So the new HDMI-enabled nvidia 7600GS in the 565 is appealing ... and I'm wondering about replacing my 558's 6600GT card with this one.

Unfortunately, the z565 parts catalog at partsurfer.hp.com doesn't list any sort of graphics adapter; I did find an entry for the nVidia GeForce 7600GS (EY852AV, p/n EX465-69001) on that site, but it's not clear whether this is the form-factor card that's necessary to fit in the z558 chassis (which the 565 shares).

Too, DEC support claims that the p/n for the DEC version of the 7600GS is RE500-69004, but I couldn't find any reference to this on the partsurfer site.

Any ideas on how to obtain the nvidia OEM version of the card that was made for the HP DEC z565?

I too am interested in this information, hopefully someone will have the answer.

I'm curious as to what monitors/tv sets you guys are using for HP Z series..

alternando:

I'm curious as to what monitors/tv sets you guys are using for HP Z series..

I'm using a 42" Panasonic plasma DVI->HDMI and an Infocus projector connected to compenent out.  The plasma is the primary display and is set to 1080i with the projector being a cloned display.

RealCodeGuy:

I'm using a 42" Panasonic plasma DVI->HDMI and an Infocus projector connected to compenent out.  The plasma is the primary display and is set to 1080i with the projector being a cloned display.

Are you using a z558?  I'm surprised you were able to get the component _and_ DVI output working simlutaneously!  I had tried component and VGA, but it seemed that so long as any component cables were plugged in, the VGA output was disabled.

Did you have to take any special steps to enable both video outputs?

netarc:

RealCodeGuy:

I'm using a 42" Panasonic plasma DVI->HDMI and an Infocus projector connected to compenent out.  The plasma is the primary display and is set to 1080i with the projector being a cloned display.

Are you using a z558?  I'm surprised you were able to get the component _and_ DVI output working simlutaneously!  I had tried component and VGA, but it seemed that so long as any component cables were plugged in, the VGA output was disabled.

Did you have to take any special steps to enable both video outputs?

Yes, I'm using a HP DEC z558.  I had to make sure both devices were connected and turned on BEFORE booting the computer.  I also had to dig to find where to set the TV out as component.  Once I had both displays working I tried dual-view, which was a pain because the project in another room was an extension of the primary desktop.  Then I tried clone and it worked great.  Only problem is when I reboot, if both devices (flat panel and projector) aren't turned on I sometimes lose my setup and have to go through the entire process of setting up and calibrating the displays. 

I have not tried to use the VGA out, only DVI and component and they do work simultaneously.  Let me know if I can help in anyway.

Hi

I'm about to switch out the Video card in my Z556 (and if all goes well, my Z540) with an MSI - NX7600GS-MTD256E (Nvidia 7600GS low Profile, fan-cooled) card.  I'm not too worried about MCE drivers - I've just rebuilt the machine using Vista Ultimate.

Not sure how noisy it will be (the 6600 GS in my 556 is making a racket - that's why I'm changing it out).

Cost is about $150.

Will post my progress...

      russ

I'm be interested in knowing how the componenet and composite out interface with the video card.  My z558 is only about a month old so I still haven't opened it.  Post picks of the process if you can please.  Thanks.

Please do - where did you purchase the low profile 7600gs, I had figured they were only available to OEMs?  Does the MSI card have an onboard (internal) connector that would allow you to connect and retain functionality of the DEC's component outputs?

i

Found the 7600GS Low Profile on ewiz -

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MSI-76GSHD&c=fr&pid=52d40f2082f2c80cc3d66b1d735793c292666c716af682727bb78022c59a3204#

It IS fan-coold, so I'm not too sure how well it will work out.  As for outputs, it has DVI, HDMI and "HDTV ready "TV Out".

I'm only intrested in the DVI AND HDMI outputs, so I did not pursue it at all...

 

      russ

russr -- any luck getting this installed?

Hi

Not yet - busy remodelling my living room and garage for my first Superbowl party!

The card arrived yesterday.  I'm going to start by taking off the backplate of the z556 6600GS, bolting it onto the (full height) plate of the 7600 GS and figure out how I;m going to do the surgery.  Either hack the top off of the 7600, or mill out an HDMI-friendly hole in the 6600 plate and mount the new card with the old bracket.

 

For those of you looking at this for Component out, the card came with a multi-pin DIN plug mounted high on the backplate, and a dongle with a break-out.  I will try take photos of this and the innards of the DEC (Z556), to see if you could maybe make this work with the current S-Video output location, or if the pins on the card could work with the existing cables in the DEC.

Meantime I'm running the old 6600GS (with the noisy fan) into my new Westy LVM42-W2 on VGA (1920 X 1080), and it's not too bad!  Not too bad at all...

     russ

So the MSI card didn't come with a low-profile place? I know that the Sapphire X1600pro HDMI card comes with a couple different plates -- 1 for a full height slot, and one for a half-height slot like in the Z5** cases. Hrmm...

Hi again

 

Well, the odds are that a standard 1/2 height plate won't necessarily work in teh DEC's without surgery of some sort.  That's why I was not too fussed when I asked about it and the said it does not have one.

Nothing that a scribing tool and a Dremel can't sort out!

I'll keep you posted and take photo's as I go along (if I remember!)

     russ

Awesome! thanks for being a guinea pig on this. :) I almost ordered the Sapphire x1600 HDMI card, but if the 7600gs works out ok, I think it will give better performance for HTPC-type material (MPEG2 .ts decoding using purevideo, for example).