Graphics cards and power requirement

Hello all!

A friend asked for help in upgrading his Compaq Presario 6000 desktop with more RAM, a FireWire / USB2.0 combo PCI card and a graphics card. I have managed to get everything working, except the graphics card.

The motherboard only supports AGP 4x and I found a card specifically saying 2x, 4x, 8x > Asus GeForce 6600TD 256 MB.

The TFT monitor doesn't even come on (I did uninstall the previous drivers before hand) and it doesn't matter if it is connected to DVI or VGA. Yesterday evening, I gave up but returned at noon today. When I powered up the computer, the screen came on and the computer booted OK. New hardware detection and then a lock up. I had to reset the computer and when it tried to boot, no monitor activity.

I checked the power supply, 200W ...... ...... and a search of the Asus web site revealed a general recommendation of 300W minimum. Is it possible that the card doesn't even run on 200W?

Thanks for your time,
Christer

Edited: Not Asus but NVIDIA

 

The lack of power is very likely the cause. I went though a very similar issue with a Dell. Tried to go from an ATI9200 to a 9600 and it just wouldn't work...Good luck trying to find a PSU...

 

Steve,
thanks for confirming my suspicion!

I always thought that all ATX PSU are the same size but after comparing the measurements I took on my friends PSU with one that I will borrow from an ongoing build ...... ...... well, I understand your comment:

Q-TEC = 150x140x85 mm (WxDxH) W and H seem to be "standard" but D varies a few mm on other PSU's

Compaq = 135x153x97 mm (WxDxH)

I will soon find out if the Q-TEC fits!

Christer

 

The original PSU did not conform to the ATX standard. There was room enough for the new PSU but I had to drill new holes for "the you know what that I can not type on this forum ". It is fastened by three of them, not all four.

To check the PSU, the computer was started with the old graphics card fitted and it worked OK. When the new graphics card was substituted, the computer booted OK and the screen came on and stayed on. Problem solved I thought ... ... until I found out that the keyboard and mouse was not working! I couldn't even install the drivers.

I don't know what steps to take ... ... if there are any to take?

Christer

 

Another recent thread concerning Asus video cards here - not quite the same problem, but still Asus ....

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=51788

 

Matt,
those steps have been taken.

The keyboard is PS2 but the mouse is USB. I tried a PS2 mouse as well but no improvement.

I also removed the backup battery and jumpered to clear CMOS but no difference.

BIOS options in this Compaq are very limited. Such a basic thing as disabling onboard video is not available. Strangely, while the new graphics card was connected, I couldn't even get into BIOS at all. I hit F10 when prompted but I didn't get in. With the old card reinstalled, no problem.

Some manuals say that "only 0.8V AGP cards are compatible" but I have not been able to find a manual for the Compaq and I have not found information on the graphics card, which voltages it accepts. AGP 8x should be backwards compatible with AGP 4x but I am not so sure ... ... !

Pete,
I know that you are an Asus fan so this must hurt ... ... !

I have had not so good experience with Asus before but recommended that graphics card anyway because it specifically said AGP 2x/4x/8x and the Compaq is AGP4x.

I will check out the thread.

Christer

 

Pete,
I had a look in that thread and there are similarities.

As I remember it, there was no message about "finding new hardware" when the computer was started the first time with the new graphics card but a dialog window asking what I wanted to do (search the internet , blah, blah). I just closed that window and inserted the Asus CD ... ... that's when the keyboard and mouse froze.

Christer

 

About the AGP voltage, the card is hooked up to a standard (5V/12V) four pin power connector. Does this mean that the card doesn't get power from the AGP slot?

Christer

 

Christer

There doesn't appear to be an English manual on the Asus site for that card

I would take two approaches ....

Try the card without the additional power lead connected. I am not into 'high end' cards which need an independent power supply

When asked for a driver go through the Wizard and point it to the location on the CD where the driver is located rather than cancelling out and allowing the Asus CD to autorun.

 

Pete,

I did try the card without the power connected but I had a continous warning beep from the computer. I immediately shut down on the power switch.

I'm not sure what happened but I had keyboard and mouse until I clicked "cancel" in that dialog the first time. Since then, no keyboard or mouse working which means that I can do nothing but enjoy the power switch.

Matt,

In my book, a contest between Compaq and Asus is a win for Asus ... ... that's why I still give it the benefit of a doubt.

I haven't checked the IRQ settings but I doubt that the can be altered in that BIOS.

I have checked for jumpers pertaining to AGP voltage but not for what you mention. However, if I had seen it, I would remember ... ... and I don't.

One thought that crossed my mind (right now) is to not uninstall the drivers for the old card. It too is a NVIDIA GeForce and since they have "one driver fits all" then why not?

The sad thing is that I will probably not get to that computer in two weeks. I have other things to do. My friend will try getting assistance from someone else in the mean time.

Christer

 

Thinking about when the keyboard and mouse froze the first time ... ... I now remember that I had clicked "cancel" in the first dialog and it went away. Next, I inserted the Asus CD and it autostarted. It was when I clicked "install drivers" that it froze. Since then, no keyboard or mouse with the new graphics card installed.

Me and my teflon coated memory ... ... !

I have not been able to check what it says in the Device Manager.

Christer