Can i simply toss in another video card to my XPS 410?

ebaudry · #1 04-10-2007, 07:59 PM

I currently have a Dell XPS 410 with a GeFroce7900GS Video card powering a Dell 3007FP.

I want to add 2 2001FPs, and hence need another video card.

Does my computer have room for an extra video card? Do i need an adapter or something? Since i'm using the PCI slot, do i need to get a VGA card?

What nVidia dual-dvi/dual-vga card do you like?

Thanks a lot in advance, i'm so lost [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

buckslayer80 · #2 04-10-2007, 08:56 PM

In short yes you can. Are you using the PCIe slot or a regular PCI slot? I would assume it's a PCIe slot on an XPS. If you're not a big gamer almost any dual output card will work. You need to determine what slots your motherboard has. But you can pick up any regular PCI, not PCIe or express, video card and not have to worry about determining what slots you have. If you have an AGP slot, then you have a lot more options.

And VGA is the type of connector or output, not a type of video card.

ebaudry · #3 04-11-2007, 12:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]
In short yes you can. Are you using the PCIe slot or a regular PCI slot? I would assume it's a PCIe slot on an XPS. If you're not a big gamer almost any dual output card will work. You need to determine what slots your motherboard has. But you can pick up any regular PCI, not PCIe or express, video card and not have to worry about determining what slots you have. If you have an AGP slot, then you have a lot more options.

And VGA is the type of connector or output, not a type of video card.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for your responses. Couple clarifying q's...

1) So i can buy a PCI or AGP card and not worry?

2) Could you suggest a couple good cheap cards? I have no idea which brands are good/crap and so forth.

Thanks again!

buckslayer80 · #4 04-11-2007, 11:04 AM

If you buy a PCI card you won't have to worry. You'll have to determine whether or not you have an AGP slot. Take your cover off and see if there is an empty brown slot on your motherboard. Here are 2 you can pick up almost anywhere. Search online to get them cheaper.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...d=1140392154117

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...d=1130987962366

Beavis68 · #5 04-11-2007, 03:28 PM

you dont have an AGP slot.

1 x PCIe X16
1 x PCIe X4
1 x PCIe X1
3 x PCI

the x16 is your main video card slot.

buckslayer80 · #6 04-11-2007, 04:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
you dont have an AGP slot.

1 x PCIe X16
1 x PCIe X4
1 x PCIe X1
3 x PCI

the x16 is your main video card slot.

[/ QUOTE ]

So OP,

Buy either of the cards I posted or search on your own for one with the same features.

ebaudry · #7 04-13-2007, 06:32 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If you buy a PCI card you won't have to worry. You'll have to determine whether or not you have an AGP slot. Take your cover off and see if there is an empty brown slot on your motherboard. Here are 2 you can pick up almost anywhere. Search online to get them cheaper.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...d=1140392154117

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...d=1130987962366

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks a lot, a appreciate the help.

I did pick up 2 of the GeForce 5200s, one seems to be by nvidia, the other is by PNY i think. I thought they were identical when i bought them, now i'm less sure.

I put one in, restarted and my computer after preventing Windows from booting, required me to boot from the last known working state.

What am i doing wrong? I haven't installed any drivers, i believe that the current GeForce7900 drivers take care of that, right?

buckslayer80 · #8 04-13-2007, 09:30 AM

I don't understand what you're saying. Did you install both of the new cards at once and then Windows won't start? Why did you pick up 2 5200s? I thought you were only going to be running 3 monitors?

BiPolar_Nut · #9 04-13-2007, 11:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't installed any drivers, i believe that the current GeForce7900 drivers take care of that, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

No.

ebaudry · #10 04-13-2007, 10:10 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I don't understand what you're saying. Did you install both of the new cards at once and then Windows won't start? Why did you pick up 2 5200s? I thought you were only going to be running 3 monitors?

[/ QUOTE ]

I bought one for one 2001FP, and a 2nd for the other... although i admit that not till this exact second did i realize how stupid that is since the card has a DVI and a VGA output and i don't need it to be DVI for both. Duh, sorry for cluttering all our brains with my diarrhea ;-)