X700 Problems

[mousiness]

I just bought a powercolor x700 pci-e for my ibm, and it fit! The thing is it gives a post 2-3-3-4-5-2 beep error message after i put it in fully into the bracket, pci-ex16, and even after i make sure all the drivers for the old video adapter anre gone, before this card i tries a powercolor x550 and it also didnt work so i gave this one a shot, and it didnt work either, ive contacted the MoBo manufacturer then they said that the bracket i have is only running at x1 lanes even though it is a full x16 bracket, anyone know a solution to this problem? Otherwise ill just go for a pci card (BFG 5500OC).

[Kougar]

Can you post the exact brand/model number of the motherboard?

It may only be able to use a x1 speed, as I've seen some motherboards built that way. There is only one physical PCI-e lane built connecting the slot to the chipset and that can't be changed.

I'd check in the BIOS and make sure there is not a setting to change the PCI-e speed on it to x8 or x16 anyway though.

[Johnie]

...sorry to hear that...:???: Hopefully you will be able to "fix" that...wait until Kougar checks it and let you know...otherwise...(at least I)...wouldnt go for "ordinary" pci card, cause it will be slower for sure...how about getting new m/b? But if you're tight on budget...then your solution is the only way to your path to better graphics...;) But you would have to pay for another gr.card that way...which will cause you double costs...so by my opinion its surely better to get some better m/b and put x700 in...but then again...thats me...and you are the one to decide...not me...so Good Luck and chose wise! And let us know later,ok... ;) :cool:

[Kougar]

I would agree, a new motherboard would almost be cheaper than getting yet another graphics card, even an older PCI model.

If you think most AGP cards are slow, just wait until you try a PCI graphics card. With most mainboards using the PCI bus for ethernet and other peripherals any remotely powerful graphics card trying to use the slow PCI bus will be deeply bottlenecked. That is why most PCI cards you will see out there are just not that powerful.

Again, just post that info on your motherboard and I'll check it for ya.

[mousiness]

Can you post the exact brand/model number of the motherboard?

It may only be able to use a x1 speed, as I've seen some motherboards built that way. There is only one physical PCI-e lane built connecting the slot to the chipset and that can't be changed.

I'd check in the BIOS and make sure there is not a setting to change the PCI-e speed on it to x8 or x16 anyway though.

yep i went onto bios and it runs at x1 lanes, on the MoBo it says x1 beside the x16 lane. i ended up contacting ibm and they said a cover should have covered all but the places the x1 card would house, thanks for the help. Ill just buy the best pci card now and i think thatll be fine.

[Johnie]

Ok...thats the cheapest way for sure (in case you dont want to spend any money for new m/b)...I just hope you'll be able to get fair deal for your x700...to at least cover some expences...just go for PCI card then...it will work just fine too...not as good as x700 would...but still good enough for your ibm machine...:-D :cool:

Good luck and keep us up-to-date with news about all this...;)

[Kougar]

The best PCI card you can buy wouldn't even come close to a 9600XT in performance... and a 9600XT won't get you anywhere unless you still play Counterstrike or older games. ;)

If you are upgrading a graphics card that was already in that system I would suggest strongly reconsidering, and investing later instead in a full PCIe x16 machine. As a reference... the FX 5700 line of cards is about a match for a 9600. Do not buy a PCI card if your reasons are solely aimed at increasing performance.

[Johnie]

Exactly! But as it seems this (ibm) machine is mousiness's "secondary" computer...which isnt supposed to be state-of-the-art machine...cause for that (gaming and other demanding tasks) he probably uses his "primary" computer (see specs in his signature)...;)

So in his case...it's either going for PCI x1 card...or ordinary PCI one...cause I believe he doesnt have AGP neither...so the cheapest way is really to buy PCI graphics card...although we all agree that it wont be enough for latest games (but then again probably other components of that ibm machine arent up to some serious gaming). So that's probably best way to upgrade graphics in case he doesnt want to invest in other components of that machine...:-D ;)

Good luck and chose your PCI card wisely, mousiness... ;)

[mousiness]

Well actually these specs are OK for gaming, P4 650 like my primary one, 512mb of ram, 160gb 7200.7 seagate barracuda and some other OK parts for gaming, and ive bought the pci card which is an fx5500oc, its OK for gaming but im not using it for that...

[Kougar]

Exactly! But as it seems this (ibm) machine is mousiness's "secondary" computer...which isnt supposed to be state-of-the-art machine...cause for that (gaming and other demanding tasks) he probably uses his "primary" computer (see specs in his signature)...;)

So in his case...it's either going for PCI x1 card...or ordinary PCI one...cause I believe he doesnt have AGP neither...so the cheapest way is really to buy PCI graphics card...although we all agree that it wont be enough for latest games (but then again probably other components of that ibm machine arent up to some serious gaming). So that's probably best way to upgrade graphics in case he doesnt want to invest in other components of that machine...:-D ;)

Good luck and chose your PCI card wisely, mousiness... ;)

Well, but he had to have had a previous video source for this computer before hand. I am saying that unless the integrated, or old discrete graphics card no longer works, then there is no point to spending money on a newer graphics card.

[Johnie]

Ohhh..sorry mousiness...:mrgreen: I thought that was some old ibm box you've got...but I was wrong...so a machine with that specs is really ok for gaming too...maybe not for some latest games @ high details...but surely enough for majority of other games...;)

Kougar, I partly agree with you...that there's no point to spend lots of money for gr.card...but since other components arent that bad afterall...maybe better gr.card could improve some other areas too...so sometimes it does make sence to upgrade it even if older gr.card still works (i.e. maybe onboard graphics had only some 64MB of ram or so...and in that case upgrading could help much for sure)...;)

Anyway...it's up to mousiness to decide....so best wishes once more and enjoy with your new fx5500oc! ;)

[mousiness]

its actually a decent pc, i got it for free from my dads work so im happy :) Thanks a lot guys, yeah im gonna go out sometime next week and get the fx5500oc, its the best pci card out there now so i guess itll be good... :)

[Kougar]

its actually a decent pc, i got it for free from my dads work so im happy :) Thanks a lot guys, yeah im gonna go out sometime next week and get the fx5500oc, its the best pci card out there now so i guess itll be good... :)

Yeah, not to shabby, even if a little light on slots ;)

Hope ya enjoy the new video card!