compfused!lol

[1low_s10]

sorry bout the title there,But Im really confused right now!my pc Im running is an old dell,Ive been updating the drivers!Well I have an intel i810e chipset,drivers for that are updated with newest driver of 8/23/2003 got ti from intel! now I went to dells website and under display for this model shows nvidia drivers,well I downloaded and installed,but for some reason everywhere I look it say nothing bout the nvidia drivers!just the intel,Im wantin to run 32 bit graphics and my pc hdd is 15 gig,(fat32)I dunno if that makes a difference but under display the only options I have is med 16 bit and high 24?is there a way to run 32 bit on this pc?I really could use the help! without investing a new card!

[Dogsofjune]

What you are saying is, you believe that you have an Nvidia based video card but you haven't verified that in your hardware properties?
Unless it's a special proprietary board made for Dell with the video integrated on board, you should be able to use the Nvida drivers.

If indeed you do have an Nvidia based GPU then I'd get the video drivers straight from the source. Piss on Dell.
http://www.nvidia.com/page/home.html

[Mikz86TA]

Which Dell model?
desktop or laptop?

[1low_s10]

its a optiplex gx110 desktop

[D-Caf]

Wow, that's an older one:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx110/en/ug/specs.htm

PIII, Intel graphics
Looks like it doesn't come with Nvidia graphics by default, that would require and add on card. Most likely it only has Intel on board, and only 4MB of ram for the graphics. One way to check would be to look where you plug in the monitory. If you plug it in near where the keyboard, mouse and other ports plug in, it's using Intel graphics. If it's further away from these ports and at a different angle (depends on the case) it might be an NVidia card.

This most likely means 24bit is the best you can run. 24bit color is considered "truecolor" most 32bit systems display the same 24bits of color just with additional information (non-color info). So I wouldn't worry about it. Even with an older Nvidia card, it's likely 24bits is the best it's going to run.

[1low_s10]

But some programs I try to run says to run 32 bit true color?no matter what I adjust it to nothing works!there is a virtual world website I want to get on but says I need 32 bit true color!

[1low_s10]

I am running a 15 gig hard drive would that affect the color display to where I cant set it @ 32 bit?

[Dogsofjune]

I am running a 15 gig hard drive would that affect the color display to where I cant set it @ 32 bit?
HDD has nothing to do with it.

[bespurcell]

I know this isn't what you asked for, but here is a site for cheap computers. Yes they are refurbished.http://www.refurbdepot.com/category.cfm?PageID=201

[Jay_Pollard]

Nope, your Hard drive sive will have nothing to do with this.
Lets face the facts here.. (im not bashing you, I myself own a dell as well)
Its a Dell. Dell, for the most part, uses Old, Outdated Technology to build theur current computers. This is why back in the day, you could get a dell for REAL cheap. Still can. My Dimension 2400 was $350 I think.. anywho, im willing to bet you have on board graphics, (meaning the graphics card is built into the mother board, motherboard being the "spine" of the computer, its what everything is built off of and plugged into) If you have onboard graphics, and with the computer being XX years old, your not gonna get any better than 24bit.. Unless you have a add on graphics card, which Im not 100% sure you can do with the dell's, ur SOL.
Welcome to Dell Hell. LOL

[1low_s10]

thanks jay and no offense taken,And yes I have a intel i810e chipset which is onboard!

[1low_s10]

I know this isn't what you asked for, but here is a site for cheap computers. Yes they are refurbished.http://www.refurbdepot.com/category.cfm?PageID=201
ya know I dint ask but for the best behalf thank you!That place has some good deals!thanks man!

[1low_s10]

so I decided to stay with this old pc(dont have money for anopther one)and am gonna put another video card in this,it requires a pci card,would like to find a 32 bit or higher 128mb or higher for under $50,Any ideas?

[C4Tom]

Have you installed the intel graphics drivers to see if that fixes it? Anything in recent memory should handle 32 bit graphics.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

I'm still not convinced that you absolutely need 32 bit color. 24 bit color wasn't widely utilized. There was a bit of a jump from 16 bit to 32 bit as far as most manufacturers go. And really 32 bit isn't that much better. Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth read the "true color" and "32-bit color fields".

That being said, these programs or website that say you're required to have 32-bit color, have you tried using them regardless? Do they load up, or do they give you an error saying that 32-bit color is required? If they do load up, they're probably going to work flawlessly and you're not even going to notice any quality difference. If you get an error message, my feelings are that it was programed poorly and that value should have never been hard coded in.

[1low_s10]

well when I try to run these virtual world websites it says I got to adjust to 32 but true color! my pc wont run but up to 24!

[1low_s10]

well I did some research on my graphics card and found out my intel (R) 82810e graphics controller does not support 32 bit it just supports 16 bit z buffer?any ideas or help?

[1low_s10]

ok Im lost! one site says its not 32 bit supporteive! but intels well I thinks its sayin different?reads and tell me what you think?
Display Cache Interface
The 82810E GMCH supports a Display Cache DRAM controller with a 32-bit 100/133 MHz DRAM
array. The DRAM type supported is industry standard Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) like that of the
system memory. The local memory DRAM controller interface is fully configurable through a set of
control registers. Complete descriptions of these registers are given in Chapter 3, “Configuration
Registers”.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

well I did some research on my graphics card and found out my intel (R) 82810e graphics controller does not support 32 bit it just supports 16 bit z buffer?any ideas or help?

a Z buffer is not related to what color depth you can display. Z buffers have to do with 3d graphics.

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

well when I try to run these virtual world websites it says I got to adjust to 32 but true color! my pc wont run but up to 24!

Right, but does it not actually allow you visit the site? Seems like it'd let you do it anyway. Just b/c the requirement say 32-bit doesn't necessarily mean that it won't let you use it.

[1low_s10]

it will let me go to the site,but I have to download and install the program to use the virtual world!thats what I cant do.

[1low_s10]

a Z buffer is not related to what color depth you can display. Z buffers have to do with 3d graphics.
ok thanks man I appreciate this

[1low_s10]

since my bit dispaly is only max high 24 it says I have to run 32 bit true color,and like I said guys I can go to the site I just cant run the software to use it!

[1low_s10]

and my intel 82810e drivers are up to date now 7.20.2002 version 6.13

[C4Tom]

You will need a new graphics card... I found a website that says your graphics adaptor is not Directx 9 compatible.

[1low_s10]

yea I kinda figured that,now to find one that I can run 32 bit display on for under $50 but has to be pci! and minimum of 128 mb

[C4Tom]

I would check ebay. You should be able to grab a very nice used card for $50 shipped.

[1low_s10]

just to give an idea heres the specs Im looking for in a pci!

NVIDIA: Any GeForce 4 or better, with 64MB of VRAM
ATI: Any ATI Radeon 9500 or better, with 64MB of VRAM

[1low_s10]

hopefully to find 1 under $50

[TreasonAgainstCaesar]

heres's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-Radeon-9250-128MB-128-MB-PCI-Video-Card-for-Desktop_W0QQitemZ330222665487QQihZ014QQcategoryZ37 62QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wouldn't worry about getting a 9500. it's not like you're really going to be doing any gaming, am I right? The other specs on your computer are holding you back there, so no reason to go overkill on the vid card

[1low_s10]

your right treason and I agree man thanks

[1low_s10]

I mean Im running direct x 9.0c but guess thats not good enough...lol

[C4Tom]

Running it(having it loaded on your system) doesn't mean it's usable. Your video card has to be able to make use of it's rendering capabilities.

Newegg.com under $50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609642+4025&name=%2425+-+%2450 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609642+4025&name=%2425+-+%2450)

[1low_s10]

ok so I downloaded eversts a diagnostic tool for free,and under graphics processor,under directx hardware support says v6.0 but when I run dxdiag says Im running 9.0c?

[C4Tom]

That's because you video card(hardware) supports up to directx 6... you have 9 loaded but because of the hardware... no using it I suppose.

[1low_s10]

aah ok ic, thanks guess time for a better card then

[Tuteuk]

aah ok ic, thanks guess time for a better card then


I would start with a better motherboard to plug a new card into..If your onboard graphics says Ver. 6...no matter how much you spend on a new video card..it is only as usuable as the motherboard it is plugged into....
Kinda like have a V12.....but only getting to use 4 cyls...LOL

Save your money...buy a better system and then a newer card..at least then you will get to use all of the new video cards power and have less frustration...:)

Good luck..:)

[1low_s10]

problem is I dont have the money to buy another system and if I did do that Im building a custom one again!

[bespurcell]

Save your money and do it right. It will be cheaper in the long run.

[G33k]

I'm with bes. You can built a pretty decent system for around $400 bucks or maybe even a bit less if your really cheap that will outperform that Dell box by a long shot.

[1low_s10]

yea I know what ya mean damn I miss my ultra pc,It may not been the fastest but it was the fatsest pc I have owned