PC graphics cards

[big bad lindz]

I suspect that my graphics card in my PC has given up the ghost and I am going to ask a bit of a stupid question and I hope your replys will be kind.

I see from the various retail outlets that I can buy indivdual graphics cards. Are they all plug and play or will I have to purchase a specific card for my own PC type.

We dont use the PC for games, mostly for emails & surfing and storing photos and documents so I dont think it will be a top of the range card.

I cannot tell you the model type as I am at offshore and at this time and my wife has told me she cant use the PC at all. It is a compack thats all I can remember.

We have had the PC a good number of years so I am not sure if the whole package is due for an upgrade.

Any advice?

 

Cheers,

 

BBL

[adamskiseal]

ill probably have one knocking about you could have. can check tomorrow if you like?

[adamskiseal]

What makes you think its the graphic's card? if its a built in card these rarely go, have you checked that all the cables are connected, your getting power to the monitor? tried it with a different screen? does the PC have VGA and DVI output?

[Schern]

Depends what type of port it has for the graphics card? How old is the PC? I would expect, unless its pretty ancient, that it's will be a PCI-e 16x port but it could be AGP if it's old.

[Bleeh]

Yeah, I'd be surpised if your issue is with the Graphics card, as most "Daily" programs (Internet/E-mail/Office programs) Don't require and won't call upon your graphics card to run in the first place. (Simplified)

What issue are you facing at the moment?

[big bad lindz]

Thanks for the reply guys.

As I said I am offshore at the moment and I can only go by what the missus is telling me.

Initally thought the fault may have been the monitor but she borrowed one from a freind and was having the same problem.

Apparently there is a lot of flickering on the screen and unable to read it no matter what program is in use. She has carried out all the checks that she can cables etc and run

the various fault finding/protection/defragging etc but no change. So this has made me think its the graphics card.

I get home next week so I will have a look at the insides and find out out what cards is in. The PC is about 8 years old.

 

Cheers,

 

BBL

[goodo123]

Virus? I know some viruses are designed to change your display settings and generally slow carp down. Wouldn't rule out a software issue just yet, maybe start up in safe mode... Runs with lower settings typically..

[station]

Cards do go and if yours is an HP Compaq then it is quite modern so will be pci express.

You could get your wife to check where the cable to the monitor connects out of the pc - either from a separate pci card slot or from the motherboard multi out connections.

If it is from a separate card then swap to the on board graphics connector (may be a different cable such as VGA where as a separate graphics card will be DVi or HDMI) this will at least identify if its the card at fault.

If it is the card then don't spend a fortune if you only use it for surfing the net and YouTube - you can get something half decent for around £30. You could leave it on the on board gpu but you will find the pc will run hot and fans will be running near constant (noisy).

Edited August 30, 2013 by station

[GingerCat]

When the computer boots it beeps, is it just the one or is there more or none.

Also it will show the boot screen in black and white, normally very quickly too, does this show?

 

Is the problem only present when windows loads and is it immediate?

Could easily be software but cards do go on occasion and it does sound like this one has, or at least the power supply has gone faulty,.

Artifacts are the tell tale sign in the lead up to failure in my experience (odd bits on the screen on occasion). Also does it happen after a while ie 5-10 mins or so after booting, could just need a blow out with an air duster or the card re seating due to creep.