How do identify components in a Gateway computer

Maineman · Apr 18, 2013

Please move this to the best category if this is not the right one. Looking to identify all components in this Gateway computer so thought the component section would work.

Working on a 2003 Gateway E-Series computer for a friend. Can't find much on the Gateway web site. If this was a Dell I could type in the Service Tag number and find everything about the computer. Did find on the Gateway website the computer most likely is a Micro Tower. Does Gateway have a way to know computer specs?

Beyond that, I think I need a video card but don't know what to get. Monitor comes on for a few seconds then goes blank. Turning the monitor off then on shows a display but only for a few seconds. This is a working monitor.

The video card is built in so need either a PCI or AGP video card. Was told I need a low profile card but all the low profile cards listed on New Egg were what I call half height with a standard 4.5 inch height mounting bracket. The mounting brackets in this computer measure only 3 inches.

Any help on identifying the computer specs or just a vidio card would help.

Thanks

moulderhere · Apr 18, 2013

You need to post pictures and I mean CLEAR photos of the motherboard, case front sides and back.

If this computer works fine, run Aida32 and do a full hardware report!

Rahbot · Apr 18, 2013

You could always run PC Wizard, or CPU-z and find out what it has and is running.

jackson1420 · Apr 18, 2013

System Information can help you.

Open "Run"

Enter: msinfo32.exe

The system summary contains useful information such as the system model (Motherboard)

You will find a lot of what you may be looking for under 'Component'

A wonderful program I have used that detected old hardware Windows could not detect is called Speccy

Download link here: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download

Great system detail just click custom install and unclick any adware and you will be set.

Best of luck

scout_03 · Apr 18, 2013

use google picture to link us to this e series gateway model .

Maineman · Apr 18, 2013

Thanks for the quick replies. Most likely all suggestions would work if the monitor would stay on. For starters, finding a PCI video card with a 3 inch mounting bracket would help. I just don't know what type of video card to look for. Here is what the computer looks like.

jackson1420 · Apr 18, 2013

Need a motherboard model to determine your graphics.

Like I suggested before:

Open "Run"

Enter: msinfo32.exe

On the window that opens up. Tell us your "System Model"

That is your motherboard model.

From there we can determine a suitable Graphics card for your system

Maineman · Apr 18, 2013

WOW! That's a really great program. Just installed it on my laptop. Use their CCleaner a lot but never heard of this program. As soon as I can get the Gateway working I will install this program on that computer too.

Thanks.

jackson1420 · Apr 19, 2013

Awesome glad to hear that helped. Piriform is a great company.

Would you mind marking the threat as solved?

Maineman · Apr 19, 2013

The MB is an Intel E210882, see photo. Jackson, if the monitor worked and I could see what the computer was doing the thread would be solved. As it is I need to know what video card to get.

Maineman · Apr 19, 2013

OK, latest up-date. Discovered this is an Intel D865GLC MB. Found this about the video:

Video • Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 controller
• Universal 0.8 V / 1.5 V AGP 3.0 connector supporting 1x, 4x, and 8x AGP cards
or an AGP Digital Display (ADD) card
• Integrated retention mechanism

That's nice to know but how do I make use of this info when looking for an AGP video card. Can someone explain what it means? I need the VGA output and can use either an AGP or PCI card. Think the ADD card is for DVI output only.

jackson1420 · Apr 19, 2013

As you stated you need an AGP card. These are kind of really out of date but luckily they are still for sale.

Here is a link to a search at Newegg.com which includes the type of card you need.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=100007709&IsNodeId=1&IsPowerSearch=1&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=696%3A9639

Even further here is the best reviewed card I could see:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187122

Maineman · Apr 19, 2013

Thanks. Any of those video cards would work if I had a computer that would take a standard 4.5 inch pc card. I have 4 or 5 of those video cards. The mounting brackets in this computer measure 3 inches. I have no idea what these boards are called. Using search terms like "low profile" or "half height" video cards on Newegg of Tiger Direct bring me to cards with a 4.5 inch mounting bracket with a smaller pc card attached as did the link you provided. Maybe I need to search for "mini" or "micro" video cards. Any thoughts?

Thanks

jackson1420 · Apr 19, 2013

This should work - it is low-profile. But i can't measure the bracket.. saw it if they are too large

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139044

Maineman · Apr 19, 2013

Thanks Jackson,

Now I am on the right track. All that is needed is a half height card with a low profile mounting bracket. The last pc board you sent a link to is a "low profile ready" board. Comes with a 3 inch mounting bracket. I have a half height video card, all I need is the 3 inch mounting bracket but can get that tomorrow at the transfer station.

Thanks, Problem solved.

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How do identify components in a Gateway computer

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