Pci 6200 Graphics Card - £49.99 From Pc World

biglugs

For those people thinking of buying a Dell Dimension 1100 or 3100 which only have PCI slots, PC World are selling a 3DFuzion GeForce 6200 graphics card in a PCI (NOT PCI-Express) version for £49.99. Stock code is 200528.
I've got one on reserve for my son's Dimension 3000 to upgrade from his current FX5200.
This has got to be the most powerful PCI card available on the market, since the 6600s aren't available in PCI version - so you will be able to upgrade your Dimension to allow you to play some more modern games.

da1_2

direct link: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1151001200.1136773634@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddgjjlmfdjcflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&sku=200528&tabIndex=1

the 256 version goes for the same price on ebay.

i have a fx5200 myself, dont believe there's much difference.

biglugs

All the ones on Ebay are either AGP or PCI-E (except one of these that someone is selling).

rowantoad

I think the 3100 has a pci-express slot..? was suprised to see this, if it does and the power supply can cope i might look at getting a 3100.

Woody

biglugs wrote:

For those people thinking of buying a Dell Dimension 1100 or 3100 which only have PCI slots, PC World are selling a 3DFuzion GeForce 6200 graphics card in a PCI (NOT PCI-Express) version for £49.99. Stock code is 200528.
I've got one on reserve for my son's Dimension 3000 to upgrade from his current FX5200.
This has got to be the most powerful PCI card available on the market, since the 6600s aren't available in PCI version - so you will be able to upgrade your Dimension to allow you to play some more modern games.

This does look like a pretty good buy. Windows Media Centre only supports the GeForce 5200 and up, and if you are only using the PC for a Media Centre, then anything with more oomph is wasted. Similarly, 128MB memory is fine - very few apps apart from high level games, are capable of addressing more (in fact, most apps can't address more video memory than 64MB).

What is also good about this card, is that for those who are going to connect it to a CRT TV (as opposed to a Plasma or high def LCD) is that it has S-Video out - which is higher quality than composite video (the little yellow jack). Note: that you will need a good cable to connect this to a TV, as cheap ones pick up electrical interference and give a poor picture. You can buy cables that connect S-Video to Scart.

I personally bought this one: XpertVision PCI for £39 minus 2% from Quidco and it works fine.

biglugs

The PCI-E slot on the 3100 is only a 1x slot, not the 16x slot which you get on the 5150s. I'm not sure anyone makes a graphics card that fits a PCI-E 1x slot do they?
You'd have to put this card in one of the older PCI slots instead - which would only leave you one free for the modem, but not a problem if you use broadband.

rowantoad

biglugs wrote:

The PCI-E slot on the 3100 is only a 1x slot, not the 16x slot which you get on the 5150s. I'm not sure anyone makes a graphics card that fits a PCI-E 1x slot do they?
You'd have to put this card in one of the older PCI slots instead - which would only leave you one free for the modem, but not a problem if you use broadband.

Ah thanks! Yes, you're right it's a 1x slot. I've just had a read and think there might be a few 1x cards about but they are unlikely to be quick, for servers and things like that. I think network cards, modems and the like will go in the 1x slot. Pity cos those 3100's are pretty cheap...

biglugs

Sorry everyone - this is a bum thread. I installed this card in my son's Dell Dimension 3000 tonight and it worked fine in 2D mode, but as soon as you try going into 3D mode it freezes. The power supply on the Dimension 3000 and 3100 (230W) is just not enough to drive this card.
Shame because it's got a passive HSF and looked like it would be just the business. I blame Dell for supplying PCs with barely adequate power units - they obviously don't intend for people to add any extra kit in the boxes once they leave the factory.
So this card is going back to PC World tomorrow, and my son will have to wait until I can upgrade him to a 5150 before he can play faster games.

executiverocker

that sucks:(

withabix

Biglugs, why not upgrade your PSU??

EBuyer do 500W 'Extra Value' ones for £18 inc delivery. Used three of these so far in different PCs - good and quiet too.

It sounds like you might need a bigger PSU if you're going to put ANY upgrades in your Dell anyway!

SPembo

I don't think this is a good price tbh, you can easily get similar spec with 256Mb for below £40.