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Problem With PC: Possible Bad Video Card?

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Posted: #1
I purchased a custom built HP about 7 years ago and for some reason I'm getting huge "black lines" when looking at the monitor. For instance... I see about 3 inches of dark lines... then a gap of a great picture and then another 3 inches of dark lines... and then a gap of a great picture. I thought it was my monitor but when I switched it... a GOOD monitor had the same black lines in it. So, the problem isn't the monitor... it must be the video card right?
 
I don't have it hooked up right now... but the operating software is Windows ME... and it had a nice Nvidia Geforce card... don't know which model number. Everything else on the computer is working fine... my question is... do I just replace the video card? I heard something about replacing the motherboard? I don't know what to do really? Is it easy to fix?
 
Plus, if it's just a video card... I would want something similar to that Nvidia GeForce card... but I'm sure find a similar card to that one would be hard to find?
 
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Posted: #2
A good Nvidia video card is relatively inexpensive. You can get it for around $50-$80 bucks. This is for an upgraded card too.
 
Regarding your problem there, I still think it's the monitor. I'd hook it up to a 3rd monitor first before I go ahead and get a video card, if I was you.
 
Oh yeah, check under device manager to see if your video card is functioning properly.
 
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Posted: #3

Thanks kickin  I guess the correct term is "shadowing" when a video card is going bad? It really isn't the monitor.

I'm just trying to figure out what to do with this system?

It's a Pentium 4 with only 256 MB of RAM and I think the Video Card was a Geforce 64MB...

It's hard to believe that any Pentium 4 computer has RAM and a Video Card that sh#$ty? LOL Anyways... I heard that you could actually buy something that over powers the motherboard... meaning if you buy newer technology like 1 GB of RAM and a Video Card that can handle 256 MB that the computer's timing could still be off? How can I do a check to just get the basics to do an upgrade for my computer? Any websites? Thanks!

 
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Posted: #4
If you have tested it on two different monitors that pretty much give you the info you need.  But yeah, if you can find another one test it on that one also.
 
As KIckin said, video cards are not expensive.  Well, depending on what you want to that is. 
 
Take a look inside your computer to see what kind of video card you have.  If it's a white slot it's a PCI card.  If it's brown it's a AGP card.   
 
7 years old it's probably a PCI.  Maybe.....
 
Go ahead and get a 256 card and while you are at it, put at least 512 more memory in it, since you will have it open.  At that age it probably takes PC 133 memory.  Maybe PC 2100 or 2700
 
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Posted: #5
Thanks Lipps for the info
 
Here's what I have so far...
 
1. The card is in the Brown Slot.
 
2. The RAM is 64MB/4d nonECC. All my RAM spots are taken. I have 4 slots. Each RAM is 64MB.
 
What should I do? I believe in quality... what RAM should I purchase and what should I go for? Isn't it true that if you totally overload the PC with newer technology... and older motherboard may not respond properly?
 
Thanks.
 
 
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Posted: #6
Moneyshot
 
Apparently your system is pretty much bare-bone, why not just get a new pc?
 
These days, you can get a decent desk top for around $400. For you to upgrade your current memory and video card is likely to cost you about $150 or so. Why not fork out a few hundred dollars more for a brand new desk top with good memory, burner, hard drives,  and good upgrades built in. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
 
 
 
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