Need new video card for an HP dc7900

[dbvogt]

The original video card failed on my dc7900 (bought in 2009)  - an Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 PCie x 16. A local repair shop replaced it with an ATI Radeon x300/x550 but the performance index went down from 3.2 to 2.0 and the driver is apparently causing BSODs when I use Google Earth or even let the screensaver start. If I disable the screensaver, the PC will crash when I'm working. ATI/AMD says it does not support the card under Windows 7 and their drivers are for Vista. I've got Windows 7 Ultimate with two monitors.

I'd like to get an upgrade card but the designation of cards is a bit confusing and I don't know if all the cards would work in the PC. There is PCI 1 and 2. The Quadro 290 had 256 MB. Can I upgrade to a 300, say, with 512 MB or even something higher? The HP site page for the dc7900 recommends the Nvidia card but does not sell it and does not have a recommendation for a substitute. Nvidia did not respond to an email asking for an upgrade model. Any suggestions? Any problems I have to be concerned about like an insufficient power supply?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Do you have the Small Form Factor or the Convertible Mini Tower?

That makes a difference in the power supply and whether or not you need a low profile card with a low profile mounting bracket or not.

That is ridiculous that they put that old card in your machine.

The older dc7800 came with an optional Radeon 2400 HD, for heaven's sake.

According to the specs for the new 8200 Elite you should be able to install an NVS-295/300 in yours be it SFF or CMT, but I was looking at the prices for those and they are well over $100.

My recommendation for a SFF is the Radeon 6450 HD 1 GB card (less than $50) and the CMT the Radeon 6570 HD (less than $70).

I put a Radeon 6570 HD 1 GB in my dc7800 CMT and it works fantastic.

Both the cards I referenced can use the latest windows 7 drivers from AMD.

Paul

[dbvogt]

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Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi:

 Do you have the Small Form Factor or the Convertible Mini Tower?

 That makes a difference in the power supply and whether or not you need a low profile card with a low profile mounting bracket or not.

 That is ridiculous that they put that old card in your machine.

 The older dc7800 came with an optional Radeon 2400 HD, for heaven's sake.

 According to the specs for the new 8200 Elite you should be able to install an NVS-295/300 in yours be it SFF or CMT, but I was looking at the prices for those and they are well over $100.

 My recommendation for a SFF is the Radeon 6450 HD 1 GB card (less than $50) and the CMT the Radeon 6570 HD (less than $70).

 I put a Radeon 6570 HD 1 GB in my dc7800 CMT and it works fantastic.

 Both the cards I referenced can use the latest windows 7 drivers from AMD.

 Paul

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Hello,

Thank you for the reply. My dc7900 is a CMT. I'll look at the Radeon 6750 and compare it with the Nvidia 300 which has, I think, 512 MB. If you get 1 gig with the Radeon at a lower cost, that seens to be the way to go.

Doug

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Doug:

This is the exact one I got. I bought one for my 8200 Elite CMT (same as yours, just 3 models newer).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161374

I liked it so much, I got one for my dc7800 CMT (one model older than yours).

That card is on sale now with a rebate.

Paul

[dbvogt]

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Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi, Doug:

This is the exact one I got. I bought one for my 8200 Elite CMT (same as yours, just 3 models newer).

 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161374

 I liked it so much, I got one for my dc7800 CMT (one model older than yours).

 That card is on sale now with a rebate.

 Paul

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Hi Paul,

Thanks for the fast response! This is an ATI/AMD clone or is Radeon more or less for marketing purposes? The reviews are good and if it fits in your PCs that are in the same line as mine, I can be fairly confident it will work. The nomenclature is confusing - now it's up to PCI 2.1. Is there a designation that tells me it supports two monitors?

Doug

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Doug:

AMD bought ATI a few years ago. 

Radeon HD is just the trade name for their graphics cards, just like GeForce is a trade name for comparible nVidia cards.

PCie 2.1 is the version of the PCIe x16 video slot.  The card should support dual monitors (you hook one up to the VGA port and one up to the DVI port).

The case of the dc7900 is exactly the same as the dc7800's.

Those were the only 2 models of that case design. It changed with the 8000 Elite.

I am 99.99% certain that card will run just fine in your PC.

The Radeon 6570 HD should get you at least a WEI graphics score in the mid to high 5's with your PC.

I think in my dc7800 it is something like 5.6 and my 8200 Elite it is 6.8. I'm sure that score is dependent not only on the video card itself, but the other hardware that is installed, memory size, memory speed,, etc.

Plus no fan on that card to break or make noise.

One other thing on these older business desktops. On my 8200 Elite, it just installed and that was that.

On my dc7800, it installed but the onboard HDMI audio on the card knocked out my onboard audio.

The fix is simple. Load the card, boot the PC up. Let it install the card in Windows. Then restart the PC. Go into the BIOS. In the device configuration menu, there will now be an onboard audio setting (you don't have one now). The onboard audio setting will be set to disabled. Change it to Enabled. Save the setting there and again when you exit.

The PC will restart, your PC's audio will be back, and enjoy your video card.

Paul

[dbvogt · Accepted solution]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the information. I've ordered the card and hope it lasts. Nice to know the graphics speed will be better than with the original card. I used to build my own PCs from 386, 486 (using OS/2 and SCSI drives) and through early Pentiums but the motherboard changes left most of my spare parts obsolete. It's safer not to be on the bleeding edge.

On another forum, someone gave me hints on using Bluescreenview to find out what causes crashes. It turns out the ATI driver is the cause and probably because the card is not supported under Windows 7 per ATI's Web site. Again, thank you for the assistance - these forums are great!

Doug

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Doug.

Please post back in a few days after you get your card, and tell us how you like it.

Paul

[dbvogt]

OK, will do.

[dbvogt]

Hi Paul,

Got the card today. Unfortunately, the card has a 24 pin socket and a standard video output socket. My splitter cable and the old card have the  59 pin socket. HP supplied two 18 pin patch cables that will fit the 24 pin socket but nothing to go to the 15 pin monitor cable.

I assume the 24 pin cable is the DVI port and a place like Best Buy would have a patch cord to go from the port to the 15 pin monitor cable.