[crazychile]

I followed a recent thread on this for another member, but I'm not sure if the recommendations would apply in my case.

I think I need a new video card. I am using a 3 yr old Gateway Computer with a Pentium III processor and 384 MB RAM. I know the computer is ancient, but I want to try and get another year out of it. My current video card is an NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64. I recently replace my monitor that died with a new Sony SDM-HS53. Like the old monitor, there is still some slight grey bars that run horizontally across the screen where there is a line of text. I dont play games or DVD's on the system. I just want a good basic video card that will work with my system. I also use Adobe Photoshop occasionally.

Anyone have some words of wisdom?

 

[Born2bwire]

The slight gray bars are probably the two wires that hold the grille. This is characteristic of Trinitron monitors and is the only complaint I have of them.

Given you usage, my question is why do you feel that you need a new video card? The main reasons to get one would be for 3D rendering purposes. Admittedly though, I do not tax my system too much in the 2D realm (The occasional CAD program at most) and I guess Photoshop might require something more robust (I don't use it though). Off-hand I would think a Matrox card would be good for 2D graphics work.

 

[lan]

If they are these Trinitron lines, http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question406.htm , then you can't do anything about it. I would just save my $.

 

[crazychile]

I'm not sure what you meant by the grille wires. But I don't think thats what it is. My old monitor, (Gateway) developed the issue six months ago after working fine for over 2 years.

The bars look like someone took a grey highlighter and ran it all the way across the screen where there is text. It does it on all the lines. The effect on the new Sony is a lot more faint, but it is still annoying.

I guess I (may) want a new videocard because I think the current one is causing this problem.

Could this be a motherboard issue instead? If I do get a new videocard, are the contacts the same (same socket?) as the old one? or do I need to be conscious of that issue also.

Thanks for your help.

 

[crazychile]

Quote:

Originally posted by lan If they are these Trinitron lines, http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question406.htm , then you can't do anything about it. I would just save my $.

Naw, thats not it. They are a lot wider. As wide as the text, or any other graphic on the screen that is black. My new monitor is also an LCD.

Thanks for the info though! I learned something anyway.

 

[Fastjack]

If you get the grey lines with both monitors it really seems to be the video-card. Couldn't you just borrow one from another computer and try if the grey lines go away?

If it turns out you need a new card the choice really depends on your needs. If you need high resolutions and first rate signal-quality you should take a Matrox. With an Nvidia-card from some no-name manufacturer you probably get a low video-quality (fuzzy text etc.) at high resolutions (1280x1024 and up). I don't really know how good the quality of well-known brands (Asus, Gigabyte, ...) and ATI-cards is. I think I heard good things about Gainward though.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[penvzila]

MSI is decent (they're usually the cheapest) for gf4s.

 

[Born2bwire]

GF4 would be overkill for what his needs are. If you're just trying to squeeze another year out of the box, I would just see if you can't get another TNT2 unless you have complaints. It would be dirt cheap and then you won't have any misgivings about getting a brand new uptodate card when you get a new computer in a year. A TNT2 card runs like $10 - $15 on Ebay (man isn't that depressing, I remember getting one when they were the cat's meow.). And really if you don't need any better performance than I would just get one and save up for when you get a whole new system.

 

[crazychile]

Thanks for all the info. My wife brought home an old (1998) video card from work and I just put it in. The lines are gone, but it IS only a 16 color card. I'm going to reinstall the original card until I get a new one. The "test" card is so badly pixelated on photos (because of only 16 color?) that it is hard to stand. I might try to locate another card like the original

While were at it, my SB Live card is also having issues. I cant burn cd's anymore and there is no output from the cheap PC speakers. Any suggestions for a cheap sound card thats good? (say, about $60 max).

I'd like to keep this thing running to eventually use as a second computer (for my daughter) the LCD monitor will probably go to the new computer, and I'll put a cheap CRT on this one.

Thanks, you guys!

 

[D-EJ915]

Quote:

Originally posted by Born2bwire The slight gray bars are probably the two wires that hold the grille. This is characteristic of Trinitron monitors and is the only complaint I have of them.

Those 2 teeny lines are so small they're not noticeable unless you look for them, they're about 1/5th the size of a period of this font " . " on my monitor 1152X864 res., and I've had my monitor since 1997, so it's one of the first Trinitron monitors (it cost $750 if you wanted to know), I love it, but it sometimes loses red, which is annoying and completely throws me off (red shows up as black)

 

[raymondlin]

He probably can't use a current card anyway, the voltage are different now. If I were you, and if you don't do much 3D stuff, get a secondhand Matrox G400, the 2D quality of this card is amazing, better than the current crop of Nvidia Cards and ATI. I have it in my old P3 450mhz, and yes, I have a ATI9700pro to compare it with !

 

[Vertigo-1]

Quote:

Originally posted by raymondlin He probably can't use a current card anyway, the voltage are different now.

I've been out of the upgrading loop for quite some time now...what's some of the intricacies surrounding this? I noticed while reading a recent mobo review that they mention not to stick an older video card into a newer mobo (or maybe it was don't stick a newer video card into an older mobo)...so what happens if you do?

 

[raymondlin]

The older card needs more power, and if you put a new card in a old mobo (the mobo pumping out more power, 3.5V I think compare to 1.5v for the current card), it might fry it.

 

[wallijonn]

Quote:

My new monitor is also an LCD.

can it take a dvi plug?

did you remove all the old drivers and then install new drivers? what does it look like using the originla drivers? (Chances are that they are W9X drivers and not WXP drivers, though).

hit all the forums. someone is selling an old card, out there. or the dyi computer shops.

otherwise, are there adjustments that you can make on the monitor (like moire). if it's heat buildup, try scraping the old thermalgrease under the heatsink and putting a thin layer of new Radio Shack grease. Chances are the heat sink is using a thermal pad, or the thermal grease has dried up and is now caked on.

http://www.microtechcomputers.com/cats.asp?CatID=15
STB4400 $21.00

what DX version are you using?

 

[crazychile]

I'm bidding on another NVidia Riva right now on Ebay. If all goes well I might be able to get it for less than $20 including shipping.

- I may upgrade my soundcard at the same time. Is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz decent? I dont need anything fancy. Just something to plug the cheap PC speakers into and I burn CD's.

Thanks for all your help. Man, what would I do without you guys?