Video Card Troubleshooting for Dell Dimension 4700

[AAShooter]

I am playing the local family and friends IT support guy. I have a family member that is tech challenge. They have a Dell Dimension 4700 that has bee working great for their needs. It has integrated graphics "card" on the motherboard. Computer specs: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...0/sm/specs.htm

Recently, the video has been going crazy. After about 45 minutes or see, it will present small horizontal rectangles of graphics (1/4" by 1 1/2") at various places on the display. Sometimes they are black but often contains what appears to be appropriate content just drawn in the wrong place. Some times when you mouse over things, it will repaint it correctly. Other times it will not. Eventually the screen becomes unusable and the machine will ultimately crash if not rebooted.

If you reboot it, it will be fine for a short period of time and start doing it again. If you let everything cool down and restart the computer, it takes about 45 minutes or so to re-appear as described above.

I don't know if I have a bad motherboard and I need to replace that. I am hoping to put in a video card and disable the on-board video and solve the problem that way. I am looking at using this video card: Galaxy 21GGE8HX3AUM GeForce 210 Video Card - 1GB, DDR2, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 1x Dual-Link DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x VGA, DirectX 10.1, Single-Slot. After rebates it is $15.00 and is within the 305 watt power supply of the computer.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6671492&Sku=G458-0212

I am looking for basic functionality the only gaming done on the machine is Scrabble and Mahjong. Does this seem like a reasonable way to go? If I need a new mother board, I will probably move them to a "new" used computer. If installing the video card fixes the problem, I would like to go that way.

Any advice or suggestions welcome/appreciated. Sorry for the long post.

[jgraham7897]

It could go either way. Chances are it may be the motherboard but for $15 I would try and use the graphics card.

[Dubious_Beans]

My wife has an ancient Dell 2400 that had the onboard video go bad a couple of years ago.
I stuck a cheap video card in it and disabled the onboard vid and it's been fine ever since.

Here's hoping you get as lucky...

[AAShooter]

I was afraid you guys were gonna' say that.

[SouperMan]

Before you spend any money, take a good flashlight to shed some light to see if there are any bulging or leaky capacitors. If there is, the motherboard is on it's way out. If it isn't, you can just get a external video card.

[AAShooter]

I didn't see any problems with the capacitors so I have a video board on order.

[Mute]

Only $15. Just try it.

[Meety Peety]

About the only thing you can do if you're on a budget would be to buy a card like you had planned. The system is too old to upgrade, if you did you would essentially be forced into building an entirely new computer, no point. The only unsettling thing about the fix is that the card you plan to buy is terribly outdated and the system you have is worse. I'd expect to run into driver issues once you get it up and running - probably better off using the driver that auto installs rather than trying to use a current one. Other than that, looks like your mobo has the correct slot. Definitely ensure that your heat displacement is functioning properly before installing the card, because it sounds like it isn't and heat will destroy an aftermarket card a lot faster than your onboard went. Also you may need to pick up a DVI to VGA adapter depending on how old the monitor is, likely running VGA.

EDIT: After a second look, the card has VGA support so you're fine there.

[AAShooter]

Thanks.

[the86d]

Try a PCI card on multiple slots, as sometimes they have issues with certain shared slots.

Caps leaking on board?

Caps leaking in the Power Supply?

[Curtis]

I had an issue with an integrated video card. It was also a small format Dell system that required a special video card. I contacted Dell, but they didn't help. They did give me the parts number when I asked about order a card....then I found the same card for about $15 (a third of the Dell price).

I was able to use the remote access software to verify it wasn't the motherboard. The only problem I have had is with the remote access software doesn't work now.

Good luck!

[the86d]

I would check the caps on the board... then inside the P/Supply.

It may have worked, but leaking caps only get worse.

[Bryansix]

Computers have life-spans. There is a reason that most Dell business line ship with three year warranties and the longest you can purchase at sale is five years. After five years, computers start having all sorts of issues. On the dimension there may be diagnostics. If so you would get an option for diags in the boot selection menu in the BIOS.

That being said, the only other advice I have is to run fan-less graphics cards in these dinosaur machines. Why? Because the user obviously is trying to run the machine into the ground and so with a fan-less model at least you have one less thing which might break down the road.

Still, recommend a new computer.

[AAShooter]

Computers have life-spans. There is a reason that most Dell business line ship with three year warranties and the longest you can purchase at sale is five years. After five years, computers start having all sorts of issues. On the dimension there may be diagnostics. If so you would get an option for diags in the boot selection menu in the BIOS.

That being said, the only other advice I have is to run fan-less graphics cards in these dinosaur machines. Why? Because the user obviously is trying to run the machine into the ground and so with a fan-less model at least you have one less thing which might break down the road.

Still, recommend a new computer.

Not bad advice but sometimes upgrade/change is not always welcome by the user, especially elderly ones.

[AAShooter]

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions. The new video card seems to have solved the problem.