Integrated Video Issues

[JodyWood]

I am working on a Gateway ESSENTIAL 866 computer. The video output on this computer has been flaky. The picture that it does display contains noise such as wavy lines. There are times when the video will not display at all.

For the display noise issue, I checked the monitor on another computer. It was fine there.

That leads me to there being issues with the computer video. This computer has an integrated video port. At the current time, it seems very sensitive as it works sporadically and does not display a very good image.

To correct this issue, what would you recommend? Replace the motherboard? Add an expansion video card (PCI)? Repair the integrated video port somehow?

Also, this computer is using a flex case. The case does not support full height expansion cards. The expansion slots are approximately 3.25 inches in height. For more information on the case...
http://support.gateway.com/s//CASES/...500909nv.shtml

If adding the expansion video card (PCI), what do you recommend that would work with this case and computer? The motherboard, as Gateway refers to it, is MSI Motherboard - Pentium III 866-MHz Part number 2511559. Specifications can be found here...
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERB...51108118.shtml

Thanks in advance for your help,
Jody Wood

[fubar]

Nice post, Jody. Thanks for the necessary specs and links to your equipment.

However, you may be out of luck with this one. It all depends on whether or not you can disable the onboard video. If you can then you should be able to pick up a cheap pci video card to resolve your video problems. I found some available here on eBay. The S3 VIRGE GX 64 BIT GRAPHICS PCI VIDEO CARD looks like one that would fit in your case. Not sure, you may want to email the seller and ask for dimensions.

If there isn't an option to disable the onboard video in your bios then your only other option would be to replace the MB, if you could find one to fit in that case.

Sometimes just installing an external video card will automatically disable the onboard video. If you have the manual it may address this issue, otherwise you would have to contact Gateway support to find out, or you could just try and install one and see if it works.

Maybe someone else that has one of these will read your post and give some better insight.

Good luck.

Fubar

[JodyWood]

The support documents indicate how to disable the integrated video. So, that should not be a problem. Though, I have yet to verify this information by reviewing the BIOS settings.