Dell DIM 4600 video card problems.

Question

I just bought a GeForce-6200LE for my 4600, but when I plug it in and boot, i get a black screen. Also, here are some other symptoms... If i screw everything up, to where I should get an error beep, it only beeps with out the GFX card in, but when its in it does not beep. The diagnostic lights are GYGG, but I cannot find that combo anywhere in a refrence. Fans spin, and the HDD and power leds in the front are on. Also the cd drive opens and closes, the disc spins, but other than that nothing works. I have tried leaving it on with the card on for a while. Updating my chipset (because I am almost positive its not a software issue) and bios.

I am thinking maybe the PSU is not powerful enough. But I also heard that you can't just upgrade it with a standard ATX psu either. Are there ways to mod a standard ATX to work with dell? Anyone have any other ideas??

Message Edited by fojackeddolt on 10-17-2006 05:52 PM

SR45 · Answer

Something else is wrong.  I had the better 7800 GS card with my stock 250 watter for a short time prior to my p/s upgrade.  Also had the 6600 GT card that also suggested a 300 watter without issues.  So something else is holding you guys back..  What card manufacture did you get  ?  Maybe the card is defective, not 100 % sure.    This is how I installed my card, but again I did not have the integrated video chip to start out with, and that alone is a pile of garbage for many trying to change over to a dedicated video card.  Which might be your problem as well.  Or it might be a bad card   1.  I uninstalled the video driver than used a driver cleaner to get the old driver code off.   2.  Installed the new card, hooked up the power cable to my card ( Molex Y power cable ) than the other end to my cdrw extra power connector.  The 6200 card should not have this extra step or extra power cable needed.    3.  Closed the case, booted up, than installed a more current video card driver that I had already downloaded from nVidia and onto the desktop.  Made sure when I installed the driver that my anti virus program was disabled since this may mess up the installation of the driver than back on when completed.   4.  Went into display properties to reset the monitor resolutions again.

JMICHAEL · Answer

Any standard ATX power supply will work on the 4600.  The back of the case where the power supply goes is open so you will have no problems.   The 6200LE is a very low end card and you should not need another power supply to run it.  The 250W will run this card.  Follow these instructions for installing your card:    First, download the lastest drivers from the Nvidia web site.  I believe they are the 91.47 version.  Download them to your desktop so you can find them.  Do not use the drivers on the CD as they are usually outdated.  Go into your Bios and disable your integrated graphics or you can use the Device Manager as a 2nd choice or uninstall any previous driver if you already had another video card.  You will have to restart your computer for the changes to take effect so restart and then shut it down completely.  I usually unplug everything from the back of my computer first before opening up the case.  Open up your case and install your new card in the AGP slot which is the highest one offset from the 3 PCI slots.   If the card requires power, connect at 4 pin molex from your power supply to the back of the card.  Plug everything back in and start up your computer.  Make sure you connect your monitor to the new graphics card.  If you leave it on the integrated graphics, nothing will work.  Cancel out of any window that appears wanting to look for drivers for new hardware.  Install the graphics driver that you downloaded to your desktop and you should be up and running.  Make the necessary changes in the Nvidia Control Panel such as screen resolution & change the color quality to 32 bit.  Those two things don't ever seem to configure correctly by themselves.    I have never updated the bios or chipset on my 4600 and have never had any issues with installing graphic cards.    Dimension 4600 2.8 Ghz w/HT 800 FSB 1 GB PC3200 Memory 160GB SATA Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 Antec 400W PSU XFX 7600GS Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Dell 17' LCD

Insane_Penguin · Answer

Im in the same boat as you are buddy..and exact same symptoms too...though im trying to use a 7600GS.   Im starting to think it may in fact be the PS Message Edited by Insane_Penguin on 10-17-2006 06:38 PM

Cypherus · Answer

I am confident that it is not a PSU problem, as I have been running a 6800 off the Dell 250 Watt PSU, which has a max output of 345 Watts, for 2 years. A 7600 GS is not power hungry intensive, so this card should work.

1.) Did you guys plug the video card's molex power connector into a spare molex power dongle coming off the PSU? If you have not, this is the problem. The card requires extra power coming from the PSU.

2.) If you did plug your card into the PSU, after also seating it into the AGP slot with screws, and the card will not initiate upon boot, it is a driver problem. Follow the steps of the above post.

3.) You should hear the fan of the card spinning. If you have done all appropriate steps, and the fan is spinning, it is possible that the cards are Dead on Arrival, which is a common problem. RMA the card and get a replacement.

Message Edited by Cypherus on 10-17-2006 08:35 PM

fojackeddolt · Answer

I dont think its a power from the psu, because there is no cable, nor place to plug it into. And i dont think its a driver, because i get ZILCH when i boot up. I thought drivers only really mattered if i watned full rez and whateve... i dont think my bios can reach drivers i install in windows, unless i am a total noob Message Edited by fojackeddolt on 10-18-2006 01:35 AM

Cypherus · Answer

I see that the 6200 LE doesn't require extra power, so the PSU is not an issue. Do you actually have the monitor plugged into the AGP card?

If all else fails, the card is probably dead on arrival, so return it and pay extra for a real gaming card - 7600 GS AGP. The 6200 is a terrible card, anyways.

Insane_Penguin · Answer

I got the 7600Gs and it aint workin either, I have all his problems...and i did plug everything in to their correct slots/plugs(molex an monitor). would the PCI drivers have any influence on this at all?

Cypherus · Answer

The 7600 GS AGP needs to be plugged into a spare molex connector running off the PSU, unlike the 6200 LE. Usually, the connectors have a blue or black plastic cap covering.

Plug the power cord from the back of the card and run it to the spare molex 4-pin connector that is found on the cord that leads to the hard drive, or to any of the spare connectors available around the CD/DVD drives.

If it boots, you should hear the video card fan spinning and see the Dell boot screen. Immediately press F2 and set the "Primary Display Adaptor" to auto, or choose the option to "AGP", which ever is more relevant. Restart and it should boot to your desktop, where you then install the updtated video card drivers from the CD ROM, or preferably off Nvidia.com

It would be more helpful if you posted your full computer specs, like my signature, as I have no idea if you had onboard video or a FX 5200.

Message Edited by Cypherus on 10-18-2006 07:00 PM

sredd68 · Answer

I had the same problem until I connected the power supply from my 512mb 7600GS OC AGP card to a free, but covered, dongle from the hard drive. But check this out...the fan started running even before I hooked up the power supply but the screen stayed black and in sleep mode. Once I did that and rebooted everything started working fine...just waiting for my new power supply to make sure everything stays that way.

P.S. I upgraded from a GeForce 6200 256mb had no problems when I installed it. EXCEPT I didn't make sure it was firmly seated in the AGP slot and it wouldn't work. Just a thought...

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Dell DIM 4600 video card problems.

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