Using two graphics cards

[Greg12]

Is it possible to use an Intele Extreme Graphics card for graphics, then an old ATI-All in Wonder Pro PCI for tv tuner function?

[ChrisX]

Is it possible to use an Intele Extreme Graphics card for graphics, then an old ATI-All in Wonder Pro PCI for tv tuner function?

You have to find out yourself whether this is possible. In fact, you can disable a device detected by windows and use the other. Sometimes a device can be found and not recognized even though a driver is installed. It comes like this, "other devices" or "Unknown". You can just ignore or disable a device found.

In some cases two graphic cards in one is impossible due to conflicting devices or one is over the other as default. You can disconnect one graphics card and use the other. A computer technician can help you with this.

I understand that Intelle Extreme graphics is with your new Compaq computer and you have to use Compaq's driver for this to work. There is a good chance your computer will not find a driver for this one when you are installing a new WinXP Pro into your system. You will need to install the driver for this one manually. You can do this from your factory CD or from http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/support.html.

If this doesn't work, Microsoft with WinXP Pro will find a driver for you for Intelle Extreme graphics as display adapter driver.


The computer may find ATI-All in wonder Pro and asking for the driver for it, just ignore and disable it. You have manually install the capture drivers for it from the CD.

Give it a try.
Regards Chris

[Greg12]

I installed the ATI card on PCI 1 on slot 2 and it prevented XP from booting up.


Wha PCI card would you recomind if I wanted to watch tv? I'm not sure if I wanna put in a graphics and tv card, or just a TV card.

[ChrisX]

I installed the ATI card on PCI 1 on slot 2 and it prevented XP from booting up.


Wha PCI card would you recomind if I wanted to watch tv? I'm not sure if I wanna put in a graphics and tv card, or just a TV card.

Booting up problem is very weird? Can you install the ATI-All in Wonder Pro PCI instead of Compaq's graphics?

It is really up to you on which one and sounds as though you can't have both. Try out all options you can.

I did use a foreign graphics card on my Compaq Compaq, it was Guillemot's "Cougar" Video card and now gone due to a defect of the display.

I don't recomend this video card to anybody as the card was not long lasting. This was the second card replacing the first one also defective.

The computer technician disconnected Compaq's graphic card and used the "Cougar" card and worked fine using Microsoft's Nvidia driver and using the capture drivers from Guillemot. No conflicts and ok right up to October. 10 months of use.

The Compaq computer is now back to its own graphics card with the WinTV card as well. I have to download the TV card driver and app due to incompatibility of the CD.

Greg, I have no experience with ATI-All in Wonder Pro and I hope for the best option and worked out for you.

I won't be available on VCDHelp overnight.
Regards chris

[sterno]

The problem with multiple graphics cards in a PC is that you still have all the leftover bad design from the early days of the PC. Many cards will just assume that they're the only card in machine and try to take the standard resources that a VGA adapter uses. Often you'll either have only one of the two work (one card fails gracefully) or you'll have a boot failure (not so graceful). The cards that can coexist often only work with another of the same kind of card, and the driver knows how to initialize the second card to be a secondary display.

Welcome to the world of PC hardware. Shortsighted design - it's not just a good idea, it's the law.

If you want to watch TV on your computer, a basic Hauppage or AverMedia card will cost you around $50US. Maybe less, I haven't checked prices in a while. They're based on the bt8x8 chipset, which is well-supported.