I have an SiS 300/SiS 305 32MB graphics card, and I can't seem to display 1280 x 1024 at 32-bit color quality. I can only seem to use 16-bit.

Here are the details of the anomaly using Windows XP.

In 'Display Properties', when I move the slider from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 resolution, the 'color quality' setting (to the right of the 'screen resolution' area) drops from 32-bit to 16-bit. However, it still gives me the option to select 32-bit at 1280x1024 resolution. But when I select this 32-bit setting, the the slider moves back to 1024x768 by itself.

The model number of the card is: PV-S03A-BR, and the BIOS shows: SiS 305 AGP 2X/4X and BIOS Version 1.12.50.

I wouldn't need a 32-bit color environment if this was an older version of Windows, but since Windows XP was designed with a 32-bit color environment in mind, it's fairly important.

But my main concern is whether this anomaly I'm experiencing is due to the physical limitations of the graphics card. In other words, I want to know if I'm the only one with this problem.

So far, I've tried using the latest drivers from SiS (http://www.sis.com/download/) and Pine (http://www.pine-support.com).

Do the math. That resolution at 32 bit depth will require 42MB. Your card seems a little short of that.

Your choices are;
1) Lower resolution
2) Less colors
3) Better video card with at least 64MB RAM

Rimfire, I did the math and here's what I come up with.

Scenario 0. 1024 x 768 @ 32-bit

1024 x 768 = 786,432 pixels
786432 x 32 = 2,5165,824 bits
25165824 ÷ 8 = 3,145,728 bytes
3145728 ÷ (1024 x 1024 or 1,048,576) = 3.0MB

Scenario 0. 1280 x 1024 @ 16-bit

1280 x 1024 = 1,310,720 pixels
1310720 x 16 = 20,971,520 bits
20971520 ÷ 8 = 2,621,440 bytes
2621440 ÷ (1024 x 1024 or 1,048,576) = 2.5MB

Scenario 2. 1280 x 1024 @ 32-bit = 5.0MB

1280 x 1024 = 1,310,720 pixels
1310720 x 32 = 41,943,040 bits
41943040 ÷ 8 = 5,242,880 bytes
5242880 ÷ (1024 x 1024 or 1,048,576) = 5.0MB

I am not sure how you got 42MB, am I missing something ????

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Oops, it seem that I forgot to convert from bits to bytes. Silly me!

Am I to understand that this is onboard graphics? You may have to enter bios and change the amount of ram allowed for the graphics processor. In the case of onboard graphics, the stated size is the maximum that they can use. It seems that yours is set to 4MB and as Sabertooth kindly pointed out, you require 5. The next setting will be 8MB, this is probably the one you want. Remember, to give ram to the graphics card, you take it away from everything else.

This question has been asked before Hardware 33856

You're wasting your time. Bite the bullet & get a "real" video card

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8.5 x 200MHz
768MB PC3200 2.5-3-3-7
Asus A9550GE/TD 128MB
WinME/WinXP Pro

Though a little harsh, Jam is correct. It is a limitation of the GPU. I have one of those, I'm actually using it in a system I'm going to give to an aunt & uncle who don't have a computer. When I had it in my cousins computer, I wasted a fair amount of time trying to get it to play DVDs and Divx movies at 1024x768 @ 32 bit. It cannot do it, it has to be downgraded to 16 bit. I have an old ATI Rage 8 meg PCI card that can play DVDs at 1024x768 @ 32 bit!

I've never tried to run it at that high a resolution, but I've no doubt that is the problem.
I'd run it at 16 bit until you can buy something better. Even an old TNT2 will smoke that thing.

Do you 'really' need 32 bit color? I think that's 4,294,967,296 distinct colors.

32-Bit producesses exactly the same amount of colours as 24-Bit. The extra 8-Bits are for a 8-Bit alpha transparency mask and are generally wasted with the windows desktop.

There only ever really used in games/applications that support transparent textures.

I don't think the card is an onboard graphics card, but even if it's not, can I still change anything from the BIOS?

I realize from my responses that this isn't a very good card to begin with, but I was just hoping to squeeze out the best out of this graphics card (possibly with driver tweaks, BIOS tweaks, etc.). I'd go for 24-bit color too, but strangely enough, I'm only offered 16-bit and 32-bit.

But anyway, I greatly appreciate all of your responses.

(Are there any decent graphics cards around $50, or possibly less?)

I could of course be wrong, as it seems I have once before on this thread, but I think you will find that it is on board. It's easy to check, follow you monitor cable back to the computer. If it plugs in where there are a lot of other connectors, it is onboard. A separate video card plugs into on of the silver plates that are perpendicular to all those connectors.

If it is onboard, you can change the amount of ram allocated to it in bios. Discrete cards have their ram onboard and the full amount is normally used.

As to upgrading your video card, there are plenty of reasonable (not great) cards in your price range if you shop around. I'm currently using an ATI 9250 with 64MB which I picked up for AUD42 (about 35USD). The biggest limitation is the motherboard. Some cheaper mobos do not have an AGP slot and are limited to scarcer PCI cards (they're slower and cost more). You haven't provided enough information to allow us to advise on this.

I think that it's not onboard, but my knowledge of motherboards and video cards is limited, so I could be wrong. The VGA cable connects to the removable video card which, I think, connects to a PCI slot. I think that the motherboard is an Intel Desktop Board D845PESV. I admit that I don't know what AGP is, except that it's related to graphics cards, but I know at least that AGP is shown in the BIOS in the form of: "SiS 305 AGP 2X/4X", if that means anything.

I'll check out the ATI 9250. It looks like a good deal.

You will probably need to opent he case to determine what type of slot(s) you have. There will be a few white slots. These are pci. If you have an agp slot, it will be brown and set back a little further from the back of the case. It will also be the one that is closest to the power supply.

That card I used as an example was bought at a computer fair in Canberra a couple of months ago. I thought it a great deal. You probably won't find the same deal but there are a few cards better than you have within your price range if you shop around.

I checked inside the case. It's using an AGP slot.

Now you are ready to start shopping around. You have learned that you have a 4X AGP slot. You can research further if you find the motherboard model. This is usually silkscreened onto the motherboard, often near or even between the PCI slots. With the motherboard model number you look up the capabilities of the card at the manufacturer's website. It could be that you have a 8X AGP slot, this is better than 4X.

The majority of AGP cards are 8X. Most of these are backward compatible to 4X. Make sure the one you buy suits your system. One thing to watch out for is PCIe. This is a newer standard and will only work with newer motherboards.

My Intel Active Monitor software says that I have an Intel Desktop Board D845PESV. The Intel website says "Video: AGP connector supporting 1.5 V 4X AGP cards". I don't see any PCIe slots mentioned. The Intel website says "Six PCI bus add-in card connectors (SMBus routed to PCI bus connector 2)". Thank you again for your follow-up responses. I greatly appreciate them.

That is exactly the type of information you need. You won't find any reference to PCIe on your motherboard, but you will when you go shopping. Be aware that these (PCIe) will not work, you need AGP 4X.