Wha graphics/video card do I need?

donny-gal

To replaceone in a Medion PC MT6/MED MT164.

Thanks
DG

turbobob

Why do you need to replace it? Is it broken or are you wanting to upgrade it?

Regardless of that you need to know if its an AGP or PCI Express machine. AGP was common in PC's built until a few years ago. PCI Express is now standard.

You can either open up the case and have a look. Here is a pic showing the difference.


Or software like CPU-Z should tell you if its AGP or PCI-E (download it, run it and click the "Mainboard" tab and see what it says under Graphic Interface)..

donny-gal

Yes it is not working, was playing up a litle when I passed the PC to my DS last Xmas, it is probably about 4 years old, but he uses it as a store for his music, not a main PC. The manual says AGP, and it has inbuilt TV/radio if that helps.

DG

Donnie

It's probably an AGP 8x slot. But run the CPU-Z software and produce an HTML Report from the Advanced Tab and upload it or produce a screenshot for us to confirm.

If you are sure this is the problem, you can buy new from around £25.

Examples of new: here(£33) and here(£23.50).

donny-gal

I cannot test it as I do not have a picture now, so maybe have to bite the bullet.

Thanks
DG

donny-gal

You could be right on the age, I know it is not new, Unfortunately the pc is in Croydon and I am in Donny. Yes I am the PC nut in this family.
DG

Donnie

You could follow turbobob's helpful pictorial advice to ensure which slot you have, before purchase.

But I'm reasonably sure that it's AGP 8x. Seeing as you will need to take the side off to fit it, you may as well take it off to check and clear out any dust.

If you go for one of the above, the drivers are here.

JasX

Donnie wrote: »

. Seeing as you will need to take the side off to fit it, you may as well take it off to check and clear out any dust.

Just don't do anything silly like use a vacume cleaner as that'll definitely kill your PC

james123

hi, what sort of games/apps is DS likely to use? Consider this when upgrading as alot of the cheaper AGP cards will not play the latest games. I could just about get Counterstrike source to work with an nvidia 6200.
Going the other way, if the card is too powerful if may need to be connected to the PSU and if thats not great it'll need replacing also.

EDIT : just re read ur posts, if just for basic use the cheaper the better! as above a 5200/6200 or if you prefer Radeon 9250 can all be bought for less than £30


Jim

BillScarab

JasX wrote: »

Just don't do anything silly like use a vacume cleaner as that'll definitely kill your PC

No it won't! There's a risk that static from a vacuum cleaner could cause damage but it's not guaranteed. I don't recommend it to others but I've used a vacuum cleaner lots of times without problems.

Donnie

JasX wrote: »

Just don't do anything silly like use a vacume cleaner as that'll definitely kill your PC

I use a vacuum cleaner everytime. A bad workman always blames his tools.