graphics card upgrade

[YOUMEUSANDTHEM]

I HAVE A PACKARD BELL PC WITH A HOUSTON MOTHERBOARD WHICH HAS AN INTEL i810 INTEGRATED GRAPHICS CHIPSET.I BOUGHT AN ATI ALL IN WONDER 128 PCI GRAPHICS CARD AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD NOT INSTALL IT AS I COULD NOT FULLY DISABLE MY CURRENT GRAPHICS CAPABILITY.ANY HELP APPRECIATED

[dale]

Packard Hells are really difficult computers to upgrade - my personal experience. In your case, you truly might be stuck. But, first try going into the BIOS setup and look for the Video or Integrated Peripherials settings and see if you can find a place to disabled the on board video card/chip. I would assume they would at least give you that ability. If this doesn't work out, try going to their web site and look for your model and look for a FAQ section. Sometimes they give you useful information in regards to common upgrade/problems.

dale

[tallyman]

If the m/board is fairly recent (12-18 m old) you may find that the integrated graphics are AGP. I don't know if this is the reason for you getting a PCI card, as integrated AGP boards do not, as far as I have seen, have a seperate AGP slot. If this is the case there is almost certainly no way to disable the on-board graphics. Manufacturers do seem to have got the message though as fewer boards have both sound and graphics built in.

Aside from this, if the PC is an older one, then I would agree that Packard Bell, along with Compaq and quite a few other makes are not easily upgradeable at all. Newer ones, having to use ATX factors are better though

Sorry can't be much more help

John R.

[Paleo Pete]

Ray's Packard Bell Site (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/8774/index.html) might have some useful info.

In addition to the above info, the motherboard might have a jumper that disables the onboard video.

The type of problem you're having is the reason I HATE integrated motherboards. They were usually the cheapest available, and the manufacturer didn't have to shell out the buck$ for separate video, sound cards, and sometimes modems...

$100 for the board versus $100 or more for a quality board, plus the other components. That's the reason for all the integrated boards you see in off-the-shelf computers. It's hard to find one without an integrated board any more. Packard Bell has always used them, HP does too, Compaq...never mind...Gateway has used a few, and might still...the list goes on...

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[This message has been edited by Paleo Pete (edited 10-01-2000).]