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I bought a big-box-store computer with the intent to upgrade the video card as funds allowed. But, funds didn’t allow, so I cheaped out and bought a lemon. :rolleyes: The computer specs are as follows:

Computer: HP a420n Pavilion
Motherboard: ASUS A7V8X-LA (AGP 8x, 3 PCI)
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 2.16GHz
RAM: 512 MB
Power Supply: Bestec ATX-250-12ZD “Zinfandel 250W (I think…)
Video Card, Added: BMG (NVidia) GeForce4 MX 4000, driver updated 6/15/05
Monitor: HP mx703
OS: XP Home Edition, 2002, SP-2 added 7/15/05

The video card has been nothing but trouble. (My computer has been kind enough to tell me every time the video card has been responsible for a “serious error) The machine first freezes up, the fan runs as my machine’s CPU goes to 100%, and then it simply restarts, giving me the aforementioned error message upon start-up. OR, also irritating, the monitor occasionally looses its signal when I hit the “log off command (we have three user profiles), though the computer stays on. This second behavior only happed after I updated XP with SP-2.
FWIW: My first monitor “burned out, basically just faded to black permanently, and I got a replacement from HP under warranty; though that might not be related to the card, thought I’d mention it. The new monitor hasn’t showed a problem like this.

Two questions:
-First: will updating the BIOS, as has been suggested on this forum in another post, likely to solve this problem?
-Second: regardless of the answer to the above, I’m looking to upgrade to a better card eventually, but the good ones seem to demand a better power source. If I were to upgrade and dump the MX 4000, what would be a good card to go with, and will I be forced to upgrade the power supply as well? How high? 300W? 350W? More? How would I know which PS would work in my machine? I’m willing to spend US $200 or so on the package, and I mainly plan to use the computer for 3D graphics programs, but not for heavy-hitting games.

Thanks in advance for any advice, referrals, URL’s, and general discussion! :)

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by forgedaboudit

Dani AI

Generated

A concise expert note tied to the thread

The failure pattern described by — intermittent signal loss, freezes after a logoff/SP2 change, then complete black/silent failure — most often points to a failing GPU/card or a power/driver interaction rather than a simple Windows setting. The later report that the card no longer produces a hardware-detected device reinforces a hardware fault, but a clean driver removal and a cross-test are needed to be sure.

Recommended diagnostic checklist:

  1. Test the suspect card in another known-good AGP system (or test a known-good AGP card in the HP) to confirm hardware failure.
  2. Boot the HP with onboard video, enable “show hidden devices” in Device Manager, and uninstall any leftover display drivers; reboot into normal mode. Driver-cleaning utilities exist for thorough removal if Windows still misbehaves.
  3. Visually inspect the card and motherboard for bulging/leaking capacitors, burn marks, or bent pins. Smell for burnt electronics.
  4. Check Event Viewer for display-driver names/stop codes and note whether the failures correlate with heavy GPU load or when multiple profiles/logoffs occur.

BIOS and flashing: a BIOS update can help only when the vendor’s release notes explicitly mention AGP/video compatibility or stability fixes. Flashing is higher risk than helpful if no such mention exists. Confirm current BIOS version against HP’s support page and follow HP’s flash instructions (stable power, no interruptions) only when necessary.

Upgrade path and power supply guidance: many midrange AGP cards will run happily on a quality 300–350W supply; high-end AGP cards or more modern upgrades may need stronger +12V capacity. When replacing the PSU, choose a reputable unit with clear +12V amperage ratings and proper connectors rather than the cheapest label-only units. As noted, a stronger PSU paired with a newer AGP card has proven an effective route on this platform.

Dual monitors and final note: pick an AGP card with dual outputs and driver-level multi-display support (check whether the DVI port is analog-capable if using passive adapters). If longevity and modern 3D workflows are important, investing saved money toward a PCIe-based replacement system will give the best long-term return.

Member Avatar for Eku

The other thread above reminds me: dual monitor capability in the graphics card would be a great bonus. Thoughts?

Member Avatar for Eku

HOLY SH...

Well, the dam broke...or at least the card did. It's sitting on my desk beside me right now. Hey, looks great, all nice 'n shiny.

I was working along just fine, and, as usual, the screen started to get funky, and then froze. So, I did the manual restart (push on button, hold, wait til machine goes off, push on again.) But this time, I got a few lines of text, some blips, and then...black. Repeated. Black.

Took out card, holding temper in check so as to avoid damaging motherboard. Turned on machine, and now I'm working off of the Asus default built-in graphics.

So...here's the strange thing...I was careful to remove the drivers for the default when I installed the old card, but when I booted up, there was nothing about "new hardware detected", nor was there anything about the old hardware (the vid card) gone missing. I have not uninstalled the nVidia drivers yet. Is this odd?

The real question is, now I'm pretty much in the market for a good card. What's your experienced collective opinion: do I go for a decent AGP 8x card, and spend the money/time to upgrade my PSU to handle the new load, or slum with, say, a GeForce FX 5200 (Newegg, USD 57), and simply upgrade to a new machine when funds allow to a nice PCI-E setup? (Not high-end gamer, but I work with 3D graphics a lot.) HELP!

Member Avatar for forgedaboudit

BFG GeForce 7600 GS Overclocked / 512MB GDDR2 / AGP 8x / DVI / VGA / TV Out / Video Card and a Ultra LSP550 550-Watt Power Supply did the trick for me for about 120 dollars U.S. for my HP a420n @ Tiger Direct.

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