
Graphics Card Suggestions?
CastleCops
-> General Hardware
Author: Rogue1, Location: Uk
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:39 am Post subject: Graphics Card Suggestions?
I have been looking to upgrade my card for a couple months now and I am stumped on what to choose, I find myself a little confused by the amount on offer.
I have been looking at the 8800GT/GS ones, then the 9 series came out and for some reason the 9 series are cheaper then the 8 series, how come?
Currently I have a GeForce 6800GS 256mb which has served me very well, but would like a 512mb one, any recommendations?
Author: Bill_Bright, Location: Nebraska, USA
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:
Hi Rogue1 - Forgive me in advance for picking on you here but I do it to make a point to all reading, now and in the future.
You have a perfectly valid question and you are wise to seek help before laying your cash down. But there is no way we can answer. We have no information to go on.
There are Top 3 Show Stopping (and all too common) Mistakes when asking for recommendations for hardware:
1: No intended purpose. Is this graphics card to used for 3D animated gaming on a 24" widescreen? CAE/CAD on a super hi-rez 36" professional CRT monitor? Or email, Word, standard Internet stuff on a 19" standard LCD? Or integrated into 61" HDTV home theater system?
2: No budget. A pair of BFG GTX 280 PCI Express cards for only $1500 for the pair would be great. Yeah, they have 1Gb on each card, but hey - if budget does not matter. Or there's a $50 AGP card 512Mb card from XFX, and Newegg lists 45 PCI cards for under $100 - but that takes us to number 3.
3: No system specifications. All motherboards support PCI graphics, some also support AGP, and most of the newest motherboards now support PCI Express (PCIe).
The 6800GS comes in both AGP and PCIe interfaces so we cannot tell from the information provided. If not sure, then move "up". What motherboard do you have? Not sure? Move up. What is the make and model of the computer?
Some AGP and the PCIe versions the 6800GS support both analog (D-sub) and digital (DVI) connections. CRT monitors, which many people still prefer, need analog, as do older and budget LCDs. Better LCDs support digital, usually through DVI. Some of the newer LCD monitors and graphics cards have already started to migrate to what will be the new digital connection standard, HDMI. For me, for example, I run with a dual-monitor setup with both monitors requiring a digital signal through DVI. Therefore, any card I buy must have 2 digital outputs, and no analog.
Okay, Rogue1 - sorry for making you a target - but you see our plight.
Without knowing the budget and intended use for this product, there is no way anyone, expert or otherwise, can advise you properly as to what is best for you, and your money. That goes for graphics cards, monitors, power supplies, computers, printers, cars, or shoes.
You need to determine your current and future needs. That is, do you need an AGP or PCIe card? Does the card need to support Analog + Digital? Or 2 x Digital?
Don't worry about DVI vs HDMI - they carry they same digital graphics - the big difference is HDMI carries 5.1 audio too so HDMI to DVI adapters are simple and inexpensive.
That said, Tom's Hardware has a great running article on the best graphics cards for the money. It is broken down into several price ranges for both PCIe and AGP cards, so set your budget, then check out the card with the proper interface. See the June 08 edition here.
Also, note that more horsepower cards require more power to run. Another common mistake users make is they add a little RAM, a new optical or hard drive, a couple USB devices and they forget all about the lifeblood of the system, the power supply. Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit (PSU) requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom. I recommend you set Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), I recommend setting TDP to 100%. Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation).
Oh, you also did not mention what operating system you are using. If Vista, make sure the card maker specifies it supports Vista now and has Vista drivers on their website.
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