i have a Dell optiplex gx270 with a foxconn ls-36 mobo with integrated graphics,
i want to install a geforce 7600gs but when i pop the card in neither the original vga port or the new cards port seem to work. the monitor stays on standby. i have tried to dissable the onboard graphics card but am a bit stuck could someone walk me through how to get the card working as i cant see any jumpers on the mobo and dont know what to do. i am getting desperate please help me!!!!!!!

cheers
Dale

Hey Dale, welcome to PCHF.

Does your PC normally beep when you switch it on, and if so, does it beep at all with the graphics card installed?

Two things to look for here. First of all, some of these cards require an additional 4 pin power connector, which is located at the back of the card, please make sure this is connected.

Dell are supplier of PC, I will always recommend Dell, however one thing about their PC's is that they often lack expandability. Another thing to make sure of (as well as the rear power connector), is to make sure that the Power Supply Unit has enough juice to supply the extra power you need for a 7600gs. For this, use: eXtreme Power Supply Calculator v2.5 (click goLite), to find your minimum requirements.

**You do not need to change jumpers or anything like that on the board. As long as there is nothing wrong with the card, and his has enough power to function, it will work immediately.

the pc doesnt beep when powered on and i have the power connected to the card,
i looked at the website you suggested but im a bit lost as to what i need to do. im not too sure what components i have. if there was enough juice to run the card, any ideas on what would be causing the monitor to stay on standby?

Hello Dale-W

Without running your service tag through Dell to find out what you have in your Optiplex, It will be hard for us to guess which power supply you have. From what I have read it could be one of three. A 160 W, 210 W, and a 250 W. If you use the 7600GS you will be pushing the power supply even if it is the 250 W.

LC

As mentioned earlier in the thread, it is most likely because you do not have enough Juice from the PSU to run the extra card. The monitor will go to standby if there is no output from the graphics card.

Like LC said, if you can get hold of your service tag, which can normally be found both on the side of the PC, and sometimes on a label at the back of the PC, when can find out what hardware you currently have, and tell you for certain what you need to buy.

my srvice tag is 457931J im getting really frustrated with this thing grrrrrrrrr lol

You have a 210w Power Supply Unit from what I can tell, your hardware details are as follows (provided nothing else has been upgraded since):

Model: Optiplex GX270 (midi-tower)
CPU: Pentium 4 2.8
Memory: 512mb DDR (2*256mb)
HDD: 80gb 7200rpm IDE
CD-ROM: 42/32x CD-RW
Floppy: Present

Before the graphics card you would be using around 190w. The graphics card uses between 50-60w, which means that even if you had a 250w PSU you would be struggling, LC is correct.

Would suggest obtaining a 300 - 350w PSU for this upgrade. Recommend Thermaltake, OCZ, Antec / Seasonic and Enermax are good manufactuerers of PSU. There are some nasty manufactuerers of PSU out there so take care when choosing.