....winston said:
Dell Inspiron 531s (introduced circa 2007)
Specs:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd531/en/om/appendix.htm#wp1149549
- Nvidia integrated video (DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 Graphics
Processing Unit)
- based on the 64MB GeForce 6150 or 6150Se
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_6_Series
The Nvidia driver search engine seems to be busted, so
I used an external search engine and "site:geforce.com" to
find these. The first is for a 64 bit OS. The second
is for a 32 bit OS. These should fix the problem for now.
You can use your System control panel, to determine whether
the OS was installed in 32 bit or 64 bit mode. In this
example picture, the system is using a 64 bit OS, and the first driver
would be the one to try.
http://pc.net/images/db/windows-7-system-control-panel.png
*******
http://www.geforce.com/Drivers/Results/39239
GeForce 285.79 Driver
Release Date Thu Nov 10, 2011
Operating System Windows 7 64-bit
Windows Vista 64-bit
Language English (US)
File Size 187.4 MB
Supported Products ... GeForce 6150SE
*******
http://www.geforce.com/Drivers/Results/40608
GeForce 290.53 Driver
Release Date Wed Dec 21, 2011
Operating System Windows 7 32-bit
Windows Vista 32-bit
Language English (US)
File Size 155.06 MB
Supported Products ... GeForce 6150SE
*******
In addition to that, you have some other considerations.
The Aero effects, may require DirectX 9 support, but
the memory used by the graphics is supposed to be 128MB.
The 6150SE (built-in graphics), uses shared memory. It uses
some of the system memory.
The BIOS may have a setting to determine the amount of sharing.
But, the amount of installed system memory can play a part as well.
A poorly written BIOS, may give you no control at all over this.
To illustrate, using a retail motherboard from that era, this is
the Asrock manual for the 939NF6G-VSTA motherboard. This has
the 6150SE, which is why I picked this particular manual.
http://www.asrock.com/MB/overview.asp?Model=939NF6G-VSTA
ftp://174.142.97.10/manual/939NF6G-VSTA.pdf
On page 33 of that manual, it refers to:
"Share Memory
This allows you to set share memory feature. The default value is [Auto].
Configuration options: [Auto], [16MB], [32MB], [64MB], [128MB], and [256MB]."
So if the OS complains there isn't enough graphics memory to run special
effects, you go to the BIOS to adjust it. Problem is, that setting
exists on a retail (home built computer) motherboard. But on a
Dell, they could "dumb it down" and avoid that setting entirely.
As an example, someone with an HP computer based on 6150SE,
installed 2GB of DDR memory, to try to coax his BIOS to make
the "shared" larger. And when he checked, the BIOS was still
automatically selecting 64MB for the "shared" setting. Even a
dumbed down BIOS is supposed to be smart enough, to set the
shared larger, as the system memory installation gets larger.
If the shared setting won't change, then you can install a
separate video card. It should be a low end card, one without
a PCI Express 2x3 power connector, as your machine may not have
a big enough ATX supply for anything more substantial. Fortunately,
modern video cards have dropped a lot in terms of power level and
usage, giving about the same video performance level as you have
now. (I.e. A $50 card won't play Crysis at 30 frames per second,
but it will do things like accelerate Adobe Flash playback or the
like. Or, do your screensaver a favor
)
This is an example of a relatively low power card. ATI HD 5450.
This is a "low profile ready" card, which also comes with low profile
faceplates in the box. In other words, the body of the video card
isn't very tall, so it fits in tight spaces. As delivered, the card
is ready to use in a "full sized" PC. If you have a slim PC, you
unscrew the faceplate, and install the shorter faceplate. Reinstalling
the VGA connector is optional. There may be an option to unplug it
from the video card surface. The second faceplate, is for if you
have a slot next to the video card, where the second faceplate can fit.
If so, then the VGA connector can be fitted in the second slot position.
That's why the VGA connector is on a ribbon cable, for rearrangement.
So for $35, you get some pretty flexible hardware. And it's good enough
for most "tick box" features needed by the OS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161322
You can see why I selected that card, here.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/gpu-power-consumption-2010_3.html#sect0
HD5450 idle 3.2 watts
play a BluRay 8.0 watts
play Crysis 9.2 watts
That's why the card doesn't have a fan. They feel there is enough
air movement inside the PC casing, to keep it cool.
This would be the low power winner from Nvidia, the Geforce 210.
It comes with the optional faceplates as well. Note that not
all video cards, have the needed faceplates, You have to check
for them. They're not that easy to find elsewhere (i.e. an exact fit).
Comparable Geforce 210...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500237
Before buying either video card, use the customer feedback tab on
those web pages, and read the reviews. With inexpensive cards,
quality can always be an issue. And before you buy, make sure the users
are happy with their purchase.
All of that trouble, because the BIOS doesn't have an adjustment...
Paul
