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Nov 9, 2004, 1:12am

[View Quote] No, this is only true if you build computers from scratch. I'd say 98%
of preassembled "mainbrand" computer system that buy pieces in bulk --
like Dell, Emachines, Compaq, et al. -- usually have onboard cards that
are not able to be disabled. _SOME_ have jumpers, most do not. It's
always good to replace the motherboard on a new machine if you have the
ability to do so (if it came with a rinky-dink "branded" one).

Nov 9, 2004, 1:28am

I couldn't find a single Pentium 4 motherboard that didn't have an AGP slot
either, but then again you can't find propriety motherboards for sale by
themselves.

I would say that even preassembled computer have AGP, which I know was true
a couple years ago. But lately the big names have been getting more and
more propriety and only shipping out the bare minimum, with near zero
expandability options (since that wouldn't make them any money of course).



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Nov 9, 2004, 1:37am

[View Quote] Well, I think that they do support AGP, but there's no interface.

Nov 9, 2004, 5:24am

Now she needs to replace the mobo too? I say take it back to who ya bought
it from and have them *do it right* ...

LNH



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Nov 9, 2004, 11:40am

Really!!!

Then the market in the USA must be extremely different from most markets
in Europe - even more than the last time I looked deeper into it (I
assemble computers as a hobby <g>).

For example, in Germany, brand names do not play any bigger role here, I
would estimate 80% and more of all desktop computers sold are "no-name"
machines. Most are sold via electronic markets and food (yup!)
supermarkets at quite low prices. At local computer stores, where they
build you a system after your specification for around 40$ extra (or yu
buy the components and assemble it yourself), you won't pay much either,
but get better quality components.

Almost all systems sold (except the office systems for ca. 150$, which
one almost cannot assemble onself for that price) have an AGP
motherboard, some with onboard graphics that one can easily disable in
the BIOS. Computers without AGP slot can hardly be sold here - except
for pure office machines or for ones labelled as "starter" computers.


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Nov 9, 2004, 11:50am

IF they sold it as a having "good graphics" (as in good _3d_ graphics,
the _2d_ performance of all onboard chips sold today is in fact very
good and across the market all the same even for cards...), then, yes,
you can expect an AGP graphic card - and not an AGP-capable onboard chip
with shared memory like the Intel one.

The problem here is that most people define "good graphics" not in terms
of "good graphics in 3d games" and also, a graphic card costing an EXTRA
100-200$ will cause an immediate heart attack for most customers who
want to pay 200$ for a fully equipped machine <g>.

For a machine that you can use for 3d games during the next 3 years, you
have currently to plan on spending ca. 700-1000$, an office machine with
limited 3d capability and mostly used for writing letters or internet
browsing will come for a mere 200$, though. :-)


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Nov 9, 2004, 12:02pm

Well, I think that they do support AGP, but there's no interface.
<<<

The issue is not whether or not the chip/card is connected via AGP, but
the very limited performance and memory capabilities of the onboard
chips (or low cost graphic cards).

However, when you have an AGP slot with a low cost card, you can simply
plug off the old and plug in a new, better, card, while with onboard
chips, you do not have that option at all.

So "AGP-capable" says nothing in computer specifications, it must be a
dedicated "AGP slot" (and then it does not matter much even if it
supports like 4x or 8x, the difference is more academical on most
machines), it also plays hardly a role whether it supports the DirectX
9a 9b or 9c specification, since only a few hand-picked games support it
anyway.

For AW, for example, a good GeForce3 or GeForce4 is absolutely
sufficient, bought for maybe 25$ as used from the neighbour kid who
replaced it with an actual card to be able to play the latest games <g>.

The smallest GeForce type, Mx400/440, FX5200, etc., is sufficient, but
not recommended though - some of them have sometimes issues with fog,
background pictures and big texture sizes, also with frame rates when
used under high resolutions.




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Nov 9, 2004, 1:53pm

HP Pavillion LAST YEAR


:)


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Nov 9, 2004, 2:22pm

[View Quote] Again, technically, it uses the AGP interface. Just because it provides
no slot doesn't mean it's not an AGP card. But that's the reason why
you will not usually find an AGP slot on brand computers.

HP, Compaq, Emachine, and (Dell sometimes) are the main culprits. And
they're the main suppliers of computers to home users. But yes, AW is
on the lower end in terms of what it needs for video processing.

Nov 9, 2004, 7:46pm

i bought mine at aldi :) very good computers btw and good price

Nov 9, 2004, 8:06pm

If you have that many problems with your computer just go buy a new one, you
can get a good pc for around 1100 including a monitor from here
www.cyberpowersystem.com .

Never get a dell, they are the most rip off computer company. They claim
they have great support, bleh its all the way in india. Who wants to pay
those extra charges to listen to people who barely speak english tell you
how to fix you computer?

"Dude you're getting a DELL!", says one guy.
"Ughh, yea dont remind me..." says the other.

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Nov 9, 2004, 8:21pm

Get quotes from a local mom n' pop store. I bet though could beat 1100, I
know I can ;D
Plus you get local support and a little bit of personal touch.

But yea I haven't heard anything good about Dell from people. Just one bad
case after another.

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Nov 15, 2004, 9:09pm

[View Quote] > On another note, I've been having similar issues and they are relatively
> recent. My computer is not quite 2 yrs old, the company I bought it from
> online is defunct, gone, caput. My graphics card is GEforce4 TI 4200
> with AGP8X with it's own 128 Mb of RAM and computer is hyperthreading
> enabled. It's not even listed on that gif so not sure where I stand.
> My computer was fine up until our last move. I suppose I need to get
> inside the box and blow out some dust / dog hair for one. And it may be
> one or both of my RAM are going south. I run aw in DirectX with T&L
> checked (video settings). I've also been having recent spontanous
> reboots and just plain freeze ups (no, not virus or worms, I'm on top of
> that).


Open the side of your computer's case and look over all the capacitors
on the motherboard. The capacitors are the little tower-like cylinders,
usually black or green. Look at them carefully, in good light. You are
looking for bulging at the top of them -- which is supposed to be flat
-- or any orangish-brown gunk on them, or worse yet, discoloration on
the board at the base of them.

If you see any of these signs, it is your motherboard giving you the
problems because its cheapo capacitors are leaking. Replacing the
motherboard will probably clear up all your troubles. If you know
someone who's a good solderer and understands capacitor sizes and
numbers, you can also replace just the capacitors with ones made in
Japan, not China. Replace the whole board if you have discoloration on
it though.

Nov 16, 2004, 10:57am

Thanks I'll do that!

LNH



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