Question

How to check if computer has video card

Asked by: anushahanna

is there a tool that will scan and tell me if I have a video card and what config it is.

Basically, I have a PC that needs a video card (is going to use more graphic intensive apps), so I need to check computers that do not need a video card, but have one, so I can transfer it.

I assume the computer that is going to donate the card is not going to see any ill-effects, because it is using any graphic intensive stuff like video editing, games etc.

Thanks

thanks

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Asked On
2009-08-15 at 14:42:41ID24655631
Topics

Personal Computers

,

Windows XP Operating System

,

Video Cards

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
21

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Answers

 

by: orangutangPosted on 2009-08-15 at 14:56:11ID: 25107056

You can run "dxdiag" and click the "Display" tab.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:06:05ID: 25107081

orangutang
Thanks. If I do not see an entry in the display tab, it will be good to assume that there is Video Card in the PC?

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:08:47ID: 25107092

It's an interesting question - do you already know what slots your "recipient" PC has before looking for a "donor" as the slots to put the card into must match.
Are you intending to search over a network or PC to PC?
If you're going to check each machine individually you could use any number of system tools including DirectX (dxdiag) if it is installed.
I would probably go for putting either GPU-Z (http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/) or the standalone version of SIW (http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html)
onto a USB stick and testing out all the likely "donors" but you will need a basic knowledge of graphics cards to know if what you are getting will be any help in improving your "recipient".
I'm not aware of any video chipset detection that will tell you that it's an expansion card and not integrated onto the motherboard and as the market leader in graphics cards (nVidia and ATI) both make integrated cards as well as expansion boards you'll also need to look at the case to see which is which.

As a general rule if a computer has more than one of the same type of video output it has an expansion board insdie that you could remove and leave the "donor" running on it's original integrated version.

Bear in mind that if you remove an expansion board you may need to install drivers for the remaining integrated card.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:15:52ID: 25107114

MASQUERAID
Wow.. you are really making me thing.. The donor is going to be a Dell Optiplex 760. The recipient is a HP530 CMT. Do you think that will help to get a clue if ther ewill be a match.

Thanks

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:23:27ID: 25107139

Which form-factor?  The standard 760 that ships has an integrated board with both VGA HDMI output.  The small form factor has integrated VGA and DVI.  Unless you bought it with an nVidia or ATI option it doesn't have a card you can remove.  Check the Dell Support site for it's service tag if you're not certain or alternatively open the case (if it's the small form factor (SFF) there's a chassis intrusion alarm button that may need resetting in the BIOS if you open the box)

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:34:24ID: 25107169

Actually thinking more about this you've got another problem here which is I'm pretty certain your HP Mini Tower only has an AGP expansion socket for graphics. So even if the 760 had an expansion card it would be PCI-E format and so not compatible. You are going to need to look for a "donor" more than 3 years old at least or even consider buying an AGPx8 card separately.

Also the 530 is a basic business machine not really designed for graphics intensive work and only limted expansion. The 760 would be a better bet for your graphics project.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 15:59:32ID: 25107224

MASQUERAID
Here are the specs. do you see any compatible expansion card?

Base,MCSF,Pentium M Dothan, 2.0ghz, 2 Megb, 533fsb EPA
Information,Equipment
Module,Documentation,SERI/WSI English,DAO/BCC
Module,Dual In-line Memory Module,2G,2X1G,800,CL6 Optiplex
Module,Label,Intel,Desktop Core Duo-conroe,Core Duo Kentsfield
Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,WXPPSP3,Business Desktop
Thermal Module,Heatsink Mainstream,MCSF
Module,Software,VB32SP1 Digital Video Disk Drive,MUL5 Dao/bcc
Module,Information,Dell EnergyOffering,NO-LBL,Optiplex,755
Module,Software,WXPPSP3 Business Desktop English,DAO/BCC
Module,Software,WXPPSP3 Compact Disk Drive English,DAO/BCC
Module,Software,Powerdvd,8.1 Digital Video Disk Drive Business
Module,Shipping Material System,MCSF,Dell Americas Organization
Module,Card,Graphics,OUGA6 Loop,O,Digital Video Interface
Module,Information,Management AMT/DASH,760
Module,Cord,Power,125V,2M,C13 United States
Module,Media,Digital Video Disk Drive,Resource Dvd Optiplex,760
Module,Dvd+/-rw,8X,SLCY Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology,Optiplex
Module,Panel,Filler,3.5 Inch Form Factor,Matrix Cypher Small Form Factor,BLK,OPT
Module,Keyboard,104,United States,Black,Optiplex
Module,Chassis,MCSF,760,EnergySmart,Pwa Integrated,Third Party Maintenance
Module,Software,WINDOWS-LIVE Relationship Line Of Business
Module,Processor,Wolfdale E8400,Optiplex
Module,Label,Vista,Downgrade Premium,Optiplex,Precision WorkStations
Module,Software,VB32/64 Certificate Of Authenticity
Module,Software,Roxio,Creator Dell Edition,9.0,Relationship Line Of Business
Module,Mouse,6BTN,Laser Commercial,Logitech,Desktop
Module,Hard Drive,80GB,S2 Western Digital,VR150,Optiplex
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s)
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year
Information,Equipment

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:06:38ID: 25107238

Unfortunately, the HP has to be the one that handles the graphics, for now. :-(
We have found only one Dell 760 where the user has no need for video driver.

if we determine we have to get a AGP card for the HP, we will.

thanks again for your analysis.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:09:36ID: 25107245

Yes, this is your card "Module,Card,Graphics,OUGA6 Loop,O,Digital Video Interface"

But it's a PCI-E expansion board and won't fit the HP530 CMT

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:20:22ID: 25107274

Thanks for figuring that out.

I just ran dxdiag and found out that the HP has a Graphic Controller. (Intel 82865G)-96 MB. Any recommendations on how we have enhance this for Graphics intensive apps.

Thanks again.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:28:15ID: 25107292

Not really - this is what you have http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel865g/sb/CS-009185.htm
What do you need to run? There's probably an AGP board that will help but it's a big compromise :(

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:31:47ID: 25107297

ok. Actually, it is for the owner's teen son who is going to play a lot of games.! They do not want to afford to give a Dell, but rather than old HP, but they want to make sure it has a good video card.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:44:43ID: 25107328

The owner would be better off giving his son the 760.
Whatever else the 530 is NOT a gaming machine whatever you put inside
trust me on that.
http:M_1267282.html :)

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 16:58:14ID: 25107374

i trust you on that.

How do I tell my owner who wants his son to have good gaming experience, but all the Optiplex's are already distributed to key people, and they do now want to buy another pc now, but they are ok to buy a card etc if it will help.

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-15 at 17:17:07ID: 25107423

I could suggest a good card but it will work better than the machine it's attached to and son is likley to complain it's not good enough to beat his online opponents.
Depends on if his dad is prepared to take that risk or tell his son that's all you're getting & it's better than not having a PC to game with ;)

If you have a full size case then this 7600GS with 4/8X AGP is about the best you can get without over-taxing the 530's power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143069  = $100

It won't play most games released in the last 18 months well (or at all!!)

If we know what son wants to play it might help :)

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-15 at 17:29:59ID: 25107445

MASQUERAID
Thanks much. You are a champion!

Thanks for the reco on  7600GS also.

I will get back to you on those details asap.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-16 at 08:32:19ID: 25109271

The boss feels, now that it is not worth spending the $ on a card, if it not going to promise better performance. So he is going to choose to tell the gamer to be happy with what he has.

This fellow goes for any aircraft game.

Is Intel 82865G a proper video card (96MB), just lower MB than 7600GS ?

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-16 at 10:02:50ID: 25109522

It's not about "better performance" it's about the difference between being able to run software or not.  Putting in a graphics card means you can play the game.  The computer it's attached to means "just not very well".

The Intel Chipset is an integrated card, sharing the CPU and system RAM to process video. It's not a "proper" video card in that video cards do the graphics processing themselves and take the load off of both CPU and RAM.

A basic requirement for game graphics is 128MB available memory and support for vertex and pixel shading. None of which the 82865G can provide. Flight simulation is pretty graphics intensive.

It's just not going to work without putting a dedicated card in there but if you put a card in at least it is possible to play.

 

by: anushahannaPosted on 2009-08-16 at 19:50:19ID: 25111402

"It's just not going to work without putting a dedicated card in there but if you put a card in at least it is possible to play."

You mean to say, if the fellow can have only the HP to play and wants to play flight games, he better have the 7600GS ? (even though the HP may or may not be able to use the 7600GS ?

Thanks

 

by: MASQUERAIDPosted on 2009-08-16 at 22:25:09ID: 25111787

The HP will be able to use the graphics card

HP without separate graphics card - very limited gaming
HP with separate graphics card - able to game but because of limitation of the HP machine (not the graphics card) won't be able to get highest settings/best performance

The HP box is the limiting factor NOT the graphics card

 

by: maheshmm007Posted on 2009-11-08 at 05:59:11ID: 25770469

u can use 3rd party softwares like sandra software or hirences boot dik.....

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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