Old Video suggestions, Please

[Jim123]

Hi, Need help, This is going back in time, I'm hoping that you guys can help. Because Video Cards of this era are cheep, somewhere under $20.00 can get you a card that back in 97 would be the equivalent of a Geforce4 today, and I'm only looking in the geforce2 range. What cards would you suggest even in the 4mb range. I'm setting up 3 units like this for friends, our company upgraded their PC and gave us these units FREE. The following is my request for information from Compaq Support and their response back. I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this. My goal is to make these PC be all that they can be (but not more). I just know I can do better then 2mb (the upgrade is no longer available)

Thank you, very much
Jim

units specs: PS145W Pen2 233, 66BUS, 32MB SDRAM, 384MB max,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is the e-mail I sent to Compaq Support:



COMMENTS:
Hello, I'm doing a clean install of Windows98se and at this time I would
like to upgrade the video, by adding a PCI plug and play card with about
8
to 16mb of video ram. I found where I can disable the onboard Video
controller, is that all I need do? and can the system handle the
additional 4 to 8mb of video ram.

I could not find anything on this for the Deskpro 2000 6233MMX.

Thank you
Jim

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is Support e-mail back



Thank you for contacting HP eServices.

This is with reference to your e-mail regarding 'Video RAM'.

The serial number (6751BMJ2D472) provided indicates that your system is a Deskpro 2000.

This unit was shipped with a Matrox performance graphics (Integrated) w/2MB of 100Mhz SGRAM. Compaq has not tested 8MB or 16MB of video RAM on this unit. This unit supports maximum of 4MB of video RAM.

However, we would suggest that you download and install the latest ROMPaq from the link given below:
<http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/deskpro/us/download/1056.html>
ROMPaq for Deskpro 2000 (686M ROM)
version 98.12.10 (10 Dec 98)

Download SP8437.exe

Please follow the installation procedure from the link given below:
<ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp8001-8500/sp8437.txt>

Note: You can install PCI card. When you install the PCI card the onboard video card will be disabled automatically.

Given below are the part numbers of the graphics card that Compaq has tested on this unit:
2 MB SGRAM Module (on Pentium II processor models) 270834-B21

Thanks and Regards,
HP eServices



:|:|

 

[heliomphalodon]

Well, I've got a couple of PCI Voodoo3 3000 16MB cards and a couple of PCI Matrox Millennium II 8MB cards that I'd entertain offers on...

 

[HowAboutBob]

I think it may be difficult to find PCI cards.
NewEgg stocks a few.

The "secondary market" may be worthwhille.
Bob

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

IIRC the best PCI 4-MB cards were the nVidia RIVA 128s, which I used with my P2-233 back in the day. I have one you can have for free (I would just need to be reimbursed for shipping). They can actually run Quake 2-engine games, such as Half-Life and its many offshoots, reasonably well.

 

[Jim123]

Thanks everyone for your reply, What is the best way to talk.

Again, Thank you
Jim

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Jim123
Thanks everyone for your reply, What is the best way to talk.

Again, Thank you
Jim

Enable Private Messaging and send us PM if you want to.