Upgrading graphics card on an old Dell Precision - Teh Forum

<body> <div id="header"> <span class="left"> <span class="back"><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT"><span class="image mobile_back" title="Back"></span></a></span> <span class="image mobile_logo" title="Beehive Forum Logo"></span> </span> <ul> <li> <a class="reply_all" href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.0&return_msg=42853.1"> <span class="image mobile_reply_all"></span><span class="text">Reply to All</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navigation" href="#"> <span class="image mobile_navigation"></span><span class="text">Show messages</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="main" href="#"><span class="image mobile_menu" title="Menu"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu main"> <ul> <li><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Messages</a></li> <li><a href="lpm.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Inbox</a></li> <li><a href="lsearch.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Search</a></li> <li><a href="llogon.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu navigation"><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">1–10</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.11">11–20</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.21">21–22</a></div> <div id="page_content"> <h3 class="thread_title"><a href="index.php?webtag=DEFAULT&amp;msg=42853.1">Upgrading graphics card on an old Dell Precision</a> </h3> <div id="messages" data-navigation="42853_1_22_10"> <a name="a42853_1"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_1"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">11 Mar 2022 17:43</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: ALL<span class="message_count">1 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Hello Teh. I'm hoping there are still people here who pay enough attention to hardware to help with the following... <p>My sister has a Dell Precision WorkStation 390 with NVidia Quadro FX 550, connected via two DVI ports to two screens. </p><p>It was running Windows 8.1 Pro without issues, and it runs Debian without issues, but she was required to upgrade it to Win 10 for her work, who are arseholes. Anyhow, because Windows 10 is a pile of shit the resolution is now limited to 800x600. </p><p>Tried installing the relevant drivers from Nvidia (both U8 and U4), and they appear to work ok upon initial install, but after restarting there's glitches and flicking in the menus/etc. (Also tried older drivers from Dell; no luck there either.) </p><p>I figure the possible options are: </p><p>1. Attempt to run Windows 10 inside Debian via KVM/QEMU. </p><p>2. Spend ~£20 on a replacement PCI Express graphics card that explicitly has Windows 10 drivers available. </p><p>3. Spend ~£200-250 on a replacement refurb unit or an NUC. <br /><br /> </p><p>The first option is not really a viable one - particularly since it isn't clear how well multi-monitor stuff works (seems the second screen would be display-only/non-interactive), but it also introduces significant potential for other issues to crop up, and may need a RAM upgrade to get acceptable performance (which removes its benefit of not costing money). </p><p>Option 3... well, I would rather not spend 10x the amount just because Microsoft suck. (There are cheaper refurb notebooks, but their screens are too small and I doubt they will drive two external displays.) </p><p>So, unless anyone has any better ideas, I need to figure out how to determine which graphics cards are suitable and compatible, then find one on eBay. </p><p>The mainboard is a "Dell 0DN075" (which I presume is same as "DN075") and Inxi reports that the PCI slots are: </p><pre> Slot: 1 type: x1 PCI Express SLOT1 status: Available length: Long Slot: 3 type: 32-bit PCI SLOT3 status: Available length: Long Slot: 4 type: x4 PCI Express SLOT4 status: Available length: Long Slot: 5 type: 32-bit PCI SLOT5 status: Available length: Long Slot: 6 type: 32-bit PCI SLOT6 status: Available length: Long Slot: 10 type: x16 PCI Express PEG status: In Use length: Long</pre> <p>I'm guessing the "x16 PCI Express PEG" one marked "In Use" is the current card and the rest are irrelevant? (Pretty sure there aren't actually that many physical sockets on the board.) </p><p>In any case, last time I upgraded a graphics card was when AGP was a thing, and none of my searches are bringing up anything remotely useful. </p><p>Can anyone help?</p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.1&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.1"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_2"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_2"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">11 Mar 2022 21:32</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">2 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.2">42853.2</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_1" target="_self">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> The main things to watch out for with these older factory pcs are physical size of the card (two slots? does it need a 'half-height' card?), and power draw.<br /> <br /> Probably safest to get an original card, there's an ATI here so it possibly(!) wouldn't have the same Win10 driver issue, but I'd deffo research that first:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=161&subid=625&refine=video+card">https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=161&subid=625&refine=video+card</a></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.2&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.2"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_3"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_3"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: patch<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 08:51</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">3 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.3">42853.3</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_1" target="_self">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> If work can specify minimum OS levels, do they not offer some assistance which may make buying a laptop and dock a bit less painful?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.3&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.3"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_4"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_4"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Dave!!<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 11:14</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">4 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.4">42853.4</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_1" target="_self">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Bear in mind that the motherboard only supports PCI Express version 1, and presumably the BIOS will be fairly old as well. In short, you'll need to make sure that the system can support a graphics card before buying one for it. You may find a lot of modern cards may have issues.<br /> <br /> After a bit of Googling around, I did find this page: <a href="https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=5b5a2bb70f&upgrade">https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=5b5a2bb70f&upgrade</a><br /> <br /> It suggests that the Nvidia GT 730 is compatible, and eBuyer do still sell this card. Nvidia also support it for Windows 10, so might be a budget option?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.4&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.4"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_5"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_5"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 13:44</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2022 17:32"></span></span> <span class="message_count">5 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.5">42853.5</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_1" target="_self">42853.1</a></div> <div class="message_body"> I can let you have an Nvidia GT 710 (2GB TBH) if you want to give it a try. It has 1 DVI, 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port and should be able to ouput from all 3 simultaneously. It has Windows 10 support but there's a separate driver. I <em>think</em> it should work with later versions of Windows 10 just fine (i.e. they should now have the driver), although earlier versions had a problem.<div class="edit_text">EDITED: 12 Mar 2022 13:49 by WILLIAMA</div> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.5&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.5"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_6"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_6"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2022 17:56</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: ALL<span class="message_count">6 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.6">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Thank you all. <span class="emoticon e_smile" title=":)"><span class="e__">:)</span></span> <p><br /><b>Chryon</b>:<br /> That's exactly the type of site I expected to exist but couldn't find before. </p><p>It's a full sized tower case and other slots are empty, so I think only power draw would be a potential issue... although those cards do look a little long - what's with the weird fin/handle things? </p><p><br /><b>Patch</b>:<br /> Yeah I tried pointing that out - the full situation is a bit more complicated (and I don't know how much she'd be ok with sharing), but it does boil down to a no-win situation and them being useless arseholes. </p><p><br /><b>Dave</b>:<br /> I think I've seen that site recently, from a Linux perspective - didn't occur to me that it'd be a good way to check general hardware compatibility too. </p><p><a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gt-730.c2590">This page</a> says the GT 730 is a PCIe 2.0 x16 - so presumably it is still backwards compatible with PCIe 1.0 too? </p><p><br /><b>William</b>:<br /> That'd be great! I think both screens also have VGA, and according to <a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gt-710.c1990">this</a> it has the same 200W for "Suggested PSU" and half the TDP of the <a href="https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/quadro-fx-550.c1333">existing card</a> so should good be PSU-wise. </p><p>I'll send a PM.</p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.6&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.6"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_7"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_7"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Dave!!<span class="message_time">13 Mar 2022 11:18</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 13 Mar 2022 14:46"></span></span> <span class="message_count">7 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.7">42853.7</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_6" target="_self">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Most cards can operate at slower PCIe bus speeds, but compatibility isn't guaranteed.<br /> <br /> Many years back when I had an Athlon X2 system, my GeForce 8800 packed in, I bought a Radeon 5770 replacement and the system simply wouldn't boot with it. Ended up in a choice between replacing the graphics card with a poorer one that was compatible, or upgrading the mobo/CPU to a new Core i5. I ended up going the latter route in the end, but it did highlight that older boards don't always work with newer graphics cards.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.7&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.7"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_8"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_8"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: graphitone<span class="message_time">14 Mar 2022 16:17</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 14 Mar 2022 16:17"></span></span> <span class="message_count">8 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.8">42853.8</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_5" target="_self">42853.5</a></div> <div class="message_body"> The GT710's are a great cheap card that works well in Win10. I've whacked them in the workhorse HP Elitedesks I've got 2nd hand from various jobs. Never had a display issue across two screens and they even <br /> handle some older gaming titles well. <br /> <br /> Depends on manufacturer, but the MSI ones always come with the option of a half height bracket. </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.8&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.8"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_9"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_9"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">14 Mar 2022 16:29</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 14 Mar 2022 16:31"></span></span> <span class="message_count">9 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.9">42853.9</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_6" target="_self">42853.6</a></div> <div class="message_body"> PM'd a reply. Just need an address and it's on its way.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.9&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.9"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42853_10"></a><div class="message" id="message_42853_10"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)<span class="message_time">22 Mar 2022 13:46</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 22 Mar 2022 13:47"></span></span> <span class="message_count">10 of 22</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.10">42853.10</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42853.1#a42853_9" target="_self">42853.9</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Thanks again - received, installed, and working. <span class="emoticon e_smile" title=":)"><span class="e__">:)</span></span> <p>Debian just worked with no issues (using built-in drivers), whilst for Windows only the DVI port worked initially - wouldn't even send a low-res signal over either VGA/HDMI ports. </p><p>After maybe half an hour of waiting for an update (which spent most of that time at 20% with no indication of progress) and the driver download apparently stuck behind it sitting at 10%, it eventually completed the update and installed the driver, but still seemed not to work for a couple more minutes, then suddenly the HDMI screen blinked into life. </p><p>Anyhow, a couple of restarts later, both screens have correct resolutions, no flickering or glitching, menus look as they should, etc.</p></div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42853.10&return_msg=42853.1" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42853.10"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="message_page_footer"> <ul> <li class="right_col"><form accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" action="lmessages.php" target="_self"><input type="hidden" name="webtag" id="webtag" class="bhinputtext" value="DEFAULT" dir="ltr" /><input type="hidden" name="msg" id="msg" class="bhinputtext" value="42853.11" dir="ltr" /><input type="submit" name="submit" id="keep_reading" value="Keep reading…" class="button" /></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> </body>