Another dumb blonde question about my video card.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

How do I figure out what it is? A friend of a friend put my computer together for me several years ago. He did it as a favor to his friend & probably has forgotten all about me so I don't feel comfortable bugging him.

I've googled everything on the list-he gave me the receipts-and the only thing I think it could in is this:

CPU AMD/2500/333Athlon XP Barton R

I know my drivers are nvidia - nForce_motherboard_drivers.exe 2.11.15.0

I also have a couple of other nvidia display drivers.

The reason I ask is that I just got a new Dell 21 inch monitor. The paper work says it works best with a better video card that supports display resolution to 1680x1050 (Optimal) and I don't think mine does. In fact, the highest resolution I can get is 1600x900.

Anyhoo, any help is much appreciated & if you can't figure out what the heck I'm talking about you have my permission to ignore me. :rofl:

:hi:

[samdogmom]

1. Is Windows XP your operating system?

If so, you can find out what video card is installed by going to: Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Device Manager > Display Adapters. Then right click on the Video Card listed here and select properties--this will tell you the version of N Vidia card you have. You can google it or go to the manufacturer's web site to get the card specs and find out if the resolution you want is supported.

If you're having trouble finding Administrative Tools, it's on my start menu. But if it's not on yours (you have to select this), go to Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. I have Windows 2000,

but I'm pretty sure there's an Administrative tools in there somewhere. I'll go look when I have a chance.

Thank you for your help.

:hi:

[samdogmom]

3. In Windows Help search for Device Manager--that's what you need.

Good luck!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

5. kewl beans.

thanks! I found it. I have NVIDIA GeForce 4MX Integrated GPU.

Now I can google that & find out more about it & then go from there if I want to upgrade.

I like it just fine it's just I spent quite a bit on the monitor & was thinking it would be nice to get everything out of it I could.

:yourock:

[FormerDittoHead]

4. it's under Start->settings->control panel

[hobbit709]

6. You can probably download

an updated driver from NVIDIA but the deal is really what resolution is best for your eyes.
My monitor and video is capable of 1600x1200 but I use 1024x768 because it's too hard to see any text sometimes. Try the higher resolutions your card is capable of and see what they look like to you. The higher the resolution, the larger you'll have to make the font so that it is easily readable.

[Ready4Change]

7. Sounds likely that the motherboard is providing the video.

The nForce motherboards have built in video capabilities. In other words, a video card is built into the motherboard. If you want to upgrade you should be able to install a regular video card and disable the built in video. How to do that depends on the model of the motherboard.