Hi,

My processor is:

Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz
Version: x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1
Speed: 3192 MHz

Under "video card", it says:

Model: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Driver: ialmnt5.sys

My OS is Windows XP.

Does this mean I can install a video card that needs a PCI express compliant motherboard? How would go about getting a PCI express supplementary power connector?

I'm asking because I'm thinking of getting the following graphics card, NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX 7900GTX 512MB PCIe SLi Video JH466, and I want to know if my system can run it. (I think my monitor will be ok.)

Thanks for any responses!

Well would need more information before we could answer than, namely motherboard or system make/model number. Perhaps though with the image below from here you will be able to tell on your own. Look at the different slots on your board to determine if you have either the PCI-exoress x16 or AGP slot. If you have an AGP slot then you can't use a PCI Express card. It is unlikely that your board will have both.

Another thing to consider is you power supply (PSU). Look at it and post back on total wattage of the PSU; it should be on a label on it.

To find out if the desired graphics card will "fit/function", we need the machines motherboard information.

Download, install, and run Everest Home Edition (CLEAN FreeWare) on this machine. Once it's finished loading and running, look under;

MOTHERBOARD
Post what is listed for your Motherboard (make/model) and the Motherboard Chipset description.

Post that information exactly as presented by the program.

Thanks for the replies! I dare not go in search of my motherboard to actually see what it's like, but here is what Everest tells me:

Motherboard properties
Motherboard ID <DMI>
Motherboard Name Dell OptiPlex GX280

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 800 MHz
Bandwidth 6400 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type Dual DDR2 SDRAM
Bus Width 128-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 400 MHz
Bandwidth 6400 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel Direct Media Interface

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Dell Computer Corporation


Under "Chipset", Everest lists:

North Bridge: Intel Grantsdale-G i915G
South Bridge: Intel 82801FB ICH6

North Bridge Properties
North Bridge Intel Grantsdale-G i915G
Revision / Stepping 04 / B1
Package Type 1210 Pin FC-BGA
Package Size 3.75cm x 3.75cm
Core Voltage 1.5 V
In-Order Queue Depth 12

Memory Controller
Type Dual Channel (128-bit)
Active Mode Dual Channel (128-bit)

Memory Timings
CAS Latency (CL) 3T
RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD) 3T
RAS Precharge (tRP) 3T
RAS Active Time (tRAS) 8T

Error Correction
ECC Not Supported
ChipKill ECC Not Supported
RAID Not Supported
ECC Scrubbing Not Supported

Memory Slots
DRAM Slot #1 512MB (DDR2-400 DDR2 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot #2 256MB (DDR2-400 DDR2 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot #3 512MB (DDR2-400 DDR2 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot #4 256MB (DDR2-400 DDR2 SDRAM)

Integrated Graphics Controller
Graphics Controller Type Intel GMA 900
Graphics Controller Status Enabled
Graphics Frame Buffer Size 8 MB

PCI Express Controller
PCI-E x16 port #2 Empty

Chipset Manufacturer
Company Name Intel Corporation


I hope those are the details you meant, Dan Penny. Looking at the section called "PCI Express Controller", I'm getting my hopes up...!

Thanks again.

It looks like it however you also need to take into account whether or not your PSU is powerful enough. I suggest that you check the label on it before buying the card. It requires a 400 watt psu. Looking on the inside of the case it is the box that your power cord plugs into. There will be a lot of wires coming out of it.

According to this machine report: Documentation, it has PCI Express capabilities. (PCI Express).....

It also doesn't have a powerful enough PSU.

Hi, thanks for the following:

Originally Posted by townsbg

It also doesn't have a powerful enough PSU.

Could you tell me how you could tell that from the information I posted? (I tried figuring out the PSU thing by looking at the back of my computer, but I couldn't tell...)

Thanks!

Hi again,

I noticed the 'Power' section now on the Dell documentation page, which lists the wattage. You're right -- too small!

Well, thanks anyways guys! At least I learned a lot for the future about what my computer can and can't do. Maybe I'll manage to find a decent graphics card that runs on the wattage I have.