6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Somebody PLEASE Help Me With Video Card Problem

by Steven Wagenheim
5 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
...before I throw my PC out a window.

Here is the situation in a nutshell.

My old PC (Windows 7 but a PS48000 mother board from like 2003) has a GeForce 5200 video card.

The card doesn't support DirectX 11, which is what Windows 7 comes with.

The newer cards aren't supported by my mother board.

I tried downloading and manually installing DirectX 9 (says it installed) but my dxdiag still shows 11 and the game I want to play still tells me I have to update my OpenGL driver. By the way, I checked that and diags says I have the latest one.

I ran GLView and where it shows the info for DirectX for my card it says NA.

I short, my card can't run any games that need DirectX.

Buying a new card is pointless (tried it, didn't work on my PC) because my mother board is just too fricking old to see it.

What can I do besides get a dedicated gaming PC (which is not an option because I'm broke)?

Or am I just S.O.L.?

I know I still have some friends here. Please help. I can't spend all day and night working on my music. I'll go stir bat crazy.

Thanks in advance.
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    In 2003, if memory serves, nearly all IBM compatibles were PCI. Some MIGHT have been ISA, MAYBE. ALSO, with PCI boards, there was often a special slot, I forget the name, but it was SPECIFICALLY for graphic cards. Some graphic cards NEED that slot. SO, if you look for cards, you should make sure that it works for the slots you have.

    I don't know about Windows 7, to this degree, but windows XP used the original basic VGA. Of course, VGA was very limiting so higher resolutions and colors had to use new features and THEN things would start to break.Have you tried lower resolutions?

    As for 9 being the latest version? I have a computer that I checked only a few days ago, and it has the latest version of IE! YEP, it is v8!!!!!! Now you might say STEVE.....YOU'RE CRAZY! The latest version of IE is 11! NOPE! The latest version is EIGHT, FOR XP! You may have the same problem. The latest version doesn't necessarily mean the latest version of that software, but the latest version of that software for that platform.

    BTW Windows 7 software WILL assume you have a newer processor SO, if you are playing games, you probably want a newer processor. ALSO, windows 7 64bit won't run on even some newer processors. MAKE SURE they are 64bit compatible. Again, though, they tend to be the faster processors.

    In short, you likely ARE SOL. Even if you AREN'T, I would suggest an upgrade. WARNING!!!!!! If you DO upgrade, I think 2003 MIGHT have been 232c, parallel, floppy, ISA, IR, MFM/RLL/SCSI. ALL of those standards are effectively DEAD! 232c CAN be done through a USB adapter. Parallel maybe could also. I would suggest moving floppy stuff to a CD, which should still exist. ISA/PCI cards are considered OBSOLETE. IR could MAYBE be done through USB, MAYBE. MFM/RLL/SCSI could maybe be done through a USB adapter. Of course, you don't need ANY of that unless you have associated peripherals. 232C, for example, was often used for a telephone modem. TODAY, most have ethernet which is better/faster.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9176213].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    .
    I short, my card can't run any games that need DirectX.
    If I understand correctly, "my card can't run any games that need DirectX" because the card is limited by the old motherboard?

    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Buying a new card is pointless (tried it, didn't work on my PC) because my mother board is just too fricking old to see it.

    What can I do besides get a dedicated gaming PC (which is not an option because I'm broke)?
    Would a newer, though pretty cheap motherboard help here?

    Just thinking.

    Joe Mobley
    Signature

    .

    Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9176544].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daones
    the cheapest replacement option would just be get a motherboard + new video card... Now days you can get both fairly cheap if you shop for the budget models... even the newer cards you can get under $100... but i guess that isnt an option since you are broke.
    Signature

    Diverse Link Building Package Get Improved Rankings That Stick - 20% Cheaper Prices to WF Members
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9176581].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by nationsubmit View Post

      the cheapest replacement option would just be get a motherboard + new video card... Now days you can get both fairly cheap if you shop for the budget models... even the newer cards you can get under $100... but i guess that isnt an option since you are broke.
      Steven,

      I just checked. If the board was sold 2003, there is likely a better than 50% chance the disk drive will NOT be supported! The first drive compatible with the current standard was created 2003, according to wikipedia. FURTHER, cards might not be supported. The highest level standard right now was apparently created 2004.

      Motherboards, older than 2003, WON'T work! They will be less likely to support the card, and won't be any more likely to support the standards. There IS a SLIGHT chance, VERY SLIGHT, that the card uses shared memory and you simply don't have enough memory on the motherboard. If THAT is the case, maybe upgrading it would help. As I recall,that was one of the reasons for the special graphic card socket. The PCI card slots end close to the rear of the computer. If THIS is one of those special card slots(and I believe there is never MORE than one on a system). The card slot would end several inches ahead of the others. It also looks different, as I recall.

      I am just trying to be as honest with you as I can be, given the info you gave us.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9176671].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        Steven,

        I just checked. If the board was sold 2003, there is likely a better than 50% chance the disk drive will NOT be supported! The first drive compatible with the current standard was created 2003, according to wikipedia. FURTHER, cards might not be supported. The highest level standard right now was apparently created 2004.

        Motherboards, older than 2003, WON'T work! They will be less likely to support the card, and won't be any more likely to support the standards. There IS a SLIGHT chance, VERY SLIGHT, that the card uses shared memory and you simply don't have enough memory on the motherboard. If THAT is the case, maybe upgrading it would help. As I recall,that was one of the reasons for the special graphic card socket. The PCI card slots end close to the rear of the computer. If THIS is one of those special card slots(and I believe there is never MORE than one on a system). The card slot would end several inches ahead of the others. It also looks different, as I recall.

        I am just trying to be as honest with you as I can be, given the info you gave us.

        Steve
        It has a hook or an L shaped end. They also sometimes change
        the slot color to brown or blue ... I believe asus even did green on the amd boards.

        if that helps any.
        Signature

        Selling Ain't for Sissies!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9176757].message }}

Trending Topics