# Video Driver question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002 "2004-01-06T14:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/1 "2004-01-06T14:10:04Z")
I just installed a new video card - the disk i was given with it however doesn’t appear to have the drivers for this particular card. I know the card is a trident, but have no idea what model number…which of course you need to know if you wanna download drivers for it. I remember a couple of years ago somewhere i came across a utility - or …hmm _thinknig_ it may have even been a DOS command - that told me what the video card currently in my system was…anyone know where i cn find such a thing - or some other way of finding out what the card is? I know some cards will display a quick line when you first boot the puter - but nothing seemed to display for this card - either that or it was REALLY quick ( on a not so quick machine) will appreciate the help…i just can’t cope with this 640x480 16 color display! ---
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/2 "2004-01-06T14:12:16Z")
oops…forgot to mention i’m using win98 _gasp_ one day i’ll have the $$ to upgrade! ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/3 "2004-01-06T14:20:23Z")
You say this is a new card - does that mean a new card for you, but previously used by someone else, or new as in “still in the shrink wrap/anti static bag”? I, personally, don’t trust any software identification tools. For years my GeForce 2 MX card kept being detected as a GeForce 2 GTS, even though given the benchmarks, the components used on the card, etc it was clearly an MX card. If there is no identifying mark on the card (manufacturer’s name and model number), there should at least be an FCC code on the card somewhere. There are several sites that will let you look up that FCC Code - the FCC Code will tell you the manufacturer and the model numer of that card so you can locate the correct drivers somewhere ---
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/4 "2004-01-06T14:27:02Z")
new to me - acutally, pretty much brand new, but it was installed in a new puter for a few days before being replaced with something better (for their purposes) - as it’s better than the OLD pci card i have i figured i’d try it out - chances are it won’t even be compatible with my tv tuner card which tends to be fussy I’ll pull out the torch (flashlight for you 'mericans) and see if i can see anything other than trident written on it. ---
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/5 "2004-01-06T14:35:10Z")
Argh! i found out it’s a 9880 - went to the trident site to the driver page but it seems to have disappeared LOL… hmm… will try to find it somewhere else - thanks ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-driver-question/223002/6 "2004-01-06T16:38:38Z")
The Trident 9880 driver for Win98 is available on [http://www.driverguide.com/](http://www.driverguide.com/) Once you sign up for a free account, go to the following link: [http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=62811](http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=62811)