I turn my PC off once every 12h. On for 12, off for 12. Its not good for it, but saves energy when I'm not using it.
Computer Problem...
- Thread starter 125gJoe
- Start date
I just gutted, I mean opened the Dell case after hooking up a CRT monitor and still having the major problem. It 'seems' the video card died.. There are 2 capacitors "oozing stuff" out of the tops of them! (any requests for pics and I'll show you..) Macro shots are fun..
Where's the best place to buy a new video card?
I'm looking at an All-in-Wonder ATI Radeon X800 XL AGP. Is this a "proven" video card?
Help...
:huh:
Where's the best place to buy a new video card?
I'm looking at an All-in-Wonder ATI Radeon X800 XL AGP. Is this a "proven" video card?
Help...
:huh:
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The all-in-wonder has a bunch of bells and whistles.... do you need all the video in/out ports? Get an X800 AGP/non=All-in-Wonder and save a few bucks. I've used ATI for the past 4 years.....good stuff. Currently: Radeon 9800XT 128MB. Lists for about $100 bucks on Newegg.com I think.
Any smoke? Did they blow their top? Pictures will be good. Do you have a power surge power bar on the PC?125gJoe said:
Just my 2 cents:
Dont try to put the 800XL in a Dell. The card is great and offers outstanding performance (do you play 3D games a lot ? - otherwise i dont see why you'd need it) but also needs a LOT of power that the standard DELL PSUs cant deliver (besides the inadequate cooling in a DELL case). Unless of course you are also gonna upgrade the PSU - which in the DELL case might invite a whole lot of other problems which i dont want to get into.
To get technical just for a short moment - check your PSUs output ratings (label on the PSU side). The +12V rail has to have at least 18 Amps output - prefarably more (20-24). The (combined) wattage alone doesnt mean anything - because the newer video cards draw most of their power from the +12V rail.
Also ignore video card vendors information that says (example): 300W Power supply etc. recommended. Same problem - you can have a cheapo 300W PSU with 5 Amps on 12V - or a brand name with 18. They just give these values so lots of people buy their cards - then run into problems and find out they have to upgrade their power supplies.
I came across this problem hundredfold over the past years so i am just trying to save you some grief.
EDIT: newegg is one of the best places to buy pc components. There are others but i was always pleased with neweggs fast shipping and excellent customer support.
Dont try to put the 800XL in a Dell. The card is great and offers outstanding performance (do you play 3D games a lot ? - otherwise i dont see why you'd need it) but also needs a LOT of power that the standard DELL PSUs cant deliver (besides the inadequate cooling in a DELL case). Unless of course you are also gonna upgrade the PSU - which in the DELL case might invite a whole lot of other problems which i dont want to get into.
To get technical just for a short moment - check your PSUs output ratings (label on the PSU side). The +12V rail has to have at least 18 Amps output - prefarably more (20-24). The (combined) wattage alone doesnt mean anything - because the newer video cards draw most of their power from the +12V rail.
Also ignore video card vendors information that says (example): 300W Power supply etc. recommended. Same problem - you can have a cheapo 300W PSU with 5 Amps on 12V - or a brand name with 18. They just give these values so lots of people buy their cards - then run into problems and find out they have to upgrade their power supplies.
I came across this problem hundredfold over the past years so i am just trying to save you some grief.
EDIT: newegg is one of the best places to buy pc components. There are others but i was always pleased with neweggs fast shipping and excellent customer support.
..Hannys_Papa said:
Wow..
I think it says 22 amps, so I'm not sure what to buy. (subject to editing.. gotta look again)
What video card is a 'step below' the X800 ?
The Power Supply looks like pain to replace.. Nursie, I'll get some great capacitor leakage pics as soon as I install Camedia Master on this laptop.
Some "ooze" was wiped off the two capacitors..... Just wanted to be sure it was "ooze".. :thud:
I have a hard time believing it'd be 22 Amps - maybe on one of the other rails (+5, 3.3) ?
If in doubt take a pic of it - or tell me which dell model it actually it is. What video card does it have in it right now ? I ask because DELLs really arent meant to be upgraded (except adding a stick of RAM maybe, or a HDD) - so best thing is to stay close to whatever is in it right now.
The "next step down" question is difficult to answer - it all depends on your performance needs.
If in doubt take a pic of it - or tell me which dell model it actually it is. What video card does it have in it right now ? I ask because DELLs really arent meant to be upgraded (except adding a stick of RAM maybe, or a HDD) - so best thing is to stay close to whatever is in it right now.
The "next step down" question is difficult to answer - it all depends on your performance needs.
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The 1W the fan uses is the least of your problem compared to 50-100 the actual card draws.
Also - dont be fooled into believing the ammount of memory is the main performance indicator.
There are cards with 128Mb who easily outperform a 256Mb card. Important things to look for are (in this order): core (video chip), memory bandwidth, clockrate, memory.
There are lots of cards who are sold in 256Mb versions that cant/dont actually take advantage of more video RAM just so people think they buy a (more) powerful card. LOL Examples are FX5200, R9600s etc.
Also - dont be fooled into believing the ammount of memory is the main performance indicator.
There are cards with 128Mb who easily outperform a 256Mb card. Important things to look for are (in this order): core (video chip), memory bandwidth, clockrate, memory.
There are lots of cards who are sold in 256Mb versions that cant/dont actually take advantage of more video RAM just so people think they buy a (more) powerful card. LOL Examples are FX5200, R9600s etc.
