More help required, just got a new GFX card.

[tokyoracer]

Hi there,
I'm having more issues with my computer at the moment. What is bothering me is that I recived a new GFX card (ATI X800Pro 256MB) and my PC is having none of it. My issue is it is only getting to the "Packard Bell" front screen then going blank (usually), occasonally you do see some text by pressing Esc quickly but text looks corrupt in places. Once it got as far as the boot screen but froze there.

Heres what I have...

My exact system info:
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/index.php?pn=P700402601&g=1400

Differences between stock model and one in the link:

300W PSU
2 Old HD's (18.9GB + 1.9GB)
2 CD/DVD Drives
5.1 Sound card
GeForce3 (Ti 200) - (Want to swap to the X800 Pro)
More RAM orderd and should arrive very soon (512 + 256)

Yes I know it's a really crap PC but I have to made do with it for the moment.

Can anyone help me please?
Anyone else experiancing the same issues?

[Vulpine]

I would imagine this is almost certainly a power supply issue. 300W is rather anaemic today, especially as many AGP graphics cards require a dedicated power supply from the PSU as well as whatever they can draw through the AGP port. Other than that, try reseating the card. Does the computer give you any beep codes on powering up?

[tokyoracer]

Maybe I underestimated how much power the X800 needs, how much extra would you reccomend without spending too much?

[jj]

Do not replace with a cheap power supply.  its false econonomy.

See if anyone you know has a spair power supply haning around to test if this is the issue first

[tokyoracer]

The one I have at the moment does look a little cheap, the 250W original seems more robust although I wouldnt think it would surffice.

[jj]

250W is well to low .

I would go for a 600W , so you are future proof for awhile.  But more importantly look at the Amps

[tokyoracer]

600W?! My main system with an X1950 Pro and loads of other bits of hardware was perfectly fine with 500W.

[Piru]

600W is WAY excessive here, IMO.

There's a relatively easy way to check if it's the PSU: Disconnect the CD/DVD drives and the old HDDs. If that cures it then it definitely is the PSU.

[jj]

Yes for the current system

but why buy what is needed and then when he decidees to upgrade to a dual core or quad core machine with SLI or something and then finds 500W is not enough.

Thats why I said future proof

[tokyoracer]

Still pretty much the same outcome, appart from the fact now my mouse's have stopped working.

And I certainly have no plans to get anything super good as this computer really isn't worth it as you can see from the specs.

{Edit} Over the weekend I will give it a go on my farther's setup and see what happens.

[tokyoracer]

It works!

I missed an option on the BIOS as this card didn't support a spectrum thing, I don't know. Thanks for all the help!

[tokyoracer]

Sorry to bring this topic back to life but i'm having more issues yet again.
I keep getting the error "Can't create a 3D device" or variants on the same theme.
Oddly this doesn't actually appear on all games (Half Life 2 for example). All that happens on HL2 is I get a few screen flickers as it's ajusting the resolutions and then it will just return to the desktop with no errors as if nothing happend! HL2 Deathmatch gets a little further with the Valve screens but as soon as the loading screen appears it dissapears increadibly quickly and then returns to the desktop.
I also got errors such as "Can't support resolution and memory" and the usual Windows XP errors were it asks you to send intomation that does bugger all, we've all experianced it.

Any help would be very kind indeed. :-)

[Piru]

I suppose you have the latest DirectX and drivers installed?