Need New Video Card?

M

molis

New Member
Last week my monitor went into "sleep mode" and won't come out. The only box that shows up is one saying no signal. My computer is an HP Pavilion a1650y. I've performed most of the test to isolate the problem, such as connected a new cable, tried another (working) monitor, visited HP's Web site and followed all their trouble shooting ideas. After all of this the problem is definitely in the tower and not the monitor or the cable.

I talked with a computer technician yesterday and he said to replace the video card. And I'm fine with doing that, but two weeks ago my brother had the same problem where his monitor went into sleep mode and says no signal. He took it to a local shop and the guy disconnected then reconnected most of the components inside the tower and reset his bios - problem solved. He didn't have to buy a video card.

Can someone give me some direction? Should I just buy a new video card or do I have other options? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
If it stays dark while trying to boot computer and you don't see any posting info then before buying a video card, open your case and physically take our your video card and clean the contacts with a pencil eraser and then put it back in and see it works. Does your video card require an additional power connector? Make sure its connected tight. Do you have a friend that you can borrow his video card to make sure before you buy one?

Are you using an integrated video card or a separate PCI express video card?
 
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same thing happened to me, First take your Graphic card out (completely), Boot the computer up using the Motherboard VGA (you should see the screen), shut it down then install your graphic card back in, then boot it up using the Graphic card VGA/DVI. This might work, you probably might need to reinstall the Graphic card Drivers
 
johnb35,
My video card is an ATI Radeon Xpress 200. It looks like a separate PCI express video card.

I'll open up the tower this evening and try each method, one at a time, and see if it works.

Thanks for the help so far.
 
That is actually an integrated video card. You would have to get a separate video card now if that one is actually bad.
 
johnb35,

You're right. I opened up the tower last night and saw that it was an integrated video card. My next question was going to be do I need to get a new one, but you answered that.

In regards to getting a new one, is there anything that I have to do to disable the old one or will the new one override the old one? Of course I'll be plugging my monitor into the new one, but I didn't know if the old one would interfere somehow.

I found a budget priced video card online:
ATI Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 256MB DVI/VGA/TV-Out PCI Video Card

Would this work? I don't play any games or run any graphic software that requires anything special. I'll play short videos and upload jpg. photos.

Also, is there any special considerations when looking at PCI video cards for my HP or will any of the PCI cards fit?

Thanks for the help.
 
u said your bro have same problem and took it to the shop and solved? why dont u take it to that shop?


or it could be the monitor or loose and dusty cable.
 
UpskirtHayley,

My brother lives 280 miles away, otherwise I would. I mention this to several computer shops around here and they all want to charge me to hook it up and test it. I've done most of the leg work and I can't see paying for a test when I've already figured out the problem is in the tower.
 
molis said:
johnb35,

You're right. I opened up the tower last night and saw that it was an integrated video card. My next question was going to be do I need to get a new one, but you answered that.

In regards to getting a new one, is there anything that I have to do to disable the old one or will the new one override the old one? Of course I'll be plugging my monitor into the new one, but I didn't know if the old one would interfere somehow.

I found a budget priced video card online:
ATI Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 256MB DVI/VGA/TV-Out PCI Video Card

Would this work? I don't play any games or run any graphic software that requires anything special. I'll play short videos and upload jpg. photos.

Also, is there any special considerations when looking at PCI video cards for my HP or will any of the PCI cards fit?

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Don't get a PCI video card, get a PCI-E (PCI Express)video card. According to your computer's specifications it has on open PCI Express slot. When you opened the case is there a different color slot above all the other pci slots? If there is then get something like this video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102844

It comes with a mail in rebate and free shipping. I assume you don't game so this card should fit you nicely.
 
Yes, there is a PCI Express slot above all the others. I'm going to order the one you mentioned. Thanks for all of your help, johnb35.
 
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