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General discussion

e310 questions

Apr 3, 2012 8:10AM PDT

Hello, I have limited knowledge about computers but here goes. Someone gave me an e310 running windows 7. I have an HP LCD monitor with two places to connect a cable. I think one is dvi and the other is vga, The computer only has a vga port. I have connected vga to vga and I get stretched out and not very good video.

If I get an adaptor to connect the dvi on my monitor to the vga on the computer will I get better video or should I try to get a PCI card that will accept dvi? I read the e310 has a poor power supply and I might have trouble finding a PCI card that will not stress out the power supply.

I have no idea how to choose such a card and would appreciate some advice as to which way to go. Thanks for any help in this matter.

Discussion is locked

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So close. Try this.
Apr 3, 2012 8:34AM PDT

Change the video settings to match your display. Since we have an image, no adapter is required. Sadly I don't see which HP monitor you have but here's GENERIC ADVICE about setting the video mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/videos/changing-windows-settings

The e310 noted at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3100/en/sm/index.htm shows a PCIe x1 slot. I couldn't tell which size so you can double check if this card will do.

The card at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161354 does list 400 Watts but we see this card pull a light load at about 20 Watts average.

If this was mine I'd get the card at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161354 and put the machine on a P3 Watt Meter to see if I need a new PSU.
Bob

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e310 question
Apr 3, 2012 11:02AM PDT

Thanks for your time. The monitor is an HP 2009 series wide lcd. I tried setting the screen resolution but it only gives me two choices...800 x600 and 1024 x 768. I set it to the higher one but everything is stretched out. At the lower resolution stuff does not fit on the screen. The one display choice I have is "generic PnP monitor on standard vga graphics adaptor". It has two PCI (not PCIe) slots. Am I better off getting a card for that? Thanks again for your time and expertise.

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Look again.
Apr 3, 2012 11:17AM PDT

According the the machine documentation it has a PCIe x1 slot.

If you don't use that, I suggest no card.

As to the display, since I have no model number I can't check for a link for the monitor driver. All my HP displays have that information on the back.
Bob