Computer Help Needed

[Intrepid]

I recently got a video card from a friend and i have no way of identifying it.
I put the card in my XP machiene and it identifies it as a "video controller (VGA compatable)" and the generic driver XP is using sucks.
The card is a nVidia GPU, but other than that i don't know.
How do i find out more about it, also how do i get a driver if i don't know important information about my card, also it is reasonably new it was installed in a P4 untill he upgraded.

[Intrepid]

also i've been through bios and device manager, and on boot my old card used to display what it was on screen before the coputer POSTed.

[Bozos of Bones]

Run dxdiag. IT should display the name of the card, or atleast the chip.

[Paladin2000]

Err... what is the name printed on the chip of the card?

Otherwise, take note of the model number of the card, it is either printed on the chip or at the back of the PCB (printed circuit board).

Once you got that, go to Google and type in the number and do a search. I know this is a long shot, but I have gotten good results when I used to salvage old unknown cards.

[Aracanth]

Hi,
Download the latest Nvidia "Unified" driver, as it supports all the GeForce range, and should identify the card for you. The "Standard VGA" driver is installed when the OS doesn't know of the card, which as you suggest, would mean it is pretty new, so you may have a good'un

Ara

[Intrepid]

Originally posted by Bozos of Bones: Run dxdiag. IT should display the name of the card, or atleast the chip.

The name, manufacturer, chip type, dac type and approx total memory fields are empty, i am using Direct X 8.1 should i update?

[Intrepid]

Originally posted by Paladin2000: Err... what is the name printed on the chip of the card? Otherwise, take note of the model number of the card, it is either printed on the chip or at the back of the PCB (printed circuit board). Once you got that, go to Google and type in the number and do a search. I know this is a long shot, but I have gotten good results when I used to salvage old unknown cards.

not much i could find on the card, nVIDIA, model118, 8903 ver. 110 and a serial number on a "mic" branded sticker

[Bahamut]

if it's unindentifiable doesn't that mean it's old? hehehe

[Aracanth]

DXDiag takes info from the driver which in turn speaks to the hardware, so if your OS does not have the correct driver loaded, DXDiag cannot tell the type of card, chip etc. If it was running in a P4 machine, it can't be that old, as it would have XP/2k on it probably, which means the driver will be available. Get the Unified driver........


Ara

[Intrepid]

Originally posted by Aracanth: Hi, Download the latest Nvidia "Unified" driver, as it supports all the GeForce range, and should identify the card for you. The "Standard VGA" driver is installed when the OS doesn't know of the card, which as you suggest, would mean it is pretty new, so you may have a good'un Ara

Thanks i'm doing that now

Originally posted by Bahamut: if it's unindentifiable doesn't that mean it's old? hehehe

Win XP was released in 2001 i think, so if this card was made after then, then it won't have a driver, also this card is deffinatly not old.