Options with Nvidia graphics card

[davexnet]

Hi all -
purchased a used Nvidia 6200 AGP video card from Ebay;
pretty basic card - wanted to put it in an old Dell Dimension I picked up
with Windows 7 installed. The existing card, Nvidia FX5200 doesn't support
windows 7 (stuck on standard VGA mode)

I paid $15 for it, including shipping, but I'm surprised and dismayed to
see 6 bulging and leaking capacitors. I think they're Sacon, silver
with blue on the top. The numbers say FZ73, 1000, 6.3 volt.

The card is otherwise clean. Worth repairing? Or contact the seller and send it back?
If it's worth repairing, any advice regarding replacements would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

[mockingbird]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

FX5200 is supported on Windows 7 and Aero should work with it as well...

Run Microsoft Update, it should find the driver.

[Heihachi_73]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Yes, Sacon FZ are down there with Rulycon on the Badcaps shitlist. If you really want the card, it might be worth recapping, and hopefully the card itself hasn't been trashed due to the caps.

As for Windows 7, it's not really Microsoft's fault if Nvidia won't let them use a generic driver for their video cards, or even offer support themselves for modern operating systems (Windows XP is over ten years old, and 32-bit CPUs are all but history). Nvidia won't even open source drivers for the Linux community, even for older cards (hope you have a Riva TNT lying around, as that's probably the only thing that will somewhat work out of the box, what a joke). Nvidia is practically the KFC of the graphics card world.

[shovenose]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Work it out with the eBay seller, could have been an honest mistake in which case they'll probably refund you. I bought a router, and when it arrived it had obvious damage (not caused by shipping) and they were very apologetic and refunded me. And I got to keep it anyway,
Then take the money, buy soldering iron, solder, caps, and fix it

[davexnet]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Thanks for all the responses. I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, I have all the
equipment - that's why I considered a repair Vs. a return. To be fair, it is probably
an honest mistake by the seller. It's not glaringly obvious with a quick glance.
But if you look closely, you can see the bulge (on all 6 of the 6.3v caps)
and the brown stuff coming out.

Regarding mockingbirds comment re: the driver, on the Nvidia website the only driver
available for download is Forceware 96.85 and that's Vista only! For 7,
nothing comes up. I did install this Vista driver. It actually installs -
however, the Nvidia control panel doesn't work, and my monitors resolution
is not available (1680 by 1050).

Are you saying to uninstall the standard VGA from device manager,
re-boot and allow the system to redetect?

Certainly, going into Windowsupdate now (in standard VGA mode),
nothing shows up for it.

[davexnet]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Hi all - I tried to edit the previous message, but I couldn't find the edit button.

The whole thing is moot now, I put the card in the Dell, no picture on the screen at all.
Reseated it, but it's no-go. Seems as if I have to arrange a refund and return.

I put back the old FX5200 and all is well again.
Thanks for the comments!
Dave

[cheapie]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Hi all - I tried to edit the previous message, but I couldn't find the edit button.

It's in the bottom right, next to quote.

The whole thing is moot now, I put the card in the Dell, no picture on the screen at all.
Reseated it, but it's no-go. Seems as if I have to arrange a refund and return.
Dave

Probably because of the bad caps...

[c_hegge]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

It's in the bottom right, next to quote.

You can't edit a post more than 1 hour old here. The edit button disappears.

[momaka]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

I'm pretty good with a soldering iron, I have all the
equipment - that's why I considered a repair Vs. a return.

The 6200 isn't all that much better than the FX5200, but I'd still repair it anyways. High chances it will work just fine with new caps. Need to get rid of all of the FZ caps, though.

[davexnet]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Thanks for your comments and perspectives. I have my refund in hand,
as well as the card. The card, as-is, is dead - but as a project, I might replace
the caps and see if it brings it back to life.

Currently, there are 5 blown caps marked FZ73, 1000, 6.3v and one cap that
looks OK (same brand) marked FZ75, 470, 16v. Might as well replace all six.
Anybody have any specific recommendations on replacements?

I might also look around on Ebay and attempt to get another card. The PC I'm
matching it up with is a Dell Dimension, 2.80 GHZ single core Pentium 4,
2 GB PC3200 DDR1 RAM. I know the Nvidia 6200 is a pretty basic card.
If anybody has a suggestions of alternate AGP card to keep an eye out for,
I'd appreciate that too.
cheers -
Dave

[Northeastern292]

Re: Options with Nvidia graphics card

Recaps on GPU boards are a miss on the one opportunity I've had. The one I have freezes up ever after the recap. But I wish you luck nonetheless!