AGP slot

[bill.baus]

I have a Dell 8100 with a 32 meg TNT64 nVidia video card.
Can I buy any AGP 128 meg or 256 meg video card toupgrade?
I would like to replace it with a card that has an nVidia chipset.
I'm not sure if mine is a 2X or 4X, but I know it can't be an 8X.
Will a card that's listed as an 8X run okay or do I have to find one
listed as 2X or 4X AGP?

 

[Bob Knowlden]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dsleest/specs.htm#expansion_bus

See also:

http://www.directron.com/15agpguide.html

Note that the advice offered at Directron is qualified, but most 8X cards
should work in your system.

There may be some issue as the Dimension 8100 is only listed as having a
250W power supply. That might preclude you from using a card based on the
nVidia 7800GS chipset, if the (approx.) $300 price didn't drive you off.

Here's a choice at a pretty good price/performance point, assuming that your
goal is gaming:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130220

($139 +$3 shipping, although there's a $20 mail in rebate on it from 2/1/06
through 2/28/06.)

eVGA recommends a 350W PSU for it, but people claim that they run 6600GT
cards in Dell machines with a 250W unit (like the 8100). For example:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_video&message.id=139160

I didn't find an exact duplicate for your configuration, but the overall
hint is that the rating on your PSU may be conservative.

If you really needed to upgrade the power supply, you may find that your PC
has a nonstandard wiring configuration. However, third-party solutions
exist:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S41D1

(I was surprised that they list it for $99; I thought it'd be much worse.)

You will have to decide whether it makes sense to buy upgrades for an old
system like the Dimension 8100. (2 GHz P4s are soooo 2002. ;-)

Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.