I need a good, short, AGI or a PCI graphics card

Hanu · August 18th, 2003, 04:55 PM

I need to upgrade the graphics card in my Compaq Deskpro. It is a P3 500MHz (running Windows 2000 Pro). I know, I'm in the dark ages, but a new computer is not in the budget for at least a year.

Anyway, I got a great deal on a Asylum GeForce FX 5600 only to find that is was too tall for my case and the connectors needed a larger opening. Kudos to Best Buy for taking it back and crediting my credit card without a hassle.

I would like a card that is under $150 and is DirectX 9.0 compatible (if possible).

So far, the only one I found that should work is PNY's FX 5200 PCI card.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a short AGI card or another PCI card that would be better?

Thanks...

tony_j15 · August 18th, 2003, 05:50 PM

How exactly will it not fit? Is the case too short, opening for the end of the card not long enough? You could by a new case. Better solution than trying to find a small card, which are usually not good performers.

Peter M · August 18th, 2003, 06:21 PM

Welcome here.

Could it be that you actually need a LOWER card, not a shorter one?

The word you're looking for is "low profile" PCI or AGP cards.

http://www.cptech.com.tw/powercolor/...9000PCIEdition

Hanu · August 18th, 2003, 06:35 PM

Hi tony_j15,

I think I might have a hard time finding a new case because Compaq tends to do things their own non-standard way.

This system has a horizontal motherboard with a verticle AGP slot. It also has a vertical daughter board with horizontal PCI slots on it.

If I go with an AGP card, it will need to be about 3" tall (not including the edge connector). The opening to the outside of the case is only about 1.75 inches long (from the top of the card).

I currently have an ATI Rage Pro Turbo AGP card in it.

Thanks.

Hanu · August 18th, 2003, 06:48 PM

Hi Peter M,
You are right, I should have said "low-profile".

The N9200 looks like the right height, but I would have to cut a larger opening in the back of the case.

Do you think the ATI R9000 PCI Edition would be better than PNY NVIDIA GEFORCEFX 5200 128MB PCI?

Thanks

Peter M · August 19th, 2003, 04:58 AM

The 9200 comes with an alternate slot bracket, so it fits either low or normal profile boxes.

The PCI GeForce FX 5200 is an extremely downclocked incarnation of a chip that isn't very fast to begin with. I'd go with the ATi.

Hanu · August 23rd, 2003, 02:54 AM

Well I finally decided to take a dremel to my case and buy the RADEON 9200 128MB Low Profile card. It sounds like a great card at a very good price.

Hopefully it will come in next week.

Thanks for the good info...

Peter M · August 23rd, 2003, 01:12 PM

You'll see you won't need a larger opening. You'll just lose the 2nd VGA output when using the low-profile slot bracket. Unless you use the slot next to the card for it.

Hanu · August 23rd, 2003, 04:06 PM

My current opening is only big enough for one D-sub VGA connector, and it is positioned at the top of a low-profile card.

Even without the 2nd VGA output, the opening will need to be bigger to accommodate the 2 remaining connectors.

Thanks...

Peter M · August 23rd, 2003, 08:23 PM

You are getting a fresh slot bracket with the card. Just remove the old one in its entirety.