New Video Card Not Good Enough?

[Guest RCD74]

Hi - I posted a few weeks ago about getting a new video card for my Dell Dimension E310 Desktop computer. I have Windows XP with Intel Pentium 4 HT. Anyway, I spoke to Dell and asked all of your opinions about purchasing a new video card since the one I currently had was integrated and not really up to standards when trying to use Hardware Render. So, I went and purchaed a VisionTek Radeon X1300 256MB PCI video card. With help from VisionTek, I installed it in my computer and everything seemed to be working fine. When I went into Roxio EMC9 and started testing some of my projects that are currently in Videowave, I switched my settings to Hardware Render, did a graphics test, some weird screen came up as though it was doing the test, and then I STILL got the message that I was getting before with my integrated card, "The render method will be switched back to software based on capabilities of your video card." Please tell me why I am still getting this message!! How can that be the case?? I did install the drivers using the disk that came with the software. Do you think if I go to their website and do an update of the drivers, I won't have this message continuing to come up?? Or do you think I can still try to output my Videowave Production in Hardware render as an MPEG-2 and it will come out ok?? Please help. Thanks in advance since I know you guys are awesome!!

 

RCD74

[Guest RCD74]

Set that down as low as it will go - in fact, if you can, set it to zero and see if that forces it to disable the onboard chipset

 

That kinda scares me. I guess I can always set it back if it doesn't work, right??? How will I know if the onboard chip is disabled?? Thanks so much.

 

RCD74

[Guest RCD74]

Thanks Guys (or gals). I will try it out. When I was on the phone with DELL last night, he had me look in my BIOS but never told me to disable anything! Not to bash Dell, but I am not so sure they know what they are talking about all the time. To get to the BIOS, I had to press F2 3-4 times during start up. I am always so scared to ruin my computer when doing stuff like this! I will do what you say and get back to you! Thanks a ton!!!

 

RCD74

[gi7omy]

NIC is 'Network Interface Controller' (your network connection)

 

Is there no option in the video part to turn off the onboard chipset? It seems strange that ity's only onboard or auto (and it seems that auto isn't turning it off which it should do)

[Guest RCD74]

NIC is 'Network Interface Controller' (your network connection)

 

Is there no option in the video part to turn off the onboard chipset? It seems strange that ity's only onboard or auto (and it seems that auto isn't turning it off which it should do)

 

No there is no option to do that. The only other thing listed under Video is "Video Memory Size" which is set to 8MB rather than 1MB.

 

RCD74

[gi7omy]

Set that down as low as it will go - in fact, if you can, set it to zero and see if that forces it to disable the onboard chipset

[Guest RCD74]

Oh my gosh - you guys are awesome!! I never knew what you meant about settings!! No, I have done nothing with setting my video card. Maybe this is the problem. I will definitely try it and let you know. Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Hopefully this will solve all my problems!!

 

RCD74

[gi7omy]

Different motherboards have different ways of accessing the BIOS - if you look fast at boot you should be able to disable the Dell splash screen - reboot and look for a line at the bottom on the lines of 'Press F4 to enter seup'

 

It could be F4, Del, Esc - hard to say as it all depends on the notherboard

[d_deweywright]

Here is the latest!! I just spoke to Roxio Tech Support and they said that since I didn't change the settings in BIOS to disable the integrated card and enable the external card - that may be my problem. He said that Roxio is picking up my integrated card which is why the graphics test suggests I use software render. Does this sound like it could be my problem?? If so, I have no idea how to change the BIOS and will have to make the dreaded call to DELL. Thanks for all of your help!! Hopefully it is solved. Let me know what you think.

 

RCD74

Actually, that sounds like an entirely likely scenario. When you first turn on your PC, usually there's a message telling you how to get into the BIOS, quite often pressing the "Delete" key, sometimes an "Fx" key. In there, you'll have to navigate the menus, possibly to something titled, "Installed peripherals" (or something similar) and in there, disable your on-board video. At that point, you need to save the changes (usually if you keep pressing the "ESC" key to get out, it'll ask you if you want to save your changes). Then let it reboot, and see if that does it.

 

Good luck!

[Guest RCD74]

Here are some samples. This card is not a video card, but ends are made the same. There is a small 'flange' that fits into a slot. The other end has a place for the security screw. Second pic is my actual video card showing the screw in place. Don't pay any attention to the dirt! LOL Guess it's time to blow out the computer.

 

The "flange" is in place. It is the other end with the security screw that isn't totally in place. It probably needs the srew to be completely secure. How was I supposed to know that?? It isn't like the card came with a screw!! Oh well. I am going to go take a picture and post what my card looks like installed on my motherboard. Maybe I did something wrong!!! I will be back with images!!

 

RCD74

[grandpabruce]

The "flange" is in place. It is the other end with the security screw that isn't totally in place. It probably needs the srew to be completely secure. How was I supposed to know that?? It isn't like the card came with a screw!! Oh well. I am going to go take a picture and post what my card looks like installed on my motherboard. Maybe I did something wrong!!! I will be back with images!!

 

RCD74

 

 

Did you not take a blank finger out to put the video card in? You use the screw from the blank finger.

[gi7omy]

With a lot of machines Bruce, they don't have the blanking plates fixed in with screws - they're 'breakaway' plates and a flamin' nuisance when you go to put a card in - why they don't give a screw with cards is a mystery to me (same with hard drives - they very seldom give the mounting screws with those either)

[Guest RCD74]

Did you not take a blank finger out to put the video card in? You use the screw from the blank finger.

 

Yes, I took out a blank finger but it had no screw. It was so hard to get out that my husband ended up bending it a little bit. I just took pics but how do I post them. It is asking for a URL. UGH!!

 

RCD74

[Guest RCD74]

It sounds like you don't have a screw in blanking plate but a breakaway one - work that from side to side until it ttotally breaks off and then toss it in the trash.

 

In the short term you can always use one of the case screws to hold it in place until you can get one from your local computer sstore (most people have spares)

 

So, is my card installed correctly?? I would post pics but don't know how to. Thanks again!!

[Guest RCD74]

Well, I just tried playing around with all the different settings and nothing seems to be allowing me to Hardware Render. I don't have to restart my computer, do I?? Oh well. Back to the drawing boards. I just don't understand why this is happening??!!

 

RCD74

[gi7omy]

As you have a dedicated video card, the onboard set isn't needed - and the RAM it is using is taken from the main system RAM anyway. The new card has its own memory on it and doesn't need to share it with the system

 

Just a passing thought that hit me - you DO have the monitor plugged into the new card and not the old connection don't you?

[Bunty]

In case required you can disable the the hardware from device manager too

[grandpabruce]

So, is my card installed correctly?? I would post pics but don't know how to. Thanks again!!

 

I think Photobucket will allow you to add photos to their server for free, so you can attach them to a post, here.

[gi7omy]

Glad it's all sorted for you and you're ready to start working on the progrem instead of diving inside the computer

[gi7omy]

dotNET is an automatic one - go to MS Update and it will eithjer be a critical or maybe an optional update.

 

DirectX is another MS download

[Guest RCD74]

Ok, I defragmented my computer (whatever that means) and I updated the drivers from ATI (April 18, 2007) and I am still getting software render default. I haven't updated the dotnet framework thingy so would someone mind sending me the link to do that? Also, I need to update the directx 9.0c but I am having trouble doing that with the link that someone here sent me. When I click on download, I get a blank screen and nothing else. Why is this happening?? Thanks again!!

 

RCD74

[grandpabruce]

Well, I just tried playing around with all the different settings and nothing seems to be allowing me to Hardware Render. I don't have to restart my computer, do I?? Oh well. Back to the drawing boards. I just don't understand why this is happening??!!

 

RCD74

 

I would reboot the computer.

[Guest RCD74]

Actually, that sounds like an entirely likely scenario. When you first turn on your PC, usually there's a message telling you how to get into the BIOS, quite often pressing the "Delete" key, sometimes an "Fx" key. In there, you'll have to navigate the menus, possibly to something titled, "Installed peripherals" (or something similar) and in there, disable your on-board video. At that point, you need to save the changes (usually if you keep pressing the "ESC" key to get out, it'll ask you if you want to save your changes). Then let it reboot, and see if that does it.

 

Good luck!

 

Ok, I just checked out my settings. I wasn't sure what to change so here is what I have. Under "Onboard Devices" there are 3 things listed and they are ALL ON. The first one is Integrated NIC (I didn't know what that stood for), Integrated Audio, and USB Controllers. Then under Video - Primary Video had 2 options - "Auto" (which it was set to) - it said that it uses the add-in video controller and second option was "Onboard" - uses the integrated video controller. It looks like my settings are correct under video. I am just not sure what the Integrated NIC means. What do I do now?? Thanks for your help!

 

RCD74

[gi7omy]

It sounds like you don't have a screw in blanking plate but a breakaway one - work that from side to side until it ttotally breaks off and then toss it in the trash.

 

In the short term you can always use one of the case screws to hold it in place until you can get one from your local computer sstore (most people have spares)

[Guest RCD74]

I think Photobucket will allow you to add photos to their server for free, so you can attach them to a post, here.

 

Thanks Bruce. You are right about Photobucket. I just spoke to Roxio Tech Support to have them recommend me a new video card since it is obvious that my video card is not "doing it" for me with EMC9. Meanwhile, I told him how much you all are helping me on these boards and he knows you Bruce!!! How funny. Again, thanks for everything.

 

RCD74

[Guest RCD74]

I had a Gateway kinda like this. Try remove these screws and the black piece should come off. That is what is holding the cards in place. There are no screws holding each card like my case.

 

Thank you so much!! That is what I will do. I will let you know how it goes!!

 

RCD74

 

 

I got it in!! It didn't need to be unscrewed - the plastic gray thingy had a lever on the inside of the computer that when lifted up, it released. I was then able to snap the final end in place of my video card. Not sure why my husband or I didn't see that before. Oh well, thanks for all of your help. I am finally DONE with this thread!! I really can't thank you all enough for taking the time out to help me. You are all the BEST!!!

You won't hear from me again until the next problem arises................

 

RCD74