I have a dell dimension, but theres no video when I PLUG it up to a monitor. Im not sure if the computer has ONBOARD video or a video card. How do I find out? And if it was using a video card before the display went out (Im assuming because of the video card going bad) and I want to switch to using onboard video (assuming its present), how would I do it if I cant see the BIOS screen on a display?Unplug your computer and open it up.... If the monitor is plugged into what appears to be a card (a card would be plugged into a slot on the motherboard) then you're using a video card. If you have onboard video then it will appear as if the monitor is plugged directly into the motherboard through a connector directly attached to the motherboard..

EITHER way, before you change any configurations on your computer, try another monitor. If another monitor works, then we've isolated the problem to your current monitor. If it does not WORK, then we've isolated the problem to something on the computer itself... I did try another working monitor. There is still no display from the computer. I also opened up the computer, youre right , there is no card so the computer probably has onboard. Now to RESTORE the video, do I need to get a video card and put it in, and if so will any video card work? And once I install that video card and turn on the computer, will I see display or is there something else I need to do also?
What is the make/model of the computer?its a dell dimension 4550I would go with an AGP card. Your motherboard supports either AGP or PCI. You'll get better performance out of an AGP card.

Any one of these will do, just make sure you buy one with a connector the same as the type of connector on your monitor..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201069609639&name=AGP%204X%2f8X