I have attempted to upgrade my machine with a new graphics card. Using
some bad advice from (Comp USA), I was talked into buying a "G-Force
5200."

The card has 128 megs and, if I was listening correctly, is 8X. It has
a honker of a cooling fan mounted on it. My system is as follows:

CUSL2-C MB
933 P-III
2 HD's
1 CD
1 Burner
300 watt PS
1 Modern Card
1 Audio Card
1 NIC Card
384 pc-133 memory
NEC XE-21 Monitor

System won't boot with the new graphics card. When replacing the old
ELSA III (el-cheapo 8 meg) card, no problem. My question is:

Is this card compatible with the CUSL2-C MB?
Is the 300 watt power supply sufficient?
Is the AGP slot on the CUSL2-C compliant for this card even though it
fits?
Should I have bought a 56 meg graphics card for this MB?
Should I re-tweek the BIOS?

Thanks in advance...

Any help appreciated,

Skip

"Skip Maletz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> The card has 128 megs and, if I was listening correctly, is 8X. It has
> a honker of a cooling fan mounted on it.

Why all these fans? Your system does not produce a lot of heat.


> System won't boot with the new graphics card.

What do you mean? Where does it stop?


> When replacing the old
> ELSA III (el-cheapo 8 meg) card, no problem. My question is:
>
> Is this card compatible with the CUSL2-C MB?

yes

> Is the 300 watt power supply sufficient?

It probably is, but it can depend on if the PSU is "el cheapo". I believe
the 3,3V line is taxed more now than before.


> Is the AGP slot on the CUSL2-C compliant for this card even though it
> fits?

Yes it is compliant.


> Should I have bought a 56 meg graphics card for this MB?

You mean 256? No certainly not. 128MB is more than enough.

> Should I re-tweek the BIOS?

Can you reach BIOS with card installed?

Egil Solberg wrote:

> "Skip Maletz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> > The card has 128 megs and, if I was listening correctly, is 8X. It has
> > a honker of a cooling fan mounted on it.
>
> Why all these fans? Your system does not produce a lot of heat.

I was talking about the fan mounted on the graphics card. All other fans are
normal.

>
>
> > System won't boot with the new graphics card.
>
> What do you mean? Where does it stop?

Screen remain black. Monitor won't turn on. No post beeps.

>
>
> > When replacing the old
> > ELSA III (el-cheapo 8 meg) card, no problem. My question is:
> >
> > Is this card compatible with the CUSL2-C MB?
>
> yes

I noticed that the new graphics card has 2 slots cut into the conector strip
instead of just 1. To me that would mean that the new card is backwards
complient, while the new card wouldn't be forwards complient.

>
>
> > Is the 300 watt power supply sufficient?
>
> It probably is, but it can depend on if the PSU is "el cheapo". I believe
> the 3,3V line is taxed more now than before.

No way to check easily with a black screen. Would be easier to install a new
PSU.

>
>
> > Is the AGP slot on the CUSL2-C compliant for this card even though it
> > fits?
>
> Yes it is compliant.
>
> > Should I have bought a 56 meg graphics card for this MB?
>
> You mean 256? No certainly not. 128MB is more than enough.

Sorry, that was a typo. I meant to say 64MB.

>
>
> > Should I re-tweek the BIOS?
>
> Can you reach BIOS with card installed?

Can't reach BIOS with new card because of black screen.....

BTW: Thanks for your response....

"Skip Maletz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> > > System won't boot with the new graphics card.
> >
> > What do you mean? Where does it stop?
>
> Screen remain black. Monitor won't turn on. No post beeps.

If system boots with old card and not with the new and you don´t even get
video-error beeps, it seems like the card is bad or that it drawas too much
power.
You could try to "clear CMOS" by shorting the two designated solder points
close to the mobo battery with power cable unplugged.


> I noticed that the new graphics card has 2 slots cut into the conector
strip
> instead of just 1. To me that would mean that the new card is backwards
> complient, while the new card wouldn't be forwards complient.

True. The old card would not be able to insert into a new Intel chipset mobo
for the P4 because it lacks this cut.


> No way to check easily with a black screen. Would be easier to install a
new
> PSU.

Can you verify that the videocard is good in another computer?


> Sorry, that was a typo. I meant to say 64MB.

A 5200FX would have enough ram with 64MB.



> > > Should I re-tweek the BIOS?

Check above. I want to try to "clear CMOS".