Monitor problems - Graphics card?

[georgiaguy]

I need some help.  I have a Gateway I bought in 2002.  It runs on a Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, 384 MB of RAM, Windows XP Home Edition (2002).  The graphics card is Intel 82845G Graphics Controller.  When purchased it came with the standard EV700 17" CRT monitor.  About a year ago, that monitor appeared to start to break.  I had a dot in the middle ofthe screen and it flickered.  Then, it was like the entire image had a green/yellowish tint.

So, assuming the monitor had gone bad, last week I purchased a new monitor.  I even upgraded to a 19" flat panel LCD.  I bought it off Tiger Direct.  It is made by I-Inc and is model CY199D.

Right out of the box, it seems to be having some trouble also.  It is a "plug and play" monitor that didn't require any special drivers.  It is connected with the standard blue VGA cable.

That same yellow/green tint covers the image at times.  Sometimes everything appears normal, at other times it is totally tinted.  What is weird is that when I pull the monitor control panel up (not from the computer but from the buttons on the monitor) it always appears normal.  Even if the image sent from the computer is tinted, the monitor controls image is normal.

Do you think this means my video driver (the Intel Graphics card) is bad?  I would call Intel for help, but on their website when I look up this graphics controller, they say they no longer make these nor provide any type of telephone or internet support for them (thanks a lot!).

I am frustrated because I cannot figure out if the monitor I just bought is bad and I need to return it or if my computer video card is bad?

Any ideas?

Thanks you so very much!

[honvetops]

First thing I would do, take your new monitor to a friends house/ work, plug it in a good puter and make sure its ok ... before RMA-ing   Hold tight for a good answer to your main* question...

[Neil]

I am fairly certain it is a graphics card problem, since you've had the same problem with two monitors, and the monitor's on-screen display is fine (which is not generated by the graphics card).

One solution would be to buy a new graphics card. If you are not gaming, you can get a basic card for your needs very cheaply (under $40). They won't be any good for gaming, but your Intel card wasn't anyway

If you have a friend who can lend you a compatable graphics card, you can test to see if that fixes the problem. Remeber to plug the VGA cable into the new slot.

[patio]

I agree with Neil on this ...borrowing a card temporarily will tell you if the problem is the card or the monitor itself.

p.s. Try the card in a different slot also...

[georgiaguy]

Thanks guys.  I was thinking it was the card.  I have recently moved and do not know anyone around that I can borrow a card from or even take the monitor to test.

I am thinking about just getting the new video card.  Any suggestions?

I don't play any games on the computer.  Mainly use Word, Excel, Outlook and surf the internet.  Occasionally I will use the internet for short video clips or pictures, but nothing that I think would require a super video card.

Thanks for any advice on the card.  Should I stick with VGA or go digital with the card?  The LCD has both VGA and a DVI jack.

[GX1_Man]

The type of video card will be determined by the type of graphics slots you have available- PCI and or AGP. With no model number or this basic information we cannot advise further. DVI seems overkill for your purposes.

[soybean]

However, some fairly low cost cards have both VGA and DVI.  Here's a PCI card with both:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161010

[georgiaguy]

Sorry about that.  The computer is a Gateway 500SE desktop.  In my original info, I have written that it comes with an AGP slot (does 3/4 length mean anything?).

I also found the following regarding my computer......

Under "Integrated Video" it lists:  AGP connector supporting 1x, 2x, and 4x AGP cards (1.5 V only) or an AGP Digital Display (ADD) card

Under "Expansion Capabilities" it lists: Three PCI 2.2 compliant add-in peripheral slots and Support for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), Plug and Play, and SMBIOS

With that info, any recommendatons.

Thank you so much!

[soybean]

Sorry about that.  The computer is a Gateway 500SE desktop.  In my original info, I should (inserted) have written that it comes with an AGP slot (does 3/4 length mean anything?).

Did you mean you should have ...?

...I have written that it comes with an AGP slot (does 3/4 length mean anything?).

I also found the following regarding my computer......

Under "Integrated Video" it lists:  AGP connector supporting 1x, 2x, and 4x AGP cards (1.5 V only) or an AGP Digital Display (ADD) card

Under "Expansion Capabilities" it lists: Three PCI 2.2 compliant add-in peripheral slots and Support for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), Plug and Play, and SMBIOS

You say it comes with an AGP slot, yet Expansion Capabilities do not list AGP.  We have a contradiction here.  Does it have an AGP slot or not?  If you're not sure, you can easily determined this by opening the computer and looking inside if you're familiar with AGP and PCI slots.  Or, download Everest Home and run report on your system.

[georgiaguy]

Again, please accept my apologies.  When I stated "In my original info", I was referring to the original info sent to me with the computer, not my original posting.

I am not all that familier with AGP and PCI slots, so I downloaded the Everest program.  From what I can tell from Everest, I have both AGP and PCI slots.  The following is from Everest...


Motherboard Name:    Intel Rexburg D845GRG  (3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video)

So does that mean I have both available.  I think the current video card is PCI.

Thanks again for your help and patience!

[soybean]

Yep, the report indicates you have AGP; you have both.  But, when you open that computer, you can easily identify the slots by visual inspection.  See http://www.si87.com/Products/Videocards/agpvspci/

[georgiaguy]

OK - busted into the 'puter.  I have 2 available PCI slots and one AGP slot.

So if I decide to replace the video card, which is best?  It sounds like AGP is better/faster.

And by the way, just so I understand this right.  I don't really have an old card that I will have to remove, right?  It is integrated onto the motherboard, right?

So if I buy a new card and plug it into the AGP slot, will the computer recognize it right away and begin feeding video thru the new card?  So I turn off the computer, unplug, open, insert card, plug monitor into card and restart computer?  Is it that simple?

Thanks again.

[soybean]

OK - busted into the 'puter. 

Ouch!

I have 2 available PCI slots and one AGP slot.

So if I decide to replace the video card, which is best?  It sounds like AGP is better/faster.

And by the way, just so I understand this right.  I don't really have an old card that I will have to remove, right?  It is integrated onto the motherboard, right?

AGP, definitely better.  Yes, if all your slots are empty, then you obviously have onboard/integrated video.  Another clue: the connector for the monitor comes directly off the motherboard, not from a card in a slot.

[georgiaguy]

Yeah, I noticed the monitor connection comes right from the motherboard.  So no real card.

I read somewhere that AGP was being phased out.  Is that true?

If AGP is the way to go, any recommendations?  I am hoping to spend under $75.

[soybean]

Yes, AGP is being phased out; it's being replaced by PCI Express.  Unless you want to buy a new motherboard with PCI Express, it's a moot point for you.  Get an AGP card. 

You can find plenty of cards under $75 that will work just fine for many non-gamer computer users.  If you're in the U.S., I'll suggest you visit Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com and take a look.  Their sites will let you narrow the search down to AGP and you can sort in price sequence or other ways.

Take a look at the reviews.  At $55 plus shipping, this looks interesting:     
EVGA GeForce FX 5500 / 256MB DDR / AGP 8X / VGA / DVI / TV Out / Video Card