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How do you tell what kind of video card you have?

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RogaDanar

Programmer
Jan 30, 2004
11
US
I received what was supposed to be a Radeon 9600 Pro w/256MB of RAM , but there are no markings on the card to distiguish what kind of card it actually is (since I received it OEM). I have installed the latest Radeon 9600 series drivers, and unfortunately that doesn't tell me...

I have tried both 3DMark03 and SiSoftware's Sandra, but all they can really tell about the card is that it does indeed have 256MB of RAM (along with lots of other info that I don't think is relevant to the type). Do 9600 Pros have particular serial numbers or anything that can distinguish them in the card itself? Is there any software that can tell me that it is indeed a Pro?

Just want to make sure I got what I paid for... [ponder]

Thanks for the help,

JD
 
Well, depending on how your monitor functions... when the computer is turned on (or hard reset), the video card identifies itself on the screen before the bios stuff. So if your monitor doesn't take too long of a time turning on or adjusting itself, you should see that screen identifying your card.
 
Also, from withing Windows, you can go to Start->Run, type dxdiag and hit enter. On the display tab, it will show you what card Windows thinks you have installed.

Belarc Advisor is a free tool you can download from that will also give you more information if the above method doesn't help.

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind"
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
 
Hi,
.
I just posted elsewhere about installing a Radeon 9000 PRO 128 MB on my old ASUS P2B MOBO. (No problems whatsoever.)
.
I forgot about dxdiag.
.
Ran it and it gives me a great wealth of knowledge.
.
Thanks much!!
 
SkipCox - I haven't looked for a FCC number. Can I look up the exact type of card by that?

Dakota81 - No, the video card doesn't display, or the monitor is too slow to show on the reboot...

cdogg - Unfortunately dxdiag also lists the card as 'Radeon 9600 series'. I'll take a look at Belarc Advisor...though I have a feeling it will display the same. I may have to contact ATI to see if I can tell from the serial or FCC number...

Thanks for the help!

JD
 
I think ati has a download program to give you that informaion. On their site.
 
ATi's software doesn't properly identify their hardware anyways. I've got a Radeon 9800 non-pro and it is identified by the drivers as a Radeon 9800 Pro.

What you can do is grab the utility called Rage3D Tweak, which is an overclocking tool for Radeon cards. While you don't have to modify any of the settings, it will tell you what speed the gpu & video memory is running at. I believe a 9600 Pro is supposed to be set to gpu 400MHz and memory 300MHz (600 DDR).

 
instead of SiSoftware's Sandra try downloading AIDA32 instead, it works like sandra but more detailed especially on what you are looking for.
 
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