[biglittle]

I have an old HP (bundle) PC with an ASUS motherboard and an integrated Intel 810E video card. I would like to upgrade but HP tells me it can't be done. I am sure that by changing the JUMPER it would be possible. I do not have the Schematics for the motherboard so am trying to figure out where or which jumper controls the video card inorder to disable the onboard. It cannot be disabled through the system to allow installation of another video card. HELP!!!

[mphenterprises]

Hi BigLittle. First, I am not sure if WorldBench is the most appropriate Community for this Discussion. Just to make sure that your Discussion gets the attention it deserves, I have moved it to the Answer Line Community.

Now, there are two key words that tell me you cannot upgrade the video card in your computer: "old" and "integrated." Let's say that your computer is not old but still has an integrated video card, the next thing that tells me an upgrade is not possible is that you stated, "It cannot be disabled through the system to allow installation of another video card." This statement, along with the fact that your video card is integrated, tells me that you will not be able to upgrade the video card.

Now, let's say that there was an option to disable the onboard video card. You would now need an available expansion slot, whether it be PCI, PCI-E, or AGP. Unfortunately, I do not think you have the ability to upgade your video card.

However, to be completely thorough, what is the exact model number of your computer and exactly how "old" is it?

[biglittle]

Thanks for the response. My eyesight is not what it use to be and I thought it said Work Bench.

[mphenterprises]

:-) My apologies. My hands are quicker than my thoughts. It was Work Bench; however, I do not think your Discussion will get as much as the Answer Line Community. Can you please provide your computer's exact model number as well as when the computer was manufactured?

[biglittle]

I am sorry it took so long to answer. It is an HP XT963 (Bundle) Manu in 2001. I think you have pretty much answered my question. It was just a thought I hit upon. I am a retired/disabled vet on a fixed income andupgrading to a new PC (which is what I need to do) is a ways down the road right now.

Thanks again for your input.

[mphenterprises]

Hi BigLittle. According to HP's website, this computer does not have an upgradeable video card. Also, I would imagine that any current video card would not be compatible with a computer from circa 2001.

[Zombie]

Ok when I looked at HP's website for that HP model it says it has available 2 pci slots. Kind of curious as to why someone would not disable the onboard video card via the device mgr or better yet via the bio's. Am I mising something ?:|

[mphenterprises]

Hi Zombie. Please refer to the Video Graphics section:

Video graphics
Attribute Properties
Video graphics PCI Local Bus
Controller Intel 810e (n motherboard)
Location Integrated graphics
Video memory 11 MB shared system memory, integrated graphics, not upgradeable
Feature connector (game/joystick) Yes
Resolutions: 640 x 480: 16/256/32 K/64 K/16.7 M colors

800 x 600: 16/256/32 K/64 K colors

1024 x 768: 16/256/32 K/64 K colors

1280 x 1024: 256 colors





This information, coupled with the fact that the computer is almost 7 years old, tells me that this computer cannot support an video card upgrade. Regardless of how many PCI slots are available, this computer does not support a video card upgrade.

[smax013]

biglittle said:

I have an old HP (bundle) PC with an ASUS motherboard and an integrated Intel 810E video card. I would like to upgrade but HP tells me it can't be done. I am sure that by changing the JUMPER it would be possible. I do not have the Schematics for the motherboard so am trying to figure out where or which jumper controls the video card inorder to disable the onboard. It cannot be disabled through the system to allow installation of another video card. HELP!!!

Have you booted in to the BIOS to look to see if you can disable the on-board graphics in the BIOS? In my experience, on-board graphics is usually disabled by BIOS settings, NOT jumpers on the motherboard. My dad's old HP (which is no longer used) had the ability to disable the on-board graphics in the BIOS.

[mphenterprises]

Hi Smax. I took this statement...

"It cannot be disabled through the system to allow installation of another video card."

...as the fact that he already checked the BIOS (System). Also, HP specifically states, in two places, that the video card is not upgradeable.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

Hi Zombie. Please refer to the Video Graphics section:

Video graphics
Attribute Properties
Video graphics PCI Local Bus
Controller Intel 810e (n motherboard)
Location Integrated graphics
Video memory 11 MB shared system memory, integrated graphics, not upgradeable
Feature connector (game/joystick) Yes
Resolutions: 640 x 480: 16/256/32 K/64 K/16.7 M colors

800 x 600: 16/256/32 K/64 K colors

1024 x 768: 16/256/32 K/64 K colors

1280 x 1024: 256 colors





This information, coupled with the fact that the computer is almost 7 years old, tells me that this computer cannot support an video card upgrade. Regardless of how many PCI slots are available, this computer does not support a video card upgrade.

I would argue that does NOT necessarily mean that the computer cannot be upgrade graphics-wise...it more than likely means that you can not directly upgrade the on-board graphics, but you still might be able to disable the on-board graphics and put in a new card (then technically the on-board graphics would have NOT been upgrade and would still be present). "not upgradeable" might just mean that there is not card to take out and replace with another card.



Now, assuming that the on-board graphics can be disabled, the real question is can a PCI card that would work with this system be available. There are certainly some PCI cards on NewEgg that could work.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

Hi Smax. I took this statement...

"It cannot be disabled through the system to allow installation of another video card."

...as the fact that he already checked the BIOS (System). Also, HP specifically states, in two places, that the video card is not upgradeable.

It kind of depends on how the OP asked the question of HP. If the question was asked "how do I change a jumper setting to disable the on-board graphics?" then the response could be "you cannot" and the HP person could not have been "smart" enough to jump to the next logical step to say that "you need to boot into BIOS to do it". Have you ever talked with a typical tech support person from a large computer/tech company? Most are following some nice script and tend to not really know that much (or least it seems that way everytime I have dealt with one). Point is that you and I might not be getting all the information...that is why I specifically asked if the OP had booted into the BIOS and looked to see if there was a way to disable in BIOS.



And all on-board graphics are technically not "upgradable" (depending on how you definie upgradable). They are typically able to be disabled, however, and then another card used. Some consider "upgradable" to mean that you can remove the current "video card" and replace it with something new.

[ddms70]

I believe that means that the video MEMORY isn't upgradeable, but I could be wrong, as I only build my own computers and rarely deal with the mass produced versions (I have limited knowledge of hp, dell, etc.) The fact is that he has only 2 pci slots, no agp and definitely no pcie. There are still a few pci video cards available, BUT they are still pci and would likely result in only minimal improvements. You can always turn down some of the options in windows to get better performance (ie from 32 color to 16, turn off effects, etc.) The best idea would be to visit a forum with other users with a similar motherboard and look around. Another option would to get the max amount of ram the board will handle and under bios, force the video to use more. Or you could just save and get a new pc for very little money, its unbelievable what you can find during clearance sales, etc. and this would likely be your BEST option.

[mphenterprises]

smax013 said:

>
>Point is that you and I might not be getting all the information...

Quote

>


True, we may not be getting all the information. However, it has been two weeks since this Discussion was active. I believe BigLittle may have the answer he or she wanted. However, I have seen this User ID responding to various Discussions. Hopefully, he or she did not disable 'email notification' so he or she can clarify exactly what that statement meant.

smax013 said:

>
>Some consider "upgradable" to mean that you can remove the current "video card" and replace it with something new.

Quote

I am from this school of thought. I guess if I see "not upgradeable" plastered over a manufacturer's website specifications page, I would take it at face value. I am with Ddms70 in that IF this computer can indeed support a video card upgrade, any change would likely result in only minimal improvements. For a seven year old computer, a full system upgrade, if not a new computer, would make more sense. However, he or she did mention that he or she was on a fixed income so a new computer might be out of the question.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

I am from this school of thought. I guess if I see "not upgradeable" plastered over a manufacturer's website specifications page, I would take it at face value. I am with Ddms70 in that IF this computer can indeed support a video card upgrade, any change would likely result in only minimal improvements. For a seven year old computer, a full system upgrade, if not a new computer, would make more sense. However, he or she did mention that he or she was on a fixed income so a new computer might be out of the question.

This true...but then we don't know WHY the person wanted to upgrade. It is possible that what you or I might consider minimal improvements might in fact be considered a HUGE improvement by the OP. I don't believe it is my role to superimpose my beliefs on how a computer should or should not be and what I consider to be good vs. bad on others (if so, then GET A MAC! ;-) ]:)). It seems that you try to take that approach as well since you usually don't like to recommend computers to people on the forum. I just try to answer their question to the best of my ability, which as much information as I can and then let them make the choice themselves.

[kcihtred2]

Honestly with those specs, i would dump the computer. If you think that you can't afford one, think again i found an article that has a $250 pc (with about 5x the processing power of your current one) with an operating system on it (its linuxed based though and the OS is unbuntu). here the link computershopper.com/feature/build-a-250-pc-that-doesnt-suck-200707
and the cheapest Windows OS i could find is: [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056] for XP and [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116196] for Vista

also if you want a dedicated video card that will run everthing you need,

[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127299] for less than $50 or [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102100] for less than $50 and get Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for free!

The first one has better specs though

[kcihtred2]

i talked to HP and they said it is upgradable and the not upgradable is for the intergrated graphics that cannot be increased in memory size. ill get back to the upgrade choices cause i got to go

[Knifeblade]

The Hp can be upped. A GEForce MX or lower FX series will plug-and-play in an avail. PCI slot. You can disable the onboard graphics through BIOS or your device manager, after d/l'ing the needed drivers for the card.

The real question, is it worth any gain with such an old comp.? That's up to the OP. The OP will see a gain, although limited. Personally, I don't think it's worth it, sigh.

[biglittle]

I really appreciate all the input from everyone. I, like most of you, have researched again with HP who assures me that my model cannot be upgraded. Yes I have tried to disable in the BIOS-not available. Only in the Device Manager and then with the new video card (I have tried a couple different ones) it is very jerky and skips. I have resigned myself to the fact that sooner or later the only upgrade left for me is a new PC.

Again I appreciate all of your help.

[Knifeblade]

It's all good, big, learning experience. Your various components don't support a discrete GPU. I had hoped they would, but as you said, the cards you tried were jerky.

My point was valid, you could put one in, but your comp. couldn't support it, nuts!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry it didn't happen.