Any PC Experts???

[Nick Goodall]

Can someone please help??

I'm trying to run my recently installed Championship Manager 2010 but get an error message.

I came home today and upgraded my 512MB Memory to 4GB (Maximum for my PC) - The PC is a Dell Optiplex GX280 but when i start the game it says:

"Direct3D Failed to initialise - Please ensure you have a Direct3D compatible card and Driver. The game cannot continue and must close"

What do i do?? I have no idea what Card i have in my PC - is it just a driver issue or is my card likely to just not be up to the job??

[kek23k]

The onboard graphics in the dell probably aren't up to the task, you probably need to get a half-height directx10 gfx card

[philpac]

Open up your device manager, which you can get by right clicking on My Computer, select properties and then click the hardware tab and click device manager, then find your graphics card under display adapters. This same method should work under Vista, but otherwise try going through Control Panel.

If you post what you find I might be able to help

[superdez]

Sounds like your graphics may not be up to the job. You need to identify your graphis card, if its an intel onboard chip you will probaly need to upgrade to a more modern card......providing you have a spare PCIe slot or AGP.

If not try updating to the lastest drivers for your graphics chip. The make/model etc can be found in device manager

[philpac]

You might also need to update DirectX... check the CD for Champ Manager, there ought to be a correct version on there somewhere

[MatJohnson]

Faling that, feed the service tag through the dell website and it will tell you. I've a feeling the dell optiplex systems are on board graphics so you would need another one.

I think they are PCI-E cards but not 100%

[Nick Goodall]

I'm looking in Device manager but i can't see anything related to the Graphics card....

I downloaded latest Intel drivers which i think relate to the graphics card....

I just re-run the game and it started this time, played some video sequences then after a few moments came up with the same error again..

It's frustrating as i think the Graphics are only needed to watch the 3D game experience which i'm also told can be turned off once you're in the game anyway :-(

I've just run dxdiag and got the following:

Under Display tab:

Name: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Chip Type: (As above)
DAC Type: Internal
Approx Total Memory: 128MB

Does that help?

[superdez]

The Graphics are on board, but the m board does have a PCIe slot. Being of small form factor you would need to buy a low profile graphics card

something like one of these http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?Interf...=p3286.c0.m282

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by superdez

The Graphics are on board, but the m board does have a PCIe slot. Being of small form factor you would need to buy a low profile graphics card

something like one of these http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?Interf...=p3286.c0.m282

Thanks for that mate!!

Would any of them work ok?? Is it just a case of plug and play?? I'm thinking the Asus one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Asus-256MB-ATi...d=p3286.c0.m14

[superdez]

An Ati 4550 would be a better bet, a little bit more grunt. Should just plug in, but first uninstall the intel drivers and check in the bios as you may need to disable the on board graphics

[Nick Goodall]

Thanks Dez, do you know if it will definitely work in this machine?

[superdez]

The only issue you may have is that your power supply may not have a graphics card power connector, or it doesnt have enough grunt to power the card. If the PSU has a 6 pin PCIe connector that is not in use you will be okay. Looking at those card its not clear if they need the extra power

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by superdez

The only issue you may have is that your power supply may not have a graphics card power connector, or it doesnt have enough grunt to power the card. If the PSU has a 4 or 6 pin PCIe connector that is not in use you will be okay.

Ahh ok, not sure what sort of power supply it has to be honest.....

Is it much of a job to upgrade the power supply? What sort of money am i looking at?

[Rich D]

This is the trouble with Dell

Im not sure if the newer Dells have interchangeable components but the older ones used to use parts unique to Dell themselves

[Nick Goodall]

This is the same model - is anyone able to check what sort of Power supply it would have or what it could be changed for?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dell-Optiplex-...d=p3286.c0.m14

[Rich D]

Having Googled the Optiplex 280 - im assuming that your machine is Pentium 4 based ?

I wouldnt waste a penny upgrading it tbh. Put your money towards a new tower.

[superdez]

Your best bet is to look at the wattage of your PSU anything over 400 watts should be okay for those cards.

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by Rich D

Having Googled the Optiplex 280 - im assuming that your machine is Pentium 4 based ?

I wouldnt waste a penny upgrading it tbh. Put your money towards a new tower.

Yeah that's the one.

It's a shame as this is the only game i wanted to play on the PC anyway lol.

I was annoyed at having to upgrade the memory but that was the only requirement i thought i needed to meet - i didn't think about Graphics etc....

Wonder how much i could get a new one for :-(

Thanks for all the advice by the way guys.

[coolcars782]

If you are goIng to upgrade up gpu makesure it has a minimum of at least 256mb, for good gaming look at 512's even 1gb's (don't know if you can't get those 1s for mini mobos though)

as for psu's you can get a decent 400kw one for around £25-30 new. I use a 750 in my high proformance gaming tower. But you wouldn't need to go that high.

[Nick Goodall]

Originally Posted by superdez

Your best bet is to look at the wattage of your PSU anything over 400 watts should be okay for those cards.

Seems to be 250w :-(