Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor

Ramadge · 11-23-2008, 11:43 PM

Hey All,
Im looking to upgrade the monitor and graphics card of my PC. My current my monitor is VGA supported and im looking to upgrade to DVI. Am i able to go out and buy any monitor or will i have to purchase a VGA to DVI connector?
Also, im looking to upgrade my graphics card. I Have a Pentinum 4 CPU 3.00 GHz. 1 gig ram. Does anyone have any suggestions for what card would suite my comp?
Feel free to comment on what combinations would work best.
Mainly i use my computer for gaming and watching movies.
Thanks.

**grimx133** · 11-24-2008, 02:25 AM

A graphics card has to fit into a slot on the motherboard. We need to know what motherboard you have or the make and model number if it is a store bought pc like Dell, HP, etc. Keep in mind that updating a graphics card usually means a poer supply upgrade is needed as well, the better the card, the more poer it requires. The card will come with one or more types of port to hook a monitor to, you won't know if you'll need an adapter until you decide on a card, and then often the adapters come with the card anyway. Any monitor should work, it's just a matter of deciding based on price, size, resolution, response time, contrast, and other features. Read some reviews of different monitors and try and get an idea of what you like, remember you are going to be looking at this screen for a long time, and you want to be happy with your selection.
Post some specs of your computer and we'll work from there.
Motherboard
Brand and model (if applicable)
Power supply - wattage and output in amps for the +3.3, +5, +12 volt rails. The label on the side of the psu will have a chart for the output. Also note down the manufacturer and any model number of the power supply. More information is better.

Ramadge · 11-25-2008, 12:41 AM

Hey,
Thanks for your reply grim. Originally my computer was made by my uncle. I was able to find some of the boxes with manuals inside that might be able to help you.
CPU model number: PM8M3-V
My motherboard is made by MSI: P4 (LGA 775 processor) 800MHz
Chipset: VIA P4M800CE, DDR SDRAM memory (333/400MHz), AGP 8x

It says it supports 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface

I was just thinking it would probably be easier just to upgrade my monitor, and i could get a DVI connection as i have a VGA connection.

Yours thoughts?

Bump

**grimx133** · 11-26-2008, 01:25 AM

We still need to know the details on the power supply label, specifically the output from the +12volt rail or rails. The chart will show +12v and then in the box below it how many amps (amperes) for that. If there are more than one 12volt rail, they will be listed as +12v1 and +12v2...... Those numbers are needed to see if the power supply is capable of running a video card at all, and if so, how much of a card. Also your motherboard has a VIA chipset, which means you would need to use a nVidia video card, ATI video does not work well with VIA chipsets.

I have to wonder why you want to upgrade to DVI?
If all you want is a new monitor, get one with both dvi and vga connectors and cables. Nothing wrong with vga, in fact I'm using an adapter from dvi to vga on my video card so that I can use the KVM switch I have. There really isn't a heck of a lot of difference in picture quality that I can tell. Upgrading the video will more than likely mean needing a new power supply as well, and that will make for a lot of cost without a large gain, unless you have a specific need for a card.

Ramadge · 11-26-2008, 03:44 AM

Yeah, my original aim was to improve picture quality but going by what you are saying i may aswell just upgrade my monitor. I was just enquiring because i've got a friend who works in the IT business and he was going on about how some graphic cards might not be able to support monitors, so i thought i may as well just upgrade both. However i might just buy a new monitor and then probably a connector. Also i thought DVI was better quality? One last question, do most of the new monitors today have a VGA connector? or will i have to purchase a DVI connector?
Thanks for your feedback.

**grimx133** · 11-26-2008, 11:01 AM

When you look at monitors, it should say what comes in the box. I'm using a Samsung SyncMaster 2253BW right now and it came with both dvi and vga cables, and there are 2 ports on the back of the monitor, one for each. The specs for the monitor should say what it comes with. Picture quality improves with resolution more than anything else. This 22" samsung is 1680x1050 and it looks fine, but my laptop's 17" with 1920x1200 is noticably better. However, with higher resolution comes a much higher price. Definitely get a new monitor first, then if you aren't happy with it, try a power supply and video card.
What are you looking for in a monitor?

11-23-2008, 11:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ramadge Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP Home SP3	Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor Hey All, Im looking to upgrade the monitor and graphics card of my PC. My current my monitor is VGA supported and im looking to upgrade to DVI. Am i able to go out and buy any monitor or will i have to purchase a VGA to DVI connector? Also, im looking to upgrade my graphics card. I Have a Pentinum 4 CPU 3.00 GHz. 1 gig ram. Does anyone have any suggestions for what card would suite my comp? Feel free to comment on what combinations would work best. Mainly i use my computer for gaming and watching movies. Thanks.

11-24-2008, 02:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,162 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor A graphics card has to fit into a slot on the motherboard. We need to know what motherboard you have or the make and model number if it is a store bought pc like Dell, HP, etc. Keep in mind that updating a graphics card usually means a poer supply upgrade is needed as well, the better the card, the more poer it requires. The card will come with one or more types of port to hook a monitor to, you won't know if you'll need an adapter until you decide on a card, and then often the adapters come with the card anyway. Any monitor should work, it's just a matter of deciding based on price, size, resolution, response time, contrast, and other features. Read some reviews of different monitors and try and get an idea of what you like, remember you are going to be looking at this screen for a long time, and you want to be happy with your selection. Post some specs of your computer and we'll work from there. Motherboard Brand and model (if applicable) Power supply - wattage and output in amps for the +3.3, +5, +12 volt rails. The label on the side of the psu will have a chart for the output. Also note down the manufacturer and any model number of the power supply. More information is better. __________________

11-25-2008, 12:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ramadge Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP Home SP3	Re: Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor Hey, Thanks for your reply grim. Originally my computer was made by my uncle. I was able to find some of the boxes with manuals inside that might be able to help you. CPU model number: PM8M3-V My motherboard is made by MSI: P4 (LGA 775 processor) 800MHz Chipset: VIA P4M800CE, DDR SDRAM memory (333/400MHz), AGP 8x It says it supports 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface I was just thinking it would probably be easier just to upgrade my monitor, and i could get a DVI connection as i have a VGA connection. Yours thoughts? Bump

11-26-2008, 01:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,162 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor We still need to know the details on the power supply label, specifically the output from the +12volt rail or rails. The chart will show +12v and then in the box below it how many amps (amperes) for that. If there are more than one 12volt rail, they will be listed as +12v1 and +12v2...... Those numbers are needed to see if the power supply is capable of running a video card at all, and if so, how much of a card. Also your motherboard has a VIA chipset, which means you would need to use a nVidia video card, ATI video does not work well with VIA chipsets. I have to wonder why you want to upgrade to DVI? If all you want is a new monitor, get one with both dvi and vga connectors and cables. Nothing wrong with vga, in fact I'm using an adapter from dvi to vga on my video card so that I can use the KVM switch I have. There really isn't a heck of a lot of difference in picture quality that I can tell. Upgrading the video will more than likely mean needing a new power supply as well, and that will make for a lot of cost without a large gain, unless you have a specific need for a card. __________________

11-26-2008, 03:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ramadge Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP Home SP3	Re: Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor Yeah, my original aim was to improve picture quality but going by what you are saying i may aswell just upgrade my monitor. I was just enquiring because i've got a friend who works in the IT business and he was going on about how some graphic cards might not be able to support monitors, so i thought i may as well just upgrade both. However i might just buy a new monitor and then probably a connector. Also i thought DVI was better quality? One last question, do most of the new monitors today have a VGA connector? or will i have to purchase a DVI connector? Thanks for your feedback.

11-26-2008, 11:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,162 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Upgrade: Graphics card and Monitor When you look at monitors, it should say what comes in the box. I'm using a Samsung SyncMaster 2253BW right now and it came with both dvi and vga cables, and there are 2 ports on the back of the monitor, one for each. The specs for the monitor should say what it comes with. Picture quality improves with resolution more than anything else. This 22" samsung is 1680x1050 and it looks fine, but my laptop's 17" with 1920x1200 is noticably better. However, with higher resolution comes a much higher price. Definitely get a new monitor first, then if you aren't happy with it, try a power supply and video card. What are you looking for in a monitor? __________________