Install Video Card on Emachine?

[Steven75252]

Hi, ALL:

I have an Emachine PC with 300 Celeron, 96MB memory, 3GB HD, and 2MB ATI video built in. I try to install a new Video Card with 8MG so I could play some PC game.... I tried 2 video cards with no success. One of the install manual ask user to disable the built in video card then follow the normal install process....

So how could I block the old video configuration ?? I look at the motherboard and there are so many jumpers or pins( I am not sure) and the original Emachine manual did not have any explanation on how to disable/change Video card setting. Does anyone else have the experience to install it in Emachine? Many Thanks.

Steven

[mjc]

On an eMachines you can't really disable the onboard video(some models do have a jumper J1, I believe, most don't). You can set it to something other than AGP in BIOS though and it will look for the PCI card first, then you can go into Win device manager and then disable it there. (When you first boot after doing this Win98 will ask you if you want to run a dual monitor setup, if you have 2 monitors you can, but for best performance you should disable the onboard video in DM.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

468th Rule of Aquistion: Debugging of software is foolish, there is much profit in updates and upgrades.

[Steven75252]

So according the previous response, I have another question. How do I change the BIOS setting? Is it when the PC boot and before Win98 loading? Thank you....

Steven

[mjc]

I believe that it is <del>, but I'd have to check for sure, try it or <f1>, also it should be on the first or second page of settings.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

468th Rule of Aquistion: Debugging of software is foolish, there is much profit in updates and upgrades.

[Randy_tx]

Just be VERY careful when working in the BIOS...esp. if you have never done it before.......the Emachine booklet SHOULD tell you what each Bios setting does...it would be a good idea to read that before you start changing settings.

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Will XP save Me ?

[mjc]

Randy,

eMachine book???, it gives a brief description of each item on the page when you scroll to that item, also the BIOS setup is pretty safe all of the "dangerous" settings have been disabled.

But yes do be careful. Most use an i810 MOBO and that is about the only way to go.

Also an easy procedure if you mess up, hit the key to enter the BIOS as soon as you power on (maybe a couple of times), then <f5>,then <f10> then reboot. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times until you get the timing right, but this restores the factory defalut values to the BIOS and can be done blind......


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

468th Rule of Aquistion: Debugging of software is foolish, there is much profit in updates and upgrades.

[tjaymadison]

Try checking the FAQ's at the eMachine web site www.e4me.com (http://www.e4me.com) -- they may have already answered this.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[Steven75252]

I check the Emachine web site and it said the 300 pc may use a como-III (Jumper 11) or Delhi-III (jumper 10) with 2-3 enabled and 1-2 disabled.

My question is should I make the BIOS update after disable the jumper or not?

The right sequence is:

1. disable the jumper
2. insert the video card
3. delete the old driver/ install the new driver

or

1. disable the jumper
2. insert the video card
3. change the BIOS
4. delete the old driver / install the new driver


Thank you all for the help.....

Steven

[Steven75252]

I check the Emachine web site and it said the 300 pc may use a como-III (Jumper 11) or Delhi-III (jumper 10) with 2-3 enabled and 1-2 disabled.

My question is should I make the BIOS update after disable the jumper or not?

The right sequence is:

1. disable the jumper
2. insert the video card
3. delete the old driver/ install the new driver

or

1. disable the jumper
2. insert the video card
3. change the BIOS
4. delete the old driver / install the new driver


Thank you all for the help.....

Steven

[Steven75252]

I am sorry to repost the same message twice. I just have another question. How do I know it is a Delhi-III or Como-III? Is there an easy way to identify the motherboard? Thank you.

Steven

[tjaymadison]

Steve, I think you may be interpreting the table at eMachine incorrectly. What is the exact model of your PC? It could be eMonster or eTower, in combination with some numbers and letters. It should be printed on a label on the back of the system. The Delhi-III and Como-III are the motherboard model numbers, but you have to know the system model first. In any case, there is no mention of any requirement to make any BIOS changes after changing the jumper position. Reply with the complete model number, and then we can help.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-26-2001).]

[Steven75252]

Now I know the motherboard is Como-3 and go ahead to disable the on board jumper, insert the new 8MB ATI PCI video card, and boot the PC. Everything seems in sync now, but the problem happened after that. The PC set a default standard VGA driver for the NEW VC. After this I follow the install manual to run the auto install program. The install program set the monitor screen all of sudden to "collapsed". It shrink to only half screen with unidentifiable graph. I could power off the PC and force it to reboot, the video card will run under the standard VGA driver again.

Is this the video card problem? Or I have to get a higher resolution monitor. Mine is a 14" which is long before with my 486 PC. Thanks for any kind of information.

Steven