Just got Netflix and......

[javacontour]

I'd say it's probably 2003-2004 Vintage. I got my Dimension 2300 in late 2002. So the Dim 2400 probably followed that. It's the same case, updated specs, etc. So probably not very fast. Certainly not a good candidate for updates to attempt to do more than one thing at a time.

The best way to do more than one thing at a time with a Dim 2400 is to have a 2nd Dim 2400

 

[daves66nova]

I found someone on ebay that'll make me a copy of the restore disc for this comp.Hopefully,it'll run a lot faster than what it does now.

 

[daves66nova]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I assume you have an HDTV.

Just get a cheapo video card with HDMI out, assuming you have a desktop. This will also carry sound, and the video will be better than the VGA connection.
Is this a decent one? I mainly use it for the kids,no serious viewing.I do want to be able to use comp at the same time.http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-RADEON-9250-256MB-DUAL-DVI-VGA-TV-PCI-VIDEO-CARD-/250827154644?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3a6676a4d4 ,or http://www.outletpc.com/cg7422.html

 

[buickman50401]

Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Is this a decent one? I mainly use it for the kids,no serious viewing.I do want to be able to use comp at the same time.http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-RADEON-9250-256MB-DUAL-DVI-VGA-TV-PCI-VIDEO-CARD-/250827154644?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3a6676a4d4 ,or http://www.outletpc.com/cg7422.html


The one on outletpc.com isn't going to work for you. Its a PCI-e (2.0 x16) interface. That old Dell only has PCI slots. PCI for all intents and purposes is dead as an interface for anything more complicated than a network card, sound card, or firewire card.

The ebay card you listed has no mounting bracket, so um... might be a bit difficult to install seeing as nothing will be holding it in but the friction from the PCI slot. Also no HDMI out on that card. I see a VGA, S-Video, and a DVI connector, so you'll need a DVI to HDMI converter such as http://www.amazon.com/Link-Depot-Male-DVI-D-Cable/dp/tech-data/B00180F402

The ebay card despite it being listed as "dual", I'm not sure it is. Googling the part numbers shown in the pic of the card I found some results, but none indicate it is capable of dual feed meaning what you see on the TV is what you see on the computer and vice-versa.

And as someone else pointed out, even if you manage to get a PCI dual head card that Dell isn't going to be able to handle dual feed (at the most it has a P4 but might have only a Celeron) so you're not going to be able to use the computer if you're watching Netflix. I also wonder if your power supply could even handle that cards power requirements since that Dell was shipped with a PS that is just enough to power what came from the factory.

http://www.outletpc.com/dq8953.html is a PCI card but again no HDMI, just DVI so you need the converter cable again.

Also DVI doesn't carry audio like HDMI does so even using the DVI to HDMI cable you're going to have to find another way to get the audio to your TV as the video card isn't going to output any sound over that connection, meaning you'll have to run a cable with the appropriate 3.5mm mini-jack connection and RCA connections from the sound card to the TV so there's a $10 or more for that cable.

Here's the cheapest PCI with HDMI out card on newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131325

Even if you do get a PCI card with an HDMI output, you're not going to get sound out of it too like you would with an HDMI connection from a DVD or Blu-Ray player as those old PCI cards do not come with the built in audio decoder to send the audio and video signal over the HDMI cable because PCI is an old old standard and simply lacks the bandwidth.

Basically, either get a roku box or a Blu Ray player with Netflix capabilities as has been suggested several times. Or give up on the idea of streaming Netflix.

That old Dell isn't going to handle what you are attempting to do. I know you're trying to go the cheapest route possible, with just tossing in a video card, but it isn't going to work with the hardware you have and by the time you get done, you're going to have spent nearly much as a roku box or a Blu-ray player.

 

[buickman50401]

Edit:
To use a car analogy since this is an oil forum:
You're trying to install a fuel injector directly into a carburator in the hopes that the Chevette can pull the 2000lbs tandem axel camper you just bought - oh and the camper is a 5th wheel.

Alternatively you could make the kids really happy and spring for a Wii (prices dropped to $149) which will do Netflix though the output will be at best 480p through the component video jacks. The Wii does come with built in WiFi so there is that as a plus.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Is this a decent one? I mainly use it for the kids,no serious viewing.I do want to be able to use comp at the same time.

Sure, keep ignoring all of us telling you that your PC will not be able to handle two simultaneous video streams, one of them being Netflix. But hey, it's your money...

 

[SrDriver]

Put the money into a new computer.

You are long overdue for a new system.

Make sure the new system meets your needs.

Your old computer simply will not work no matter what card you purchase!!

 

[buickman50401]

Originally Posted By: daves66nova
I found someone on ebay that'll make me a copy of the restore disc for this comp.Hopefully,it'll run a lot faster than what it does now.

Ooops I missed this one too.

Is it a "restore" disk or the actual OEM XP disc? Unlike HP and other manufacturers at the time, Dell usually shipped several CDs with these machines.

One was the OS reinstall disc, containing an OEM copy of XP. Then they'd send 1, 2, or 3 more depending on your configuration that had all the drivers specific to the specs on the machine. They would also sometimes include a "Dell System Utility" disc or something similar loaded with [censored].

If you're planning on reinstalling the OS (not "restoring because Dell never had such a thing at the time) first as others have said, find the service tag on your machine and go to the Dell website support section and plug in your service tag in the drivers in downloads section. This will bring up all of the files for the drivers you will need to reinstall after you finish installing XP.

Hopefully, you didn't pay too much for the "restore" disc because any Dell OEM XP Home disc should have worked on this machine for doing an OS reinstall.

Let me break it down for you as you seem to be in over your head.

1) Likelihood of finding dual head PCI card with HDMI (or even DVI) - slim to none.

2) Likelihood your computer can handle a dual head card pushing Netflix content through one of the heads while you use the computer at the same time - zero. The hardware is too old, underpowered by today's standards. Do you even know what processor is in the machine?

3) Savings in trying to kludge together a solution using that old Dell box? Quite literally pennies by the time you get done with all the card, cables, adapters, and hair plug replacements you'll need after pulling out your hair in frustration over an exercise in futility.

4) Likelihood your attempt at using the "restore" disc is going to go well? Unknown, but your level of knowledge in this arena appears to be on the short side. Not knocking you since not everyone is a tech nut nor do they need to be.

5) Use that old Dell for what its best for... whatever you're currently doing on it. Web, email, word processing etc. and by a dedicated device for Netflix.

 

[Shagger]

Just buy one of the internet enabled devices listed above and be done. Netflix will stream to 6 different devices from one account. That way you can watch on your old PC, on the TV (thru the blu-ray) and your xbox, Wii, PS3, etc...

You are trying to polish a turd in that old Dell, it just is not up to the task.

 

[Volvohead]

We have a lot of streaming and networked devices, GB-lan, high-bandwidth RG-6, etc., uber-wiring to everywhere. We run Netflix through all of it. WMC on a computer remains the best overall interface for it. Most of the BD players are crude and slow. Roku, while pretty, seems too busy peddling all its other junk anymore. The WD box is decent. Xbox is way too noisy. WMC extenders are virtually extinct (but can be good). WMC on a PC is free, and it plays fine. Silverlight has come a long way. A strong video card makes it that much better and relieves even an older system.

But no matter what anyone says, watching video is best done on a TV set, in a nice comfortable room. While we have streaming boxes on the main sets, we're not dropping boxes on every TV in the house. Some of the newest TVs are starting to appear with built-in Netflix and DLNA ability. But we're not dumping two year old plasmas and flat screens that work fine.

So we run WMC through the second monitor output of a strong dual head video card, into a modulator that ties into the whole house TV system. We still use that computer for other simultaneous tasks.

With an RF-enabled WMC remote - presto - whole-house Netflix (and the entire video library available through that system - several thousand hours worth) on every TV in the house in a closed-circuit feed. Video quality is excellent. No Roku, Blu-Ray, WMC extender or other STBs needed (unless you insist on full HD). Just tune to the modulator channel. You could conceivably tie a Roku or other streaming solution (and some cable box options . . . ) into a modulator as well.

It does require the wire to do what we do. Otherwise, you need a box of some kind. The wireless solutions we've played with are spotty at best. If you can't shoot the CAT5e/6 & RG-6, consider the new 500mb powerline adapters. The newest Netgear ones DO work well and will stream HD video reliably and consistently.

If you MUST get a streaming box, look for a DLNA capable one that can access your local data. The WD TV Live Plus box is the best overall one we've seen, and it sells for about $100. Avoid the Sony. Avoid wireless.

We like Netflix. I prefer older movies over reality TV and the trans-Siberian military cooking channel. For the $8/mo, we can pare down the cable bill of a lot of extras.