PCI Low Profile Nvidia card wanted

[jm7]

I have one application that needs an Nvidia chipset with 128 to 256Mb memory
but my IBM desktop Thinkcentre only has a PCI slot (NOT PCI Express). Any
suggestions or have these been phased out?

 

[Paul]

I have one application that needs an Nvidia chipset with 128 to 256Mb memory
but my IBM desktop Thinkcentre only has a PCI slot (NOT PCI Express). Any
suggestions or have these been phased out?

EVGA 128-P1-N320-LX GeForce FX5500 128MB 64-bit DDR PCI Low Profile with L-P Bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130255

The faceplate is replaceable, and a low profile bracket comes in the box.
Which means the card can be used in a low profile or a standard profile PC.

The DVI-I to VGA dongle, allows adapting the connector, so an analog display
can be used.

The faceplate only has room for two connectors, so the card will not have
the flexibility of some of the full height cards that also exist in
this catagory.

You can search under video cards on the Newegg site, and list more cards that
support PCI. There are some ATI cards, based on X1300 silicon, that will also
do the job. (X1550 is just a rebranded X1300, for example.)

There are even some cards, that come with three connectors (two regular displays
and an S-video), that have two low profile brackets. You'd need two slots to
provide room to mount the faceplate, on a card like that. But if you want to
run two displays from the same card, that is one way to do it, and still stay
in a low profile form factor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161074

Paul

 

[jm7]

Thanks Paul,

If the IBM Thinkcentre already has an AGP on the motherboard - will the fact
that I am going to a PCI card with 128Mb downgrade the video system?

I suppose I should get you the details of the Video system inthe IBM for you
to answer this.

 

[jm7]

Thanks Paul,

If the IBM Thinkcentre already has an AGP on the motherboard - will the fact
that I am going to a Standard PCI card with 128Mb downgrade the video
system?
I am assuming your 5500 card will get extra RAM from the System RAM of which
I have 2Gb.

How much is postage/freight to Sydney AUSTRALIA?

It currently has an Intel 3000 video system.

John

 

[Paul]

Thanks Paul,

If the IBM Thinkcentre already has an AGP on the motherboard - will the fact
that I am going to a Standard PCI card with 128Mb downgrade the video
system?
I am assuming your 5500 card will get extra RAM from the System RAM of which
I have 2Gb.

How much is postage/freight to Sydney AUSTRALIA?

It currently has an Intel 3000 video system.

John

The "3000" implies to me, a built-in graphics (in the Northbridge
of the chipset). On some motherboards, when you plug in a separate
graphics card, the Northbridge graphics are automatically disabled.
On other motherboards, you can run both at the same time.

Start by looking in any available docs you have, as to how your
graphics work.

With regard to memory, a PCI card is likely to use its own video memory
which is soldered to the card. PCI bandwidth is poor, so stealing system
memory is pretty much out of the question.

A build-in graphics, like the "3000", will steal system memory for frame
buffer and 3D textures. The 3000 would be referred to as UMA or unified
memory architecture, meaning both graphics and OS share the system memory.

I would recommend shopping closer to home, to find a card. Newegg is
in the USA, and AFAIK only deals with USA. I don't think they even
ship to Canada. So while I can look at their site, as a source
of specs and pictures, it is only convenient for USA citizens.

Paul

 

[jm7]

Thanks Paul,
I will ask around locally - even IBM couldn't answer the question