Newbie, Nvidia or ATI video card

[Bucknasty]

First of all, not a gamer. looking to get a pre-built AMD dual-core system with a ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI mobo my choices of video in my "budget" are:

NVIDIA Geforce 6200 Graphics with TurboCache supporting 256MB 16X PCI Express
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD()
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 GT 128MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
or
ATI RADEON X300 SE 128MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
ATI RADEON X550 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
ATI RADEON X700 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS VIDEO CARD
ATI Radeon X1300 X16 PCI-E 128MB VIDEO CARD

I have tried to find some type of Nvidia vs ATI shoot-out with little luck. The most I might use it for is to watch some DVD's on a 19" LCD monitor.

From my limited research, I know that sometimes 128meg of fast ram is better than 256megs of slow memory on a vidcard.

Suggestions?

 

[Yourself]

Any reason why you are choosing a deluxe SLI board when you'll be using one non-gamer card?

 

[Jman13]

If all you're doing is watching DVDs, any card will do fine. Honestly. The only time you're going to see a difference with any of these is when you're running 3D games. If you aren't planning on gaming, there's no reason to spend big bucks on a video card. In your situation, I'd pick up a GeForce 6200TC PCIe card for $37 at Newegg and be done with it. (The first choice on your list) If you aren't going to game, you don't need graphics power, and even that super cheapo card will do DVD just fine. ATI vs. nVidia is kind of like Ford vs. Chevy or Toyota vs. Honda. Both vid card makers make fine products, and the differences are slim. They kind of jockey back and forth at the high end for the performance crown, but they're both outstanding companies, so don't worry about it. If you wanted to go with the X300SE, that would be fine too.

 

[n7]

I'd have to agree.

That's a great mobo, but why waste that kinda money if you don't game or tweak...

If you do no gaming, just get a cheap video card.
The 6600 or X300 would work.

 

[nts]

For just watching movies the X1300 might be your best bet. There was an article recently comparing movie playback on various cards and the ati cards were ahead in quality and lower cpu utilization. Can't remember the where the article is though...

HTH

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: n7
I'd have to agree.

That's a great mobo, but why waste that kinda money if you don't game or tweak...

If you do no gaming, just get a cheap video card.
The 6600 or X300 would work.

QFT. Absolutely no reason for buying the most expensive Dual GPU motherboard if youre using only one GPU and with a 6600GT (or lower) at that. Thats probably $120 more then you need, almost great then the highest priced card on your list their.

The 6600GT is probably the best card up their but the X300 or or 6200 TC would be hte low cost no games solution.

 

[Gamer X]

Since you are not a gamer get the Asus A8N-VM - CSM,It's got nice onboard graphics.

EDIT: sorry didn't notice it is a prebuilt system,BTW it is very easy to build your own system,you'll save a handsome amount of money.

 

[sandorski]

I'd just grab the cheapest ATI card for that purpose. Probably not necessary to go ATI anymore, but in the past they were the best choice for Quality of the 2.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: n7
I'd have to agree.

That's a great mobo, but why waste that kinda money if you don't game or tweak...

If you do no gaming, just get a cheap video card.
The 6600 or X300 would work.

Seconded.

Just about any new video card will play DVDs and run windows just fine.

Heck even the XGI Volari gets good reviews for video display.

If your not going to game you could probably even do well with onboard video and save a ton of money.

ASUS A8N-VM CSM $82

 

[DetroitSportsFan]

For just watching movies the X1300 might be your best bet. There was an article recently comparing movie playback on various cards and the ati cards were ahead in quality and lower cpu utilization. Can't remember the where the article is though...

You're right, the AVIVO cards (ATI X1K series) do utilize the GPU to lower the cpu utilization. However, dvd watching only would not be a reason to buy the ATI X1K series. The AVIVO comes more into play if you're doing video encoding.

For dvd watching, a very basic card/onboard video would do him just fine.

Oh, and just like all the others have asked .... why such an expensive "gamers board" if you aren't gaming?

It would make more sense to build a system that will adequately meet your needs. Otherwise, its highly likely that you'll end up paying a lot of money for things you will never use.

 

[Bucknasty]

Thanks guys. I switched to a non-sli mobo, went with an MSI and selected the

Nvidia Geforce 7300GS 256MB

as the video card

thanks

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: nts
For just watching movies the X1300 might be your best bet. There was an article recently comparing movie playback on various cards and the ati cards were ahead in quality and lower cpu utilization. Can't remember the where the article is though...

HTH

dont forget nvidia cards with PV...i know you need the NV decoders at extra cost...but theyre worth it. ATI's AVIVO is pretty damn neat though, a feature worth having for definate...

dont some dvd softwares have a kind of generic utilization? i recall win dvd having an option to dump some work on the graphics card. with my old 6800GT it brough down cpu usage 5-10%

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: Bucknasty
Thanks guys. I switched to a non-sli mobo, went with an MSI and selected the

Nvidia Geforce 7300GS 256MB

as the video card

thanks

That should work just fine. :thumbsup: