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

[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]

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

[T4miy4 Guy]

Originally Posted by 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??

Ask here... http://forums.bit-tech.net/

[markwilliamson2001]

Sounds to me like a number of things Nick...

From your previous posts, I would agree that it uses on board graphics chipset on the motherboard. This then shares the system memory (the 4GB you just upgraded to). If your running Vista, then this should be the minimum memory needed to run it! Nowadays, DELL stuff isn't proprietry (sp?) since tech peeps like myself complained bitterly about it.

IMO I would always try software stuff first, before splashing out on hardware.
New graphics cards also tend to need extra power through a molex connector, which from the sounds of it, your power supply cannot provide, since it is only 250W (you need really about 400w nowadays to do anything more than basic surfing/word docs/email etc....)

Rich D has made the most sense if you HAVE to play the game, buy a new tower, but if your not bothered that much, just get one of the new PS3 slim's! I gave up years ago buying PC games, because of the constant upgrade, driver, directX etc etc issues, which just became a PITA!

HTH (a bit!)
M.