Either way, do a little more research and if you are going to spend over 100 quid for a new card to play games, dont bother. - just save up and buy an xbox360.

best wishes
Tonez

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

tonez2006 — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:01:58 GMT

Re: Trouble upgrading graphics card

kee-lo_ — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 13:22:57 GMT

I agree with you Tony, some of these cards are REALLY expensive