Looking For A Video Card

[bino]

My computer is an HP Pentium 4, 2.8 GhZ, with the video on the motherboard. I want to add another monitor to extend my desktop. (In order to have a TV window open while working on other stuff! ) I also want to have a Yellow "Video Out" jack to connect to the television for watching DVDs and movies.

There is no AGP slot- only have PCI slots available for expansion. I'm not a gamer- so I don't need the state of the art mega 3D capable expensive card. Just something that will give me another monitor and video out.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what card I should be looking for to accomplish this?

Any input appreciated- thanks in advance!

Edited January 9, 2008 by bino

[Guest Reimar]

My computer is an HP Pentium 4, 2.8 GhZ, with the video on the motherboard. I want to add another monitor to extend my desktop. (In order to have a TV window open while working on other stuff! ) I also want to have a Yellow "Video Out" jack to connect to the television for watching DVDs and movies.

There is no AGP slot- only have PCI slots available for expansion. I'm not a gamer- so I don't need the state of the art mega 3D capable expensive card. Just something that will give me another monitor and video out.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what card I should be looking for to accomplish this?

Any input appreciated- thanks in advance!

Please post your MB details here so that we can help you more easy.

Cheers.

[bino]

Please post your MB details here so that we can help you more easy.

Sorry- but can't tell you much more than I have already. The motherboard isn't a third-party/ branded model. It is as supplied by Hewlett Packard.

Maybe you can tell me what information you need, and I can try and find it out?

Thanks!

[sniffdog]

Not a lot of older MB support multiple monitors and or VGA out. I guess you have to find a graphics card with a multiple (DVI0 input and a VGA out.

================================================================================

=================

I'm not a gamer- so I don't need the state of the art mega 3D capable expensive card.

================================================================================

=================

Mind that also for smooth streaming video playback you need a good video card. Look for a card in around the THB 3,500 - 4,000 baht range.

[Guest Reimar]

Please post your MB details here so that we can help you more easy.

Sorry- but can't tell you much more than I have already. The motherboard isn't a third-party/ branded model. It is as supplied by Hewlett Packard.

Maybe you can tell me what information you need, and I can try and find it out?

Thanks!

A system information tool like Everest will give the info. Need the MB Model No. like P4E800 or some a bit similar!

Without to know which limitation the MB has we can't help or may the info we post are not correct.

[bkk_mike]

Without a PCI Express or AGP slot, you're going to have a very hard time finding a graphics card. (There are some PCI graphics cards, but I haven't bought one personally for years, and I don't think many will support two monitors by themselves.)

i.e. I believe Gainward does an FX5200 Graphics card that's PCI based, and has DVI and TV outputs. However I wouldn't know if you could still use your motherboard graphics for one monitor along with the monitor being driven from the card. Also, I have no idea if it's available in Thailand.

(You might be better off with a single widescreen monitor rather than a dual monitor - OR you go the whole hog, and replace the motherboard so that you can get PCI-Express, and use a proper graphics card).

Edit: Digging around, there are quite a few PCI FX5200 cards, and they do generally support two monitors (one DVI and one analog, as well as the TV output, although the TV output would be the same as one of the other monitors)

However, they do mostly date from a few years ago, and prices can vary from £10 to £100 for the same card. (presumably the £100 being the original RRP).

Still - the issue of finding one in Thailand...? It's the sort of thing you can come across in Pantip, just not usually when it's what you're looking for.

Edited January 9, 2008 by bkk_mike

[bino]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and input! Much appreciated.

Everest says:

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional

OS Service Pack Service Pack 2

DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Computer Name HPCOMPAQ (HPCOMPAQ)

User Name Administrator

Motherboard

CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 2800 MHz (21 x 133)

Motherboard Name Lite-On NR138

Motherboard Chipset Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV

System Memory 512 MB (DDR SDRAM)

BIOS Type AMI (05/28/04)

Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)

Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display

Video Adapter Intel® 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)

3D Accelerator Intel Extreme Graphics

Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (629049504003)

Multimedia

Audio Adapter Intel 82801DB ICH4 - AC'97 Audio Controller [b-0]