Upgrade Graphics card for Dell Dimension 3100

Hi brvaland,

Welcome to the Community.

Your computer has 230 W power supply and the PCI and PCI X Slots.

As per my information this is the only video card that will work on your computer: RADEON X1550 256MB PCI. 

This video card does not has the HDMI port.

As an alternative you can use USB to HDMI converter which has the capability to transfer Video (1080 p HD) and Audio both. (Example of such adapter:

 

Please revert if you need any further assistance. Glad to help you.

Srikant

Social Outreach Professional

You can reach us at http://en.community.dell.com/

Hi, I thought this card should work - The Club 3D GeForce GT 520 PCI Express X1 Edition. Can you please for any reason why the will not work? Thanks

Hi brvaland,

Thank you for your response.

The graphics card, Club 3D GeForce GT 520 PCI Express X1 Edition, has the perfect form factor to fit into the system, however, the micro-processor and the motherboard that you might be having is the original one that was shipped from the factory, so the video memory of 1 GB might not work to its optimum capacity and also might not work at all, as there might be a bottle neck in the process flow.

Moreover the motherboard architecture built during the times when this system was under production was meant for basic usage and entertainment, so it  is designed to detect video card with 256MB maximum video memory. Anything higher than that,  the system might not even give video output signal, but if still you are interested, you can try the video card first or purchase with a return guarantee.

Advisable is to use the converter, by which you can connect your system to the TV to view HD content through HDMI output.

Let me know your observation.

Glad to help you.

Srikant

Social Outreach Professional

You can reach us at http://en.community.dell.com/

Hi Srikant

The product link sent for USB to HDMI converter is available from a US website, so i found something similar on amazon UK. Can you please advise if this will work for me?

www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1

Thanks

Bhavesh

Hi, I thought this card should work - The Club 3D GeForce GT 520 PCI Express X1 Edition. Can you please for any reason why the will not work? Thanks

It won't hurt to try it; just make sure that there's a return policy so that you're not stuck with it in the event that it doesn't work. Sometimes, certain cards are just plain incompatible, possibly due to BIOS reasons. Then again, that doesn't happen very often.

This is coming from someone who upgraded an old 2350 to 2gb memory (even though the manual says it will only work with 1gb), added a SATA card, and got said 2350 to work with both 3tb hard drive and Pioneer Blu-ray drive. (Yes, the 2350 will play back Blu-ray discs, the specification for which was not even laid down when the machine was built.)

 

Hi brvaland,

Thank you for your response.

I have crossed checked the specifications of both the adapters and they have similar specifications, so it should work out.

Glad to help you.

Thanks for your help.

I have dell optiplex GX280 which is P4 2.8Ghz with 4GB Max but dimension 3100 is P4 HT 2.8ghz with 2GB max. I believe the GX280 does support PCI Express x16.

Can please advise if it is better for me use GX280 and get a new graphic card with hdmi?

What do you think about the performance difference between this 2 pcs?

On GX280 PC - I have a graphics card - "PNY Quadro NVS 290 for DVI PCIe x1". The output for this card is DMS-59.

I was thinking to get an adapter for DMS-59 to DVI and another adapter for DVI - HDMI or i need to upgrade the graphics card.

Do you think this will work for me to get a HD quality video resolution on my HD Ready TV?

Please advise?

Bhavesh

Hi brvaland,

Thank you for your response.

If you own an OptiPlex GX280 Riptide System, full height desktop system, then any below video card will work:

MFR	Prod. Desc.	Connectors
VisionTek	RADEON 5450 512MB PCIE	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	6450 1GB DDR3 PCIE-VISIONTEK RADEON	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	6350 PCIE 1GB DDR3 SFF-VIDADPT DVI-I HDMI VGA	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	4350 PCIE 512MB SFF DDR2-B2 RTL W/ HDMI DONGLE	1x DVI 1x HDMI 1x VGA (1x DVI-VGA 1x DVI-HDMI 1x HDMI-DVI adapter included)
VisionTek	5450 PCIE 1GB SFF DP-B2 VIDADPT RTL	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (1x DVI-VGA adapter, 1x HDMI-DVI adapter)
VisionTek	4650 PCIE 1GB HDMI SFF	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	4650 PCIE 1GB DMS59 SFF	2x DVI 1x S-Video (1x DMS59-Dual DVI 2x DVI-VGA adapter included)
PNY	GEFORCE 8400GS 1GB PCIE-D3 VIDADPT REPLACE 512MB	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (note in low profile mode the card is DVI and HDMI)
PNY	GeForce GT 430 1024 MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Graphics Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GRAPHICS CARD - NVIDIA GEFORCE 210 - PCI EXPRESS 2.0 X16 - 512 MB - DDR III SDRA	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (Note in low profile systems, there is only 1 DVI and 1 HDMI port for dual monitors)
MSI	MSI R6450-MD2GD3/LP - Graphics card - Radeon HD 6450 - 2 GB DDR3 - PCI Express 2.1 x16 - DVI, D-Sub, HDMI	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI

If you own an OptiPlex GX280 Nemesis System, half height mini tower desktop system, then any below video card will work:

MFR	Prod. Desc.	Connectors
VisionTek	6350 PCIE 1GB DDR3-VIDADPT DVI-I HDMI VGA	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	RADEON 5450 512MB PCIE	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	ATI Radeon HD 5550 1 GB DDR PCI Express Graphic Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	6450 1GB DDR3 PCIE-VISIONTEK RADEON	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	6350 PCIE 1GB DDR3 SFF-VIDADPT DVI-I HDMI VGA	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	4350 PCIE 512MB SFF DDR2-B2 RTL W/ HDMI DONGLE	1x DVI 1x HDMI 1x VGA (1x DVI-VGA 1x DVI-HDMI 1x HDMI-DVI adapter included)
VisionTek	Radeon HD4650 1GB PCIe	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (1x DVI-VGA adapter, 1x HDMI component adapter)
VisionTek	AMD Radeon HD 6570 1 GB PCI Express Graphic Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	5450 PCIE 1GB SFF DP-B2 VIDADPT RTL	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (1x DVI-VGA adapter, 1x HDMI-DVI adapter)
VisionTek	AMD Radeon HD 6670 1 GB PCI Express Graphic Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
VisionTek	4650 PCIE 1GB HDMI SFF	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
PNY	GEFORCE 8400GS 1GB PCIE-D3 VIDADPT REPLACE 512MB	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (note in low profile mode the card is DVI and HDMI)
PNY	GeForce GT 430 1024 MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Graphics Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GEFORCE 8400 GS PCIE 2.0 512MB DVI HDMI VGA 520MHZ WITH HEATSINK	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	E-GEFORCE 8400 GS PCIE2 X16 512MB DDR3 DVI HDMI VGA WIN7 350W	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GEFORCE 210 PCIE 2.0 1024MB DDR3 DVI VGA HDMI	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GRAPHICS CARD - NVIDIA GEFORCE 210 - PCI EXPRESS 2.0 X16 - 512 MB - DDR III SDRA	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI (Note in low profile systems, there is only 1 DVI and 1 HDMI port for dual monitors)
EVGA	GeForce 210 1024 MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Graphics Card	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	VIDEO CARD - NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 520 - PCI EXPRESS 2.0 - 1 GB - GDDR3 SDRAM	2x DVI 1x Mini-HDMI (This card only has 1 dual link DVI port)
MSI	MSI R6450-MD2GD3/LP - Graphics card - Radeon HD 6450 - 2 GB DDR3 - PCI Express 2.1 x16 - DVI, D-Sub, HDMI	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	eVGA GeForce GT 430 - Graphics card - GF GT 430 - 1 GB DDR3 - PCI Express 2.0 x16 - DVI, D-Sub, HDMI	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GEFORCE GT 520 PCIE 2.0 2GB DUAL LINK DVI-I HDMI 810MHZ	1x DVI 1x VGA 1x HDMI
EVGA	GRAPHICS CARD - NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 430 - PCI EXPRESS 2.0 X16 - 1 GB - DDR III SDR	2x DVI 1x Mini-HDMI

Glad to assist you.

 

Hi Srikant

Thanks for your update.

Apologizes for the error on the graphics card mentioned.

The Graphics card that i have "PNY Quadro NVS 290 256MB PCI-Express x16 Low Profile" - It has DMS-59 port and i have a DVI adapter cable, so i was thinking to purchase the HDMI to DVI Cable so i can play HD video on the HD Ready TV.

PNY Quadro NVS 290 256MB PCI-Express x16 Low Profile

www.dabs.com/.../pny-quadro-nvs-290-256mb-pci-express-x16-low-profile-6MQM.html

HDMI to DVI Cable

cgi.ebay.co.uk/.../eBayISAPI.dll

Can you please advise if i can use my current graphics card or i need to upgrade.?

I've had good results with a Sparkle 8400GS on an older Dell (2350). Amazon UK offers one for sale with native HDMI: www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=sr_1_1

I think it is equipped with an onboard HDMI audio device, but I'm not certain.

Hi Experts

As the cable for HDMI to DVi was just £2 so ordered and got it delivered today so i connected everything including NVidia Quadro NVS 290.

The best resolution i get on TV is 1360 x 768 (PC Native).

On the Nvidia Control panel i can see the available HD resolution but it does not look right. (see below screenshots)

Here is the link to the specification of my TV - http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/KDL-32P3020/specifications

According to Graphics card specification it can support up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz.

I am concerned is this a limitation of my television or graphics card. I really don't want to waste money found out my TV is not supporting.

Please advise?

 Hi brvaland,

Thanks for your response.

The issue is present with DVI to HDMI converter as the output is through PC in DVI format, so you won't get the HD resolution on the televison. Will recommend you if you can replace the graphics card that I listed above and look for the availability in UK. Best is to use a Graphics card that has HDMI output to get the 1080 Full HD resolution.

Glad to assist you.

Hi Srikant,

The Dell Optiplex GX280 is Small Mini-Tower Computer based on the below link  <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

Can you please advise which system will this fall on your list - Riptide System or Nemesis System?

Please advise?