Dimension 4550 AGP Video Card Recomendations
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From: Bob Villa on 4 Jul 2010 14:22 On Jul 4, 11:41 am, Christopher Muto <m...(a)worldnet.att.net> wrote: > Christopher Muto wrote: > > Pat Conover wrote: > >> Hi All; > > >> Well, I know I shouldn't have, but I went ahead and upgraded my old > >> trusty Dimension 4550 with a 2.4 GHz P4 processor and 533MHz bus from > >> 768MB of RAM to 2GB of RAM. Dell said it would only take 1GB, and > >> that upgrade was not worth the effort. But I was on the Crucial site > >> the other day, and ran the memory advisor program that said it would > >> take up to 2GB of memory. So $100 and two 1GB sticks of DDR PC3200 > >> memory later, this old workhorse is running like a new machine! Based > >> on the recommendations in this group, I have also been running > >> Defraggler, and CCleaner, which also helps pep things up. I also run > >> Lars Headerer's (SP?) ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility for NT) aka > >> system restore for adults, and NTREGOPT (NT Registry Optimizer) defrag > >> for the registry. Lean and mean programs, that I highly recommend for > >> your toolkit. Google ERUNT to go to Lars home page. > > >> Anyway on to my question, I am now running a lowly 64MB NVidia MX420 > >> AGP video card, and one program that I would like to rum as a local > >> copy won't install with that card. Nice enough to tell me, before I > >> installed the program and had random lockups, etc. The specific > >> requirements that my card doesn't meet are: > > >> "24-bit capable graphics accelerator An OpenGL 2.0 or higher compliant > >> video card is required, with at least 32 MB of video memory, however > >> 256 MB of video memory or higher is recommended." > > >> So what AGP video card would you recommend based on the above. I > >> think my AGP port is only 2X or something like that and not 4X. > > >> Thanks, Pat > > > the nvidia mx420 only support opengl 1.3 and so that is probably the > > problem with whatever software you are trying to run. > > here is an inexpensive card that support opengl 2. i have no opinion of > > the card. > >http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131173 > > if you scroll down to the section on opengl 2 in this wiki you can find > > the model numbers of older several cards that support opengl 2 which you > > can probably find on ebay. you have to be careful on how much you want > > to put into this older machine. i suspect that even if you get a new > > video card whatever program it is that you are trying to run will likely > > has disappointing (unusable) performance on this machine. > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenGL > > here is the least expensive agp card that support opengl 2.0...http://www..newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130465 > one of the newegg customer reviews confirms compatibility with the > dimension 4550 which should help you feel confident about the purchase. That's the card I put in my 4550. 2 years ago I got from NewEgg for about $24! DVI and VGA. I use the DVI but can't really say I see a difference in speed or clarity. bob
From: Bob Villa on 4 Jul 2010 14:24 On Jul 4, 12:17 pm, "Pat Conover" <pub...(a)comcast.net> wrote: > hanks, Pat > > "Pat Conover" <pub...(a)comcast.net> wrote in message > > news:i0qe47$1ob$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > > > > "Pat Conover" <pub...(a)comcast.net> wrote in message > >news:i0qdhn$v6d$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > >> "Christopher Muto" <m...(a)worldnet.att.net> wrote in message > >>news:u7edne0y1u4-Kq3RnZ2dnUVZ_sKdnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... > >>> Pen wrote: > >>>> On 7/4/2010 10:37 AM, Pat Conover wrote: > >>>>> Hi All; > > >>>>> Well, I know I shouldn't have, but I went ahead and upgraded my old > >>>>> trusty Dimension 4550 with a 2.4 GHz P4 processor and 533MHz bus from > >>>>> 768MB of RAM to 2GB of RAM. Dell said it would only take 1GB, and > >>>>> that upgrade was not worth the effort. But I was on the Crucial site > >>>>> the other day, and ran the memory advisor program that said it would > >>>>> take up to 2GB of memory. So $100 and two 1GB sticks of DDR PC3200 > >>>>> memory later, this old workhorse is running like a new machine! Based > >>>>> on the recommendations in this group, I have also been running > >>>>> Defraggler, and CCleaner, which also helps pep things up. I also run > >>>>> Lars Headerer's (SP?) ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility for NT) aka > >>>>> system restore for adults, and NTREGOPT (NT Registry Optimizer) defrag > >>>>> for the registry. Lean and mean programs, that I highly recommend for > >>>>> your toolkit. Google ERUNT to go to Lars home page. > > >>>>> Anyway on to my question, I am now running a lowly 64MB NVidia MX420 > >>>>> AGP video card, and one program that I would like to rum as a local > >>>>> copy won't install with that card. Nice enough to tell me, before I > >>>>> installed the program and had random lockups, etc. The specific > >>>>> requirements that my card doesn't meet are: > > >>>>> "24-bit capable graphics accelerator An OpenGL 2.0 or higher compliant > >>>>> video card is required, with at least 32 MB of video memory, however > >>>>> 256 MB of video memory or higher is recommended." > > >>>>> So what AGP video card would you recommend based on the above. I > >>>>> think my AGP port is only 2X or something like that and not 4X. > > >>>>> Thanks, Pat > > >>>> Your machine actually is 4x. Newegg has a bunch of AGP cards > >>>> starting at $30 and up. > >>>>http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&... > >>>> Dell docs here; > >>>>http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/dim4550/specs.htm#1101572 > > >>> careful, many of the card in that list do not support opengl 2.0. but > >>> the $589 card does ;) > > >> Yikes, $589! I can buy a whole New System for that price. Chris, you are > >> right about this old machine, but I have so many apps installed, > >> downloaded, etc. that I hate to take the time to do a clean install on > >> this or a new machine. Just lazy I guess. Thanks for the replies, I just > >> logged into my account and will check the 4X specs. If not too expensive, > >> maybe I can also get DVI video out for my Dell 20" 2007FP, and I can > >> squeeze a few more years out of her. Thanks, Pat > > > Yep, just pulled it up from My Computers on Dell the AGP port is 2X/4X. > > Thanks, Pat > > The $589 card is out of the question, I may be stupid spending more money on > this old machine, but I am not that stupid. The $40 256MB EVGA card with > free shipping and OpenGL 2.0 support seems to be the ticket. No additional > power required either, but it does say: > Minimum of a 250 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with > +12 Volt current rating of 18 Amps.) > I assume my 200 Watt (underrated) Dell PS will suffice? Any additional > advice Chris or others? Thanks again, Pat No problem with the power supply running that card. 2 + yrs now!
From: Ben Myers on 4 Jul 2010 14:46 On 7/4/2010 10:37 AM, Pat Conover wrote: > Hi All; > > Well, I know I shouldn't have, but I went ahead and upgraded my old trusty > Dimension 4550 with a 2.4 GHz P4 processor and 533MHz bus from 768MB of RAM > to 2GB of RAM. Dell said it would only take 1GB, and that upgrade was not > worth the effort. But I was on the Crucial site the other day, and ran the > memory advisor program that said it would take up to 2GB of memory. So $100 > and two 1GB sticks of DDR PC3200 memory later, this old workhorse is running > like a new machine! Based on the recommendations in this group, I have also > been running Defraggler, and CCleaner, which also helps pep things up. I > also run Lars Headerer's (SP?) ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility for NT) aka > system restore for adults, and NTREGOPT (NT Registry Optimizer) defrag for > the registry. Lean and mean programs, that I highly recommend for your > toolkit. Google ERUNT to go to Lars home page. > > Anyway on to my question, I am now running a lowly 64MB NVidia MX420 AGP > video card, and one program that I would like to rum as a local copy won't > install with that card. Nice enough to tell me, before I installed the > program and had random lockups, etc. The specific requirements that my card > doesn't meet are: > > "24-bit capable graphics accelerator An OpenGL 2.0 or higher compliant video > card is required, with at least 32 MB of video memory, however 256 MB of > video memory or higher is recommended." > > So what AGP video card would you recommend based on the above. I think my > AGP port is only 2X or something like that and not 4X. > > Thanks, Pat > > > There are ATI 256MB AGP cards and ones with nVidia chips as well. I favor ATI because of nVidia's non-stop track record of hot running graphics chips. Also, note that ATI, like nVidia, sells its chips to card manufacturers. So if a card says ATI on it, the chip may be ATI, but not the manufacturer. ATI really does not/did not ever manufacture its own cards, but it has had decent quality standards in place for its contract manufacturers. 256MB AGP cards are cheap and easy to find. You have once again shown that one does not need the latest greatest technology. Memory upgrades make a real difference, and processor technology has improved, but no so you would usually notice it for most routine tasks... Ben
From: powrwrap on 4 Jul 2010 17:52 On Jul 4, 9:37 am, "Pat Conover" <pub...(a)comcast.net> wrote: > Hi All; > > Well, I know I shouldn't have, but I went ahead and upgraded my old trusty > Dimension 4550 with a 2.4 GHz P4 processor and 533MHz bus from 768MB of RAM > to 2GB of RAM. Dell said it would only take 1GB, and that upgrade was not > worth the effort. But I was on the Crucial site the other day, and ran the > memory advisor program that said it would take up to 2GB of memory. So $100 > and two 1GB sticks of DDR PC3200 memory later, this old workhorse is running > like a new machine! You have just described my 8 year old machine. I too, have a 4550 with 768MB of RAM, and have long wondered if I would benefit from sticking more memory into it. Can you be more specific as to the performance increase? What programs or activities benefited the most? On a percentage basis, how much better is your machine running with the expanded memory? I ask because I have noticed a slow down of late. I typically have a Works database open, along with Firefox, Internet Explorer, perhaps a Word doc, and Outlook all running at the same time. While not lightning fast, it was never slow, until recently. When switching between apps, I sometimes hear the hard drive whirring and nothing happening for 8 to 10 seconds. I've had my eye on a Studio XPS for awhile, but like you, I'd like to squeeze a bit more life out of the old machine.
From: Bob Villa on 4 Jul 2010 19:34
On Jul 4, 4:52 pm, powrwrap <powrw...(a)aol.com> wrote: > On Jul 4, 9:37 am, "Pat Conover" <pub...(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > > Hi All; > > > Well, I know I shouldn't have, but I went ahead and upgraded my old trusty > > Dimension 4550 with a 2.4 GHz P4 processor and 533MHz bus from 768MB of RAM > > to 2GB of RAM. Dell said it would only take 1GB, and that upgrade was not > > worth the effort. But I was on the Crucial site the other day, and ran the > > memory advisor program that said it would take up to 2GB of memory. So $100 > > and two 1GB sticks of DDR PC3200 memory later, this old workhorse is running > > like a new machine! > > You have just described my 8 year old machine. I too, have a 4550 with > 768MB of RAM, and have long wondered if I would benefit from sticking > more memory into it. Can you be more specific as to the performance > increase? What programs or activities benefited the most? On a > percentage basis, how much better is your machine running with the > expanded memory? > > I ask because I have noticed a slow down of late. I typically have a > Works database open, along with Firefox, Internet Explorer, perhaps a > Word doc, and Outlook all running at the same time. While not > lightning fast, it was never slow, until recently. When switching > between apps, I sometimes hear the hard drive whirring and nothing > happening for 8 to 10 seconds. > > I've had my eye on a Studio XPS for awhile, but like you, I'd like to > squeeze a bit more life out of the old machine. I'll just throw this out...I recently went to IGb on my 4550 and it made big difference. DDR is something like 3X the cost of DDR2 and that makes it tough to justilfy. Lucky, I found mine of Craiglist for $20 (2X512). I paid more than what the guy was asking. Believe it or not he sent it to me before I sent him the check! There's still some trusting souls out there... bob |