Best Low-Cost(relatively), Linux-compatible Graphics card for old HP Pavillion?
 

OK-I'm gonna break down and get a graphics card for my $20 Test-Bed Desktop PC-model a810n 1GB RAM, AMD Athlon64 3300+ 2.4Ghz processor.
Any suggestions?
Most important things are cost and performance with Linux-this is a Linux-only machine.

linus72,

I would think that one of the AGP-compatible nVidia cards such as the 6200 or 7600GS or similar would be suitable. These are Linux friendly.
You may need to try ebay unless you can find some old stock elsewhere.

Generally Nvidia cards work well with linux.
Go with the proprietary driver for 3D performance.
What graphics slot do you have on your motherborard?
I would guess at AGP looking at your specs,so if it was my money i would buy the best Nvidia card i could afford.

Regards.
The trooper.

AGP or PCI Express?

I used a Nvidia card with a 6200 chip that worked well. It does depend on what you can get on your local market. Where I reside, the market doesn't support selling graphic cards that are too cheap, with more sellers' cost than profit. You have tried used?

Being an Xbox-er 360 I don't know much about PC graphics cards-I just need something that will integrate well with both Linux and HP AMD Athlon64-and low-cost-yeah-do they sell used graphics cards?
OH-it's PCI Express.
How would I find out for sure if it's AGP or PCI Express?

Nvidia and used and passive cooled and 6200 or better and PCI Express and cheap

I was under the impression that it was an AGP card but if it is PCI express then a passively cooled card such as an Asus 6200TC or XFX 7600GS will fit the bill.
Double check the computer's specs and preferably open up the case to see what cards slots are available on the motherboard (do you have its details?).

In my BIOS it says "PCI" or AGP-onboard". What's the differences?
It is set to PCI now-will there be a performance difference or crash the puter if I change it?
I'll crack it open in a minute and look at the card slots-what am i looking for exactly?

linus72,

I believe this is the spec for your pc. Please double check.
If so, the motherboard (Asus K8S-LA (Salmon)) has one AGP slot and 3 PCI slots, one of which is PCI Express. One of the passively cooled (no fan) PCI graphics cards I mentioned earlier should be okay unless somebody can see a problem.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...&printable=yes


FACTORY HP Pavilion a810n Desktop PC (Released Dec 2004):
link: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] =c00280647

- 2.40GHz AMD Athlon 64 3300+ Processor, 256KB L2 cache, 1600MHz FSB
- 512MB SDRAM 184-pin DDR 400 (PC 3200) Memory, expandable to 2GB
- Samsung SpinPoint P80 SP1604N 160GB, 7200RPM Ultra DMA HDD
- Motherboard: Asus K8S-LA (Salmon), Micro-ATX form factor, Socket 754
(3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DDR DIMM

, Audio, Video, LAN, IEEE-1394)
- Dbl-Layer 16X DVD+/-RW/CR-RW Drive (48x CD-RW)
- CD-ROM Drive, 48x
- Integrated SIS Mirage 2 graphics card with 128MB shared video memory
- Memory Slots: 2 DIMM, 184-pin, DDR 400 SDRAM, PC3200
- 9-in-1 front panel Memory card reader
- Sound: Integrated audio chipset
- (7) high-speed USB 2.0 ports
- (2) IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports
- Integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface, PCI Ethernet, V.92 data/fax modem

Heading for bed now so someone else can take over.

What mother board?

You actually don't know if the board is PCI Express or AGP or PCI?

I take it you don't have a copy of the mother boards manual. You might try the board manufacturers support site or google and find one for your greater benefit. If there is none available, there should at least be a specification sheet.

The mother board documentation will give you definite information, but you can tell by just looking for a graphic card mounting slot on the board. Google will show you what they look like. A hint. AGP is a short slot, about 5cm/2". There will also be some PCI slots.

If the board is old enough it will have neither an AGP nor a PCI Express slot, but was meant to use a PCI slot for the graphics card.

The BIOS setting suggests that the board takes either an AGP or PCI card, and that the BIOS can be optimized for either.

Case connections, RAM specifications, BIOS settings and more are made easy if you have the board manual.

Therefore, change my last post to include the variable AGP/PCI-e.

Good Luck

Yep-Beachboy2-you hit it right on the head-that's my exact model.
I thought there would only be one maybe two slots-why so many slots for graphics cards?

If playing videos is a consideration you may want to think about bumping up to the Nvidia 8 or 9 series cards. These are the cards that are supported under their VDPAU drivers. VDPAU moves the video decoding off the Cpu onto the Gpu. Their are straight PCI versions of both series. The series 9 PCI models draw very little power and do NOT require the extra power connector required by many of the newer cards(something to be aware of).

The only reason I want the graphics card is cause Linux (or should I say Xorg?) doesn't seem to support SIS Mirage2 760 Integrated Graphics Cards, and so I can't play games on Linux-which sucks!
Anyway-what are the links to reputable graphics card dealers?
Does anyone sell warrantied used cards?
thanks

Newegg (newegg.com) usually has good prices and has a strong reputation. They also have reviews, which is probably its best feature.

OK-great! Thanks lazlow,-newegg has some great prices-BUT-how do I know which card will fit my PC exactly?
How do I find out what my power supply output is?