Low profile PCI graphic card

otto1357 · 12-01-2010, 11:16 AM

Does anyone know which or fitted a low profile PCI graphic card into a Dimension 3100C?

Paul · 12-01-2010, 10:59 PM

I just had a good search with Google and couldn't find any. Maybe it's time to buy a new Dell desktop Otto....

otto1357 · 17-01-2010, 07:12 PM

Hi,

I found one on ebay with 16mB. Do you know what the asigned RAM is for the inegrated chipset? Do you think I will get better performance form a 16MB card?

spannerzone · 21-01-2010, 05:59 PM

The onboard graphics might be better than a 16mb graphics card.... the onboard graphics can (if I recall) use up to 128mb of the main ram as required.... onboard graphics are fine for most things except modern games and HD video....

If you're going to bother finding a card, it must really have at least 128mb ram or more to be worthwhile and a graphics chip that's more powerful than the intel graphics. I'm guessing, but a 16mb graphics card will be an older chipset and probably no better than the Intel onboard graphics. And some older graphics cards (eg based on S3 chipsets) are often very troublesome with poor driver support.

Personally I think you're gonna find it hard to get a low profile PCI card that'll be worth fitting.. I had trouble find a full height PCI graphics card for my friends Dell 3100 PC .... I got an nVidia FX5200 which was a bit better for older games or sims but forget any recent 3d gaming.

Like Paul says, maybe time for a newer PC that has a nice PCI-E graphics slot to fit a vast range of graphics cards.

I'm sure you know but PCI is not the same as modern PCI-E graphics cards and are incompatible with eachother.

otto1357 · 26-01-2010, 05:20 PM

Hi,

I looked up the spec on the chipset and you are right, it function at between 2mb and 218mb. Have'nt seen it above 11mb though ??

I have got a new laptop windows i7, windows 7. Shall i post a review? in studio forum?

I still want to upgrade my 3100c and would like to add a 2nd internal HD but having trouble with the poer supply. I can't split the HD power as the cable originate in the power casing so I am looking at using the floppy drive power but need an adapter or a connector either for an IDE 4 pin molex or the SATA power connector.

Paul · 26-01-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otto1357

I have got a new laptop windows i7, windows 7. Shall i post a review? in studio forum?

Hi Otto,

If you could post a review in the dell studio laptop forum that would be great!

Cheers

Paul

otto1357 · 27-01-2010, 04:17 PM

I have a problem with the touchpad. Dell were at first very responsive but when they could not fix it they started giving me the run arround so I have had to go to the credit card company.

I would be interested if anyone else has had problems with touchpad function , up and down scroll, circular scroll, zoom.

Studio 1557 15.4in laptop i7 720QM windows 7

12-01-2010, 11:16 AM	#1
otto1357 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Low profile PCI graphic card Does anyone know which or fitted a low profile PCI graphic card into a Dimension 3100C?

17-01-2010, 07:12 PM	#3
otto1357 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	low profile PCI Hi, I found one on ebay with 16mB. Do you know what the asigned RAM is for the inegrated chipset? Do you think I will get better performance form a 16MB card?

21-01-2010, 05:59 PM	#4
spannerzone Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	The onboard graphics might be better than a 16mb graphics card.... the onboard graphics can (if I recall) use up to 128mb of the main ram as required.... onboard graphics are fine for most things except modern games and HD video.... If you're going to bother finding a card, it must really have at least 128mb ram or more to be worthwhile and a graphics chip that's more powerful than the intel graphics. I'm guessing, but a 16mb graphics card will be an older chipset and probably no better than the Intel onboard graphics. And some older graphics cards (eg based on S3 chipsets) are often very troublesome with poor driver support. Personally I think you're gonna find it hard to get a low profile PCI card that'll be worth fitting.. I had trouble find a full height PCI graphics card for my friends Dell 3100 PC .... I got an nVidia FX5200 which was a bit better for older games or sims but forget any recent 3d gaming. Like Paul says, maybe time for a newer PC that has a nice PCI-E graphics slot to fit a vast range of graphics cards. I'm sure you know but PCI is not the same as modern PCI-E graphics cards and are incompatible with eachother. Last edited by spannerzone; 21-01-2010 at 06:01 PM.

26-01-2010, 05:20 PM	#5
otto1357 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	chipset Hi, I looked up the spec on the chipset and you are right, it function at between 2mb and 218mb. Have'nt seen it above 11mb though ?? I have got a new laptop windows i7, windows 7. Shall i post a review? in studio forum? I still want to upgrade my 3100c and would like to add a 2nd internal HD but having trouble with the poer supply. I can't split the HD power as the cable originate in the power casing so I am looking at using the floppy drive power but need an adapter or a connector either for an IDE 4 pin molex or the SATA power connector.

27-01-2010, 04:17 PM	#7
otto1357 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	review I have a problem with the touchpad. Dell were at first very responsive but when they could not fix it they started giving me the run arround so I have had to go to the credit card company. I would be interested if anyone else has had problems with touchpad function , up and down scroll, circular scroll, zoom. Studio 1557 15.4in laptop i7 720QM windows 7

12-01-2010, 10:59 PM	#2
Paul Administrator Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 385 Thanks: 2 Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts	I just had a good search with Google and couldn't find any. Maybe it's time to buy a new Dell desktop Otto....

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