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Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

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Latest post 07/30/2007 12:57 AM by etaylor34. 6 replies.
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Joined on 07/30/2007
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Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Hi I recently brought a new video card for this system it is the ATI Radeon X1550 Pro 512 MB AGP card but I was wondering if this one would work in this system? I have a P4 2.6GHz Processor, 1.25 Gigs of Ram and the default 250 Watt PSU. I think I will need a new PSU as it recommended that you have 450 Watt or higher but wanted to see if this card would work fine in this system first before doing anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Florida
Joined on 08/05/2002
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Stay away from the X1550 ( Return it if possible ), and get a much better 7600 GT AGP slot card, and no need to upgrade the power supply either.  Many like this 7600 GT card on an older system, and many have installed one with the current 250 watter.
 
If you do not send it back, than it may or may not run, but the power supply will not be the issue.  It has been noticed that at least the X1300  X1400 and X1600 ATI cards are problematic with older Dell systems such as yours, and the X1550 is just a souped up X1300 card, not much better either.  Low end

Banchetto 101 Case-Less System

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6640/295gtx.jpg 

 

eVGA 780i Mobo

eVGA 295 GTX Video

8 Gb Corsair Memory

Thermaltake TRUE Black CPU Cooler

VelociRaptor 10,000 rpm HD

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Joined on 07/30/2007
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Good thing I asked then I brought it from ebay new for $53 total so hopefully I can just resale it and get at least that back. I don't know much about Video Cards at all so I forgot to mention the one in the system now it says it is a Radeon 9600 would the one you mentioned be much better then this one?
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Florida
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Yes, 7600 GT is better, faster, over the older, slower 9600 ATI card.
 
When you do upgrade try to follow the below procedures in doing so, to have a better upgrade experience.

Proper install of a video card found here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=965852

Step One in doing it the right way…

Download the most current driver for the video card, and have it placed on the desktop for later install. Try not to use the video card driver from the cd that comes with the card, since they are some what out of date. ( If it’s a nVidia card, go to www.nvidia.com  . ATI card, than go to www.ati.com for the driver download.

Going from an ATI card to NVIDIA or vs versa, one should uninstall the old driver first, from Add/Remove program, than use a driver cleaner, to get all the old driver code completely off the system. Use the driver cleaner twice. If you are going from a nVidia card to another nVidia card ( Same for the ATI card ), you may not have to use the driver cleaner, but I do to be on the safe side, but many, including me, have not seen any issues with this procedure. Others may have.


1. Turn off the system, unplug the power cord, and push in on the systems power button for about 5 seconds to discharge the system further.

2. Remove the old card, and install the new card, firmly. Some have issues with the card working, later finding out they did not install the card firmly enough. Now attach, if required, any power cable to the card, and to a power connector on your system. ( Some video cards, but not all, may need a power connector or Molex Y power cable connected to the rear of the video card, and the other end to a power source, to get the video card to work. (Your systems power supply may have this power four pin or six pin connector )

http://www.drivercleaner.net/  Driver Cleaner Pro download site. ( Now they are charging $10 for the program, where it was free before. You can try to manually clean out the old driver if you wish, but this is still a good program to have around )

Driver Cleaner 1.5 free edition
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Other-DRIVERS-TOOLS/Others/Driver-Cleaner-Professional-15.shtml


3. Plug the power cable back in, and reboot the system. You may or may not notice that the monitor screen is larger now. Not to worry if this happens, since you are now using Microsoft’s Generic video driver, prior to installing the one you downloaded.

4. Now disable your anti virus software, and disconnect the modem at this time

5. Install the newer video card driver from the desktop, than if necessary, go into the Display Properties to reset the monitor resolution after it reboots. You are almost done. Now restart the anti virus program, and connect the modem. ( It has been noted from time to time, that the anti virus program may cause problems with the install of some drivers, and infact some games as well, so it’s best to disable this during the driver install to eliminate that possibility )

Display Properties for Windows XP.... Right click your mouse on an empty part of the monitor ( desktop ), click on Properties next, than click on Settings on top. Now look at the screen resolution bar on the left side. Move it to the proper resolution to the monitor you have. Click on Apply, than OK. The monitor will go blank for a second of two, than another box will appear in the upper left side asking you if you wish to keep the new settings. Click OK. Do so before the second counter goes down, and you have to start over.... Now you are done

Banchetto 101 Case-Less System

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6640/295gtx.jpg 

 

eVGA 780i Mobo

eVGA 295 GTX Video

8 Gb Corsair Memory

Thermaltake TRUE Black CPU Cooler

VelociRaptor 10,000 rpm HD

Windows 7 RC 7100

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Joined on 07/30/2007
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Alright thanks for the tip. I'm looking into that card and I notice that there are many brands of it like XFX, eVGA etc.. Is there a certain one that is better to go with?
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Florida
Joined on 08/05/2002
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

Get the one with the life time or longer warranty.  Both manufactures mentioned are good.  I have both the XFX and eVGA without issues.

Banchetto 101 Case-Less System

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6640/295gtx.jpg 

 

eVGA 780i Mobo

eVGA 295 GTX Video

8 Gb Corsair Memory

Thermaltake TRUE Black CPU Cooler

VelociRaptor 10,000 rpm HD

Windows 7 RC 7100

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Joined on 07/22/2007
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Re: Upgrading Video Card in Dimension 4600

I just got a new evga 7800gs and upgraded my psu, i'd stick with something you don't have to upgrade the psu on cause as i found out it might not even be worth the hassle, my old 2.0ghz processor can't even handle what my graphics card can do
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