First Post.
Questions, questions, questions . . .
I am looking for advice on the purchase of a video card to run largely in 2D.
Specifically, I am looking for a PCIe X 16 DVI video card to run a single 19? DVI LCD monitor (1024 X 1280 max). Video card budget ? $0-$150 (?).
I am planning on my first build soon ? probably an AMD 3800 X2 on a Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 motherboard with 512 MB X 2 = 1 GB of RAM. Not going with an integrated video solution - I will need a discrete video card. No components bought yet ? I will likely buy largely from Newegg.
Quiet is good.
2D video card priorities ? TEXT, Internet browsing, email, word processing, office work, camera snapshots into email, Skype (possibly with a videocam). Nothing too intense as far as I can see.
Not much in the way of 3D ? no significant gaming, no DVDs. no media center, no HD video.
Last I looked, back in the era of PCI cards running CRT monitors, the 2D text sharpness quality reputation of different video cards seemed to be something along the following lines: Matrox >> ATI >> nVidia, with nVidia sporadically bringing up the rear. Is that still true in the current DVI/LCD era or has DVI output proven to be the great equalizer? Does a DVI/LCD setup make differences in video card 2D quality irrelevant ? or minimal compared to the CRT era, anyway?
Does 2D quality increase along with 3D quality (and price) in a manufacturer's line-up, or is similar 2D quality built in to most cards even at different price points in the same line of cards?
This video card will be hooked up to a single 19? DVI LCD monitor ? not yet purchased.
How much video card do I need? How much on-board memory? Cost? What to look for? What to ignore?
Specific brand and model recommendations?
Also - do I need something extra to be Microsoft Vista ready, or should I just go modest now and wait a few years and upgrade the card when Vista is finally a mature and seasoned product? I am in no hurry to go Vista.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Suetonius
Current rig (to be replaced): circa 2002 $199 Walmart special with a few upgrades ? currently with a Gigabyte MB, 1000 MHz Celeron, ATI Radeon 7500 PCI video card, 384 MB RAM, Samsung SynchMaster 957MB 19? CRT.
Questions, questions, questions . . .
I am looking for advice on the purchase of a video card to run largely in 2D.
Specifically, I am looking for a PCIe X 16 DVI video card to run a single 19? DVI LCD monitor (1024 X 1280 max). Video card budget ? $0-$150 (?).
I am planning on my first build soon ? probably an AMD 3800 X2 on a Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 motherboard with 512 MB X 2 = 1 GB of RAM. Not going with an integrated video solution - I will need a discrete video card. No components bought yet ? I will likely buy largely from Newegg.
Quiet is good.
2D video card priorities ? TEXT, Internet browsing, email, word processing, office work, camera snapshots into email, Skype (possibly with a videocam). Nothing too intense as far as I can see.
Not much in the way of 3D ? no significant gaming, no DVDs. no media center, no HD video.
Last I looked, back in the era of PCI cards running CRT monitors, the 2D text sharpness quality reputation of different video cards seemed to be something along the following lines: Matrox >> ATI >> nVidia, with nVidia sporadically bringing up the rear. Is that still true in the current DVI/LCD era or has DVI output proven to be the great equalizer? Does a DVI/LCD setup make differences in video card 2D quality irrelevant ? or minimal compared to the CRT era, anyway?
Does 2D quality increase along with 3D quality (and price) in a manufacturer's line-up, or is similar 2D quality built in to most cards even at different price points in the same line of cards?
This video card will be hooked up to a single 19? DVI LCD monitor ? not yet purchased.
How much video card do I need? How much on-board memory? Cost? What to look for? What to ignore?
Specific brand and model recommendations?
Also - do I need something extra to be Microsoft Vista ready, or should I just go modest now and wait a few years and upgrade the card when Vista is finally a mature and seasoned product? I am in no hurry to go Vista.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Suetonius
Current rig (to be replaced): circa 2002 $199 Walmart special with a few upgrades ? currently with a Gigabyte MB, 1000 MHz Celeron, ATI Radeon 7500 PCI video card, 384 MB RAM, Samsung SynchMaster 957MB 19? CRT.