About johninstalbans

There is no mention of such in the System Information.   John ... View more

Thanks for pointing this out @daddle    But the screen corruption is very different - and isn't the driver concerned just for Intel HD graphics?   John ... View more

I SPOKE TOO SOON|||||   Although I enjoyed an evening with the new resolution, it didn't last. subsequently, every time that I re-started (in non-Safe mode) all I got on loading windows was this corrupted screen: Corrupt screen on loading Windows                                       I was able to run in Safe mode - without internet (or by suppressing Windows driver searching) - but with a horrible VGA resolution from the MS basic driver. So I've had to remove the card and I'm pleased to say that the old card works fine (except for the resolution issue). It seems that either the card or the latest drivers are incompatible with my system (but why did it work for an evening????). Before I give up completely, does anyone here recognise the cause of the screen corruption? Also, any other thoughts about a video card suitable for a legacy BIOS motherboard (requiring low-power), capable of driving 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution? Thanks John ... View more

@daddle  Thank you for pushing me - it worked (without Safe mode)!   I did hit a problem when restarting with the new card - all I could see was an American Megatrends screen warning me that the CMOS settings were wrong. I tried to reset to default options several times with no joy (F3 doesn't work) - but eventually found the equivalent option under Save & Exit (which did work).   So many thanks to all who contributed to my education - and I hope it's of some use to any others who find themselves in the same position.   John ... View more

I'm about to go ahead, but having heard that I should use a VGA connection while installing the new card, before installing the new drivers (already downloaded) - and seeing @daddle mention a VGA screen above - I found a VGA cable, only to discover that my new (and only) monitor does not have a VGA input! Just HDMI, DVI-D, DP and mini-DP. How should I proceed without risking inability to install drivers (OR reinstall the old AMD ones if needed)? ... View more

Thanks @daddle - that's very reassuring.   I read somewhere about DDU (display driver uninstaller) - is that not necessary?   John ... View more

After much deliberation, I've decided to try another GPU card - the MSI nVidia Geforce GTX 750 Ti, which has the legacy BIOS switch (and a very low power need) - and eBay has provided me with one.   While I'm awaiting delivery, I want to turn my mind further to the question I posed above regarding a change from AMD to nVidia.   Can someone with experience of doing this successfully talk me through the best way of ensuring that it works first time?   My concern is that if I have to uninstall/delete the AMD drivers before attempting it, what happens if the nVidia card does NOT work in my PC as hoped and I have to revert to the AMD one? With no access to a functioning monitor, how would I reinstall the AMD drivers to make the old card usable again?   OR is there is a basic driver within Windows, which would kick-in in the absence of specific drivers?   Many thanks for your help ASAP. ... View more

A further question: Is switching from AMD Radeon GPU to nVidia Geforce particularly problematic? I have read that it is essential to uninstall the AMD drivers before doing so. This would worry me, as if the nVidia GPU did not work, I wouldn't have the means (ie vision) to reinstate the old AMD GPU without drivers already installed! ... View more

Hi again   I'm still unsure about this - and with the lack of response from @Phantom I will probably NOT take the risk. So I've been looking at other options and come across a graphics card which has a micro-switch to convert between UEFI and Legacy BIOS connection.   It is MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti and seems to be available used on eBay for £30-£40. It also seems to have the merit of a low power requirement (60w, requiring only 400w PSU), although I'm not quite sure whether it has a 6-pin connection.   I have 2 questions that forum members may be able to answer: a) does such a hybrid BIOS approach actually work properly for my problem? b) is there any downside in connecting a PCI-E 3 GPU to a PCI-E 2 motherboard slot?   If there are other candidates (with a low power draw), I'd be grateful to hear about the too.   Many thanks   John   ... View more

Hmmm - I'm beginning to think I shouldn't do this.....   Is there any way of reducing the risk of applying a custom BIOS update? Anywhere I can submit it for independent testing (happy to pay)?????   Luckily the seller of the new GPU is happy to extend my right to return!   Happy to hear all views. ... View more

As a week has gone by since asking @Phantom for more information on his kind proposal, I don't know whether to think he has vanished - or perhaps been on holiday! While waiting for him to catch up, does anyone else have any thoughts which might help me decide what to do? My return period on the replacement (UEFI) graphics card is rapidly running out! ... View more

@Phantom  While waiting for your response, I have another question: would I be able acieve the same result by making a BIOS adjustment directly? Looking forward to hearing from you. ... View more

@Phantom  I'm still nail-biting about applying your custom BIOS update. To add to my confidence, could you help me understand ? Firstly, just what is it that you do to the BIOS to make the UEFI GPU operable with the legacy card? Secondly, just what is the effect of doing so? Thirdly, what could cause its application to have a fatal impact on my mobo? Presumably the meaning of the photos you sent will become clear from your answers! Sorry to be such a wimp! ... View more

Hi @TPFLegionaire    Clearly no question of warranty risk, but on the other hand I would be severely inconvenienced if I lost the use of my only PC (even for a period) containing many, many years of history - hopefully(!) all backed up daily. Talk of 'bricking the mobo' is what scares me; I presume that is a fatal condition, which (given the age of the system) would effectively write the PC off. I suppose the upside of that would be that a replacement PC wouldn't have such legacy problems and would come with an approrpriate GPU - perhaps a silver lining!!!!! Having said that, it would still be a bad outcome for me.   Any other views out there????   I'm achieving 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz with my new monitor (the same as on the previous one and the maximum offered by the GPU); however, the larger screen size means that each pixel is larger, leading to a reduction in precision/quality. Perhaps I should emphasise that the TV use is incidental, alongside office/web use, and usually in a relatively small part of the screen so that the resolution is not so critical. My main purpose in getting a larger monitor was to be able to have more windows open and visible concurrently; the higher the resolution, the crisper the presentation so the smaller a document can be legibly displayed - and hence the more windows can be visible.   I have previously taken broadcast TV direct to the monitor; however, when we moved house I found that it was impractical to get an aerial signal to the right place (and the indoor one I tried was useless). I concluded that, with a 200mB internet source, the future lay with streamed TV - especially as the (free) BBC iPlayer service is just so good, and its time-shifting and series downloading functionality makes it a better option anyway. But thanks for thinking out of the box! ... View more

@TPFLegionaire  Your reading links have kept me busy for hours! There is clearly a known issue with UEFI GPUs and Legacy BIOS - as @Bodgekin has said (just not known to me!). This really does look like the reason for my problems, although it seems sensible to minimise the power use as well.   So I have a choice: a) try to find an older legacy GPU that meets my resolution needs and is not power hungry; or b) take up @Phantom 's kind efforts (below) to customise (and update) my BIOS to enable UEFI GPU's to operate with my Mobo; it seems that making the change to my BIOS is very simple (from Windows) using the file he has created and uploaded for me.   So b) seems to be the most attractive option - but, having never touched a BIOS in my life - and reading of all the horrors that can occur, I'm nervous (especially, with due respect, as the file is not from an official source).   What do others here (with much more experience than me in such matters) think? Am I being unduly cautious? I'll carry on biting my nails until I hear your views! ... View more

@Phantom Did you get the PM I sent late on Tuesday? ... View more

@Phantom The pictures have now appeared in your original message - but I have no idea what they show! Presumably your private message will appear when I check this forum - and I'll get an email motification??? ... View more

Thanks a lot. Yes, please send me the pictures and explanations privately; do you need my email address?.   So the simpe install process you describe does NOT require a bootable thumbdrive, as seems to be recommended elsewhere? Why is that?   Does the result of this update mean that my BIOS will be UEFI?   I'll sleep on this before attempting it!! ... View more

Well done @Phantom - that was certainly quick!   Were you able to confirm that the update I sent WAS the correct one for my board?   The two photos you included didn't work, I'm afraid - could you try again somehow?   Was your use of MEGA (which I haven't come across)  to send the file relevant - or do I just download it as normal?   Do you have any tips about the best way of installing the BIOS update for my board - I've never done it and have read of many variations in doing so; I'm also VERY nervous about the risks! ... View more

Hi @Phantom   Thank you for your interest - and you offer a great solution, if it is guaranteed to work!!   The link to the latest BIOS (which comes from another thread on this forum) is: http://cdn.medion.com/downloads/treiber/bioh67h2dos.exe However, I'd like someone to check whether this REALLY is the right one for:  ECS H67H2-EMv1.0 (an earlier post linked to the wrong one!).   Good luck, and I look forward to hearing from you. ... View more

Well, that's very interesting - I hadn't expected a problem of that nature! Thanks @Bodgekin.   My Windows version WAS originally 7 (64-bit) - now 10 Home (64-bit - fully updated) - and System Information DOES say "BIOS Mode: Legacy".   So, it would seem that I have to find an old GPU card which DOES work with Legacy BIOS, yet can still produce 2560 x 1440 on a 32" screen. Does anyone know of one?   I'll follow up on the technical discussions (thank you @TPFLegionaire) later - they may suggest something.   I can't believe how difficult this has been! ... View more

Hi   My MSN is 10014858.    I was hoping that the original enquirer could reassure me of a successful upgrade!   My post is just a precaution, as I'm having problems upgrading my GPU and I thought it possible that the 8-year old BIOS was causing a problem in recognising newer GPUs capable of the 2560 x 1440 resolution required by my new 32" monitor. The substantive discussion is here: https://community.medion.com/t5/Desktop-PC-All-In-One/Upgrading-GPU-on-MD7712-Akoya-P5704D/m-p/81218#M238  It now seems that the problem may be deeper, in that the BIOS structure may be incompatible with newer cards!     ... View more

Sorry, the Monitor spec was for the wrong size! It should be: https://www.benq.com/en/monitor/designer/pd3200q/specifications.html ... View more

Following the above (as I reported on another thread), I unsuccessfully attempted to install a new RX 460 graphics card in place of my Radeon HD 6750; it doesn't have a 6-pin connector, so MAY be trying to draw too much power (although it's said to be max 75w) from the PCI-E Gen.2 slot.   So I returned it and bought another (also returnable!), which DID have a 6-pin connector: a used Radeon R7 260X - but with the same result. Just a small on-screen message saying 'No video source identified', while the card's fan began to spin - using either HDMI or DP connection. This card is said to require 115w, so should have been comfortably covered (75+75=150).   I'm about to return that one and next perhaps try a used Radeon RX 550, which amazingly only seems to need 50w (but doesn't have a 6-pin connector).   Turning to your questions: I would sooner not have to change my PSU as I have only recently replaced it, after the fan sounded as though it was about to fail!   My new monitor is specified here: https://www.benq.com/en/monitor/designer/pd2700q/specifications.html As to the streaming service requirements, it is just BBC iPlayer in HD form (I can't find any details).   But really ALL I want is a card which will comfortably output 2560 x 1440 to a 32 inch screen (with NO gaming requirement).   If the problem is NOT inadequate power supply to the cards, could it be the 8-year old BIOS - AMI v4.6.4 (04/03/2011) [the BIOS itself calls it EM0304 03/04/2011)]? Through another post on this forum, I've found what is said to be the only version available (M1_0619.ROM) - although there seems some uncertainty as to whether this is actually for my ECS H67H2-EM v1.0, rather than other suffixes. Unfortunately this particular (EM) mobo version very rarely appears in web-searches (even on ECS's site), presumably as it is unique to Medion, and  intelligent BIOS tools (such as ECS's own) do not work with it. Medion itself doesn't seem to offer anything. Having read so many warnings about the serious consequences of wrongly updating BIOS settings, I am VERY cautious about attempting it (for the first time) unless it is absolutely necessary.   I hope this information (along with my thoughts) is sufficient to lead you to be able to confidently advise on GPU compatibility ASAP. [Unfortunately even the useful-looking on-line compatibility-checkers that I've recently discovered aren't of any help  - again because of the unique Medion mobo spec!]   Thanks for your input. ... View more

Hi Karl   I am also looking to update my H67H2-EMv1.0 BIOS.  Did you ever manage to update it successfully? ... View more

OK, I 've had another try with the new GPU and it still doesn't work (I'm pretty sure it's the power issue) - but gpoing back to the original card did NOT cause any problem with re-starting (relief!). So I must assume that the earlier reversion to default CMOS settings has resolved that issue. The vendor has agreed to take the GPU back and I've found a reasonably-priced (used) Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 570 4GB which looks as though it should work, given a 120w power draw through both PCI-E and 6-pin connector (as my present card). My only question is that the card's interface is shown as PCIe 3.0 x 16, but I understand that it should be backwards-compatible with earlier versions - as long as the available power supply through it is still 75w. I'll try to get it on a returnable basis! ... View more

Hi @TPFLegionaire    MSN 10014858 - I don't see anything likely in the linked list. I wish I could recall what it looked like - it was very basic - small white text on a small black screen and I think quite anonymous; I seem to remember 15.1 appearing. I was anxious to ensure that the system was up to date before trying the new graphics card! I can't remember ever seeing such an update before (immediately after starting up), which made me think it must be the basic system/motherboard which rarely changes. [By the way, from another chain on this site, I've found the latest BIOS is version 0619 - could that have been recently distributed? But my System Info shows BIOS Version as American Megatrends Inc 4.6.4, 04/03/2011 (SMBIOS version 2.6).]   Things seem to be OK now - but I'm nervous that it will happen again when I turn off! Or when I try again to install the new GPU, which I'll do after I've sent this.   Thanks for your interest.   John ... View more

Many thanks for your offer of help, but I have now satisfied myself that one I have ordered (for about £50) will do the job. If it doesn't, I'll get back on your questions. John ... View more

@Fishtown  I don't understand how this link helps me at all! ... View more