VGX-XL301 graphics card upgrade advice please

[Lar77]

I've had the Sony VGX-XL301 for over a year now and mostly love it except for the know issue of it recognising the display (TV) when using HDMI after you switch back to it's AV input on the TV, a lot of the time you just get a blank screen and have to re-start the PC. I've read that this is a problem with the Graphics Card (GeForce7600 GTL). I want to try a new card to see if it will actually fix the problem.

I know very little about the internal workings of PC's so am looking for some advice on what Card will work in the XL301. I'm assuming it has to be low profile. I want the card to be silent so would prefer not to have a fan and in the future I may get an external Blu Ray drive so it will need to work for this.

Looking around the web I've found this card http://www.leadtek.com/eng/3d_graphic/overview.asp?lineid=1&pronameid=381 (one on right without fan). Will this fit into the XL301 without any issues? Has anyone used it before? Anyone got a link from where I can buy it, I can't find an online store that has them?

Besides potentially fixing the issue I have will I see any other benefits from an upgraded card over the current one (I don't use this PC for games, it's purely for media centre)? Will it improve TV quality or is that driven by the TV tuner card only?

System spec:
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=VGX-XL301&productFilters=retired&site=voe_en_...

Thanks for any and all advice / help!

[Blencogo]

Hi Lar77.

Have you seen these threads?

http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=52298

http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=47994

[Lar77]

Thanks Blencogo, I hadn't seen them threads (the search function doesn't always work here), thanks for the links.

Still can't find anywhere selling the card though .....

[Blencogo]

One here for £55 +£5 shipping

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadtek-8500-HDMI-256MB-VGA/dp/B000ZN0VEM

Or the MSI one for £31

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-256MB-8500GT-MTD256EH-HDMI-Passiv/dp/B000VWG3JO/ref=pd_sbs_ce_2/202-1578...

Or the 7300GS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-512MB-GF-7300GS-PVT72GWANG/dp/B000ECOSPC/ref=pd_sbs_ce_7

[Lar77]

Thanks a million for your help but unfortunately Amazon.co.uk in all there wisdom won't ship electronics / computer components to Ireland ….. which is where I am. The search continues …..

[Lar77]

The MSI card is an option, it seems freely available on the web but I can't tell if it comes with low profile brackets, does anyone know if it does?

I don't know much about these cards (or any cards for that matter), is there any reason this one http://www.msicomputer.co.uk/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1231&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=136 will not work in the XL301.

Thanks for your help.

[Lar77]

Ignor my last post ...... I see in another thread that the MSI card doesn't fit into the XL301.

[Lar77]

The leadtek (link in first post) card seems to be very hard to find, well at least the one with HDMI and the heatsink. I finally found a place in Australia of all places that will ship to Ireland! It's on the way. I really hope this solves the blank screen issue when switching back to the HDMI input for the PC on the TV!!!

I've never replaced a graphics card before …… how complicated is this gonna be?

[Lar77]

Well my new leadtek 8500 GTI card should finally arrive early next week ..... but I've just had a horrible thought! Am I still going to be use Digital Optical Out with this card???? I need it to go to my amp.

Anyone know??

[simbath]

Hi Lar77, I appreciate this post is a few years old but wondered if you found a solution to your problem?

I've just posted the following question:

I bought my VGX-XL301 in August 2007 and it cam installed with Vista   home addition and upgraded to Windows 7 Professional in April 2010. I   have the computer linked to my Samsung HDTV via an HDMI connection.

Everything worked fine up until recently.

I am working on the computer and then switch HD inputs to watch TV.   After a time the compuiter goes into sleep mode. The next time I want to   use the computer, I press a key to bring it out of sleep mode. I  switch  it from the TV HD input to the PC HD input  but no picture comes  up.

I have to force a shut down by holding in the power button and then   turn on. The PC then goes through the boot up and the PC picture   appears, however sometimes it takes 2 or 3 forced shutdowns to make it   work.

I have upgraded the driver on the graphics card as I thought that might be the problem.

Is this the same problem you had?

Cheers