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Build Advice Helping my friend upgrade her GPU and had a bit of a snag..

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by skreenname, 26 Aug 2011.

  1. skreenname

    skreenname SFF Forever

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    My friend has Dell Inspiron 530, and it needs an upgrade to play SWTOR.
    Since the biggest issue with it was the GPU, I suggested upgrading that.
    So she got her a GT240, and we installed it.
    Once the card is installed the system won't boot into windows, but will boot into safe mode.
    If we re-install the old card [] it boots up fine.
    The GPU is the only thing changing.
    She does have a new PSU, but it still works as if it was the stock PSU until we put in the new card.


    The GPU does not have a 6-pin power connector.
    We've installed the newest drivers for the GT240 while in safe mode with networking.
    Still, no work.
    The computer DOES see the GT240, and claims it's working.
    The XFX driver disk DOES NOT see thee GT240 at all. "No compatible hardware found"

    I'm at a dead end.
    All I can think to do is upgrade more parts on her very tiny budget.
    I figure it's an issue with the PCIEx16 slot?
    What does bit-tech think?
    The motherboard in the Inspiron 530:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. KayinBlack

    KayinBlack Unrepentant Savage

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    Reinstall the old card, run driver cleaner, download the new driver from the nVidia website.

    Shut down PC, remove old card. Install new one.

    Reboot, install downloaded driver. Should work.

    BTW, I'm not sure a 240 will play TOR.
     
  3. .//TuNdRa

    .//TuNdRa Resident Bulldozer Guru

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    Most recent time i've had an issue with this is with my GTX 550Ti, (Ignoring nerdy reasons, something to do with KFA2 deviating from designs a touch and needing special drivers), Download the Release drivers from Nvidia and try again, it's the same trick I needed to get my card working. It has to apply a Registry fix, i think, that tells future driver installs that it's actually a compatible card, or something along those lines.
     
  4. IvanIvanovich

    IvanIvanovich будет глотать вашу душу.

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    Checked bios to make sure onboard gpu is disabled, or at least pci-e is set to first graphics output?
     
  5. Shabing

    Shabing What's a Dremel?

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    This, especially if the old card was a radeon.
     
  6. skreenname

    skreenname SFF Forever

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    I'll try that, I didn't know there was something like driver cleaner.
    I think it will, at the very least it should do mediocre.
    I know WEI isn't anything to really go by, but when I tested the GT240 in my computer my WEI didn't change from the 6.7 I get with my 9600gso 512.
    And Can you run it says my 9600GSO is fine.


    As far as I can tell, onboard is turned off, and PCI-e is set to #1.

    It was an older Nvidia card, 7xxx series, I think.
    I had it written down somewhere but I've lost it.
     
  7. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    Sounds silly, I know but ... You are using the correct driver, yes?

    Some have different versions based on OS. e.g. 32 bit or 64 bit.
     
  8. skreenname

    skreenname SFF Forever

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    Yes.
    She's on XP 32 bit, so GT240 driver -> Windows XP
    Good thing to ask about though~
     
  9. KayinBlack

    KayinBlack Unrepentant Savage

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    This PC is a good candidate for a total rebuild, including OS. TOR will be optimized for 7, and I think you're running a good chance of not playing it well.
     
  10. skreenname

    skreenname SFF Forever

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    I'd like to do a total rebuild, but she can't spare the cash at the moment.

    I do have a copy of Win7 she could use though, so that could work.
    I'll update my OP once I've gone over to her house again.
     
  11. KayinBlack

    KayinBlack Unrepentant Savage

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    That copy of Win7 may fix all the woes with that PC.

    Do you have at least 2GB of RAM in it?
     
  12. skreenname

    skreenname SFF Forever

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    If I'm remembering right it's 3gb, installed as 2 512 sticks and a 1gb stick.
    Previous upgrade by my friend.
     
  13. .//TuNdRa

    .//TuNdRa Resident Bulldozer Guru

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    So where's the extra Gigabyte?

    But yeah, Windows 7 doesn't exactly -like- 2GB, but it'll run quite well on it.
     
  14. Cleggmeister

    Cleggmeister Of reasonable knowledge...

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    I read that heading as 'had a bit of a snog'!

    Thought bt was getting all fruity!

    I am disappoint.
     

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