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Need help upgrading graphics card to program XNA
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 16:21 |
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I use Visual Studio 2008 + XNA 3.0 and it tells me no suitable graphics card can be found. My current card supports Direct3D 9, but has no pixel or vertex shader.
XNA 3.0 Requires:
"A graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 1.1 (Shader Model 2.0 is recommended and required for some Starter Kits)."
This is my computer information from Compaq (yes, its a very old computer):
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docum...&product=240406
Compaq Presario 8000Z-8ZSXE2 8000 Series Internet Desktop PC
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2
AMD Athlon XP 2000+ 1.66GHZ CPU
1GB DDR RAM (maxed out)
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
Steady State 220W PSU
I also took CPUZ images (sorry they are so big):
I got excited to see this deal:
http://microcenter.com/single_product_re...duct_id=0291885
but then I saw it requires a 250W PSU >.<
I am trying to upgrade my video card so I can program XNA, but I'm also not trying to break the bank.
So if you guys can offer any suggestions and help, they would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. October 2009 @ 16:37
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 16:43 |
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The FX5200 will work with your PSU. The 250W PSU is recommended, it is not required.
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 16:53 |
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Thank you so much again Sam. It is great to know you and ddp are still helping people with their computers here. Thanks so much to both of you.
I'm ordering this right now and can't wait to program at my own house instead of driving over and doing it at my friends house.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. October 2009 @ 16:59
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 16:58 |
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No problem, but can I ask, what are you actually programming that requires vertex shaders? The FX5200 is a ridiculously slow card, there might be something else you can find that would do a better job.
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 17:01 |
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Upon further research, vertex shaders aren't required, just pixel shader 1.1:
"Hardware requirements are identical to those for Visual Studio 2008, plus a graphics card that supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 1.1 (Shader Model 2.0 is recommended and required for some Starter Kits)."
I am going to college to be a video game programmer. This is my last semester and we are making a huge XNA 3.0 game that is basically on the shoulders of myself and my friend for programming (we are the only qualified people to do so in the class).
I used to program on the computers at my friend's house and college, but I feel that I will be needing to program at home this time.
If you feel there are better cards to look at, go ahead and recommend them to me and I will look at them.
Also, this will be my first time upgrading a graphics card.
So I just turn the computer off, swap the cards in the AGP slot, turn the computer on, and it should be ok right?
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. October 2009 @ 17:09
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 17:12 |
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You need to also turn the power off to the PC from the mains (or remove the plug) before you change a graphics card.
Something like this is quite cheap and roughly 6-8x as powerful as the FX5200:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073
Just make sure you don't still need the power connector for your floppy drive.
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 17:18 |
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Of course I would remove the power plug >.<
That does look like a great graphics card, it has Shader Model 3.0.
I assume the power pin it will use will come off of my floppy drive?
I never use the floppy drive for anything, but how do I make sure I don't need it?
Also I 100% trust you, but you did make sure this is compatible with my chipset and info in the 1st post right?
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. October 2009 @ 17:19
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 17:26 |
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Yes, fortunately the XP 2000+ and MX420 aren't quite old enough to be the first AGP standard with a higher voltage.
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 17:29 |
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And also its completely safe to unplug my floppy drive correct?
After we sort this out, I'll definitely buy the card you recommended to me.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 17:30 |
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Yes, but only if you also remove the data cable. Otherwise your PC will notice there's a drive there on bootup, but be unable to communicate with it due to it not being powered, which will hang the PC at the BIOS.
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Senior Member
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6. October 2009 @ 17:39 |
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Thank you very much again Sam. You have solved my problem kindly again.
I'm going to rip open my computer and make sure everything is good and then order the card.
I'll post the results of this operation when the time comes.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. October 2009 @ 17:39 |
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Sure. Good luck with the upgrade, and the project :)
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ddp
Moderator
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6. October 2009 @ 23:20 |
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have to load the printer driver for new card after you uninstall old driver & card in that order.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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7. October 2009 @ 08:28 |
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Printer driver?
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ddp
Moderator
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7. October 2009 @ 13:06 |
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meant video as just finished posting on another thread about dot matrix printer.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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7. October 2009 @ 14:50 |
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Heh, been there done that. Yeah it is wise to uninstall the old driver first.
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Senior Member
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14. October 2009 @ 01:10 |
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Thanks both of you. I installed it today with success and I am XNA 3.0 ready.
I just have to learn to accept the fan going 24/7, the price of power.
CPUZ:
How hard would you guys say it is to install a CPU?
If you mess up it kills the mobo right?
I have a 2.2GHZ CPU upgrade, but I've always been afraid to try to install it.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14. October 2009 @ 01:13
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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14. October 2009 @ 06:41 |
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Originally posted by LufianGuy:
I just have to learn to accept the fan going 24/7, the price of power.
Actually there are ways of solving that problem if you're willing to do a bit of simple modification.
Installing a CPU is dead easy, you can't really mess it up as the CPU will only fit one way round, and CPU sockets are ZIF (zero insertion force) so you don't need to push it in. As for the CPU you have, you obviously need to make sure it's compatible with your motherboard. (I highly doubt it is compatible)
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Senior Member
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14. October 2009 @ 16:10 |
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Yea you are right, this is a dual core I got for building my own comp, I just never got around to it. Paid $82 for it new.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211
Would make a good summer project after I graduate.
The only problem I have had is I restarted the computer once and one light turned red while the other stayed green and the monitor went blank. I turned off the computer by holding the power button.
I haven't noticed any other problems.
Thanks to everyone for enlightening me!
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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14. October 2009 @ 20:26 |
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Well you can't put that in this PC, it isn't compatible.
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