Confusion, need help

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 12:27 PM

I attempted to play a game and it said I had insufficient 3D hardware. Is this the same thing as a graphics/video card?

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 12:55 PM

Yes. You graphics card does not have enough juice to render the 3D stuff necessary for the game. Time to break down and get a new one.

If you give us the brand and make/model we can help further. Also, If you know your graphics bus (AGP/PCIe) that would be helpful.

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 12:59 PM

Well my computer is a Compaq Presario from 2002. Not sure if its AGP or PCI, what's a way to find out? As for the card, I was thinking of getting the GeForce 6600 but I wasn't sure if I should get the AGP or PCI.

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 01:12 PM

Open her up! The graphics ports are further back from the back of the case. If it is AGP, the port will be brown and look like this. If it is PCI Express, it will look like this.

In the PCI Express picture, the PCI Express port is the long one.

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 01:13 PM

Also, remember, PCI and PCIe are two way different things.

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 01:15 PM

If a graphics card says it requires a Pentium III but I have a fast Celeron, would it still work. Because its the same things with games, it says it requires a certain processor, but works with another.

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 01:32 PM

It needs speed, not a certain processor. P3 processors work at 700MHz-1.13GHz. If you have a processor faster than that, you should be fine.

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 01:38 PM

Well I'm fine in that department, mines 2.53 GHz.

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 01:43 PM

Splendid. Now, do you have AGP or PCIe?

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 01:51 PM

I don't know yet. =( My mother is out and you can't imagine how protective she is over this computer. To find out for sure, I'd have to wait until she's home to open it. I heard from someone once though that Compaqs usually don't have PCI so I'm going to assume AGP

**laboye** · 07-06-2006, 02:10 PM

You can't just take a peek. Only takes a couple seconds to determine! Yes, most Compaqs have AGP.

Mr. Brownstone · 07-06-2006, 02:14 PM

Hmm looks like an AGP.

07-06-2006, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Confusion, need help I attempted to play a game and it said I had insufficient 3D hardware. Is this the same thing as a graphics/video card?

07-06-2006, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Yes. You graphics card does not have enough juice to render the 3D stuff necessary for the game. Time to break down and get a new one. If you give us the brand and make/model we can help further. Also, If you know your graphics bus (AGP/PCIe) that would be helpful. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Open her up! The graphics ports are further back from the back of the case. If it is AGP, the port will be brown and look like this. If it is PCI Express, it will look like this. In the PCI Express picture, the PCI Express port is the long one. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Also, remember, PCI and PCIe are two way different things. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 01:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	It needs speed, not a certain processor. P3 processors work at 700MHz-1.13GHz. If you have a processor faster than that, you should be fine. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 12:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Well my computer is a Compaq Presario from 2002. Not sure if its AGP or PCI, what's a way to find out? As for the card, I was thinking of getting the GeForce 6600 but I wasn't sure if I should get the AGP or PCI.

07-06-2006, 01:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	If a graphics card says it requires a Pentium III but I have a fast Celeron, would it still work. Because its the same things with games, it says it requires a certain processor, but works with another.

07-06-2006, 01:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Well I'm fine in that department, mines 2.53 GHz.

07-06-2006, 01:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Splendid. Now, do you have AGP or PCIe? __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 01:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	I don't know yet. =( My mother is out and you can't imagine how protective she is over this computer. To find out for sure, I'd have to wait until she's home to open it. I heard from someone once though that Compaqs usually don't have PCI so I'm going to assume AGP

07-06-2006, 02:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	You can't just take a peek. Only takes a couple seconds to determine! Yes, most Compaqs have AGP. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

07-06-2006, 02:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mr. Brownstone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Hmm looks like an AGP.