Graphics card recommendations

[oldwheat]

I'm assuming that my video card has gone down the old 'crapadero' & am seeking suggestions for a replacement. Something game orientated naturally. Just for the record, my PC started off showing geometric patterns on the screen but is presently just black. Any backup assesments from you PC gurus?

[SgtT]

It might be helpful to know what type of card that you have now and if it is AGP or PCIe.

T.

[Dirtman]

.
Yo Wheat;

Is the trouble with the video card or the monitor?

- don't guess ... isolate the problem:

Try unplugging the monitor from the vid card & plug it into the VGA port on the motherboard. (then reboot PC)

If you can now see stuff - then your vid card has a problem.

If the screen is still black - try another monitor; if you have one lying around (monitor might be dead)



.
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[oldwheat]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I had tried another (good) monitor, no change. The card in question is a GEforce 5500.

[Devildog73]

I like my nVidia Geforce 9800GT with 1 Gig vid RAM.

[alpha_1]

Like, DD, Larry, I use an Nvidea GT, though mine is an 8600 500meg ram.

[SgtT]

Am I right to guess that it's an AGP card, is it the 128 or 256 meg version? I may have an AGP Geforce 5200 or 5700 lying around, I'll check in the next few days, if I have one it's yours.

T.

[Wulf190]

I'd go with this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102851

Its an ATI card, but much more advanced then your old one.

[Cowboy1968]

I use nVidia as well. Mine is a 9500GT 512mb DDR2 fanless unit. Won't ever go back to ATI.

[SgtT]

I would have to agree that the SAPPHIRE 100288L Radeon HD 4650 is a nice card. Make sure you look at the specs/requirements for whichever card you choose. For this one a 400 Watt or greater power supply is recommended.

T.

[simonu]

OW. I assume you have opened your box and cleaned all that Utah dust off the GPU heatsink and RAM chips.

[oldwheat]

Great suggestion Simon. I'll do it again just in case.