I've been out of the loop for quite a while and have no idea how the current video cards compare, especially between ATI/AMD and Nvidia. Built a new rig early this year and been limping along w/the on-board graphics, finally ready to add a discrete card. Debating between something in the 100-200 range, or jumping up to the 200-300 range. I'm not a heavy gamer so I don't need the ultimate high-end card, but I'd like something I can play the latest FPS games on w/reasonable frame rates. Any and all suggestions welcome. I'll most likely buy from the egg so if you want to suggest specific cards from them all the better.
Recommendations for a good FPS would be good too - not interested in the rated M stuff as my teenage boys will also play - just some good FPS action w/out the detailed gore or pornographic depictions of women.
Finally, curious about how to hook it up to my monitor. I've got a 20" viewsonic that I currently connect to via an old KVM that only supports VGA. Not really interested in upgrading the KVM. Is there really that big a difference switching from VGA to DVI? If so I'll have to connect the video from my rig direct to the monitor, and then switch inputs on the monitor when I connect a second machine (my work laptop) to the KVM. I tried this once and it didn't seem to work very well - the viewsonic always wanted to switch back to DVI even when the rig was off. So unless the difference is really compelling I'll probably stick w/the VGA output of the new card.
Thanks,
Joe
Recommendations for a good FPS would be good too - not interested in the rated M stuff as my teenage boys will also play - just some good FPS action w/out the detailed gore or pornographic depictions of women.
Finally, curious about how to hook it up to my monitor. I've got a 20" viewsonic that I currently connect to via an old KVM that only supports VGA. Not really interested in upgrading the KVM. Is there really that big a difference switching from VGA to DVI? If so I'll have to connect the video from my rig direct to the monitor, and then switch inputs on the monitor when I connect a second machine (my work laptop) to the KVM. I tried this once and it didn't seem to work very well - the viewsonic always wanted to switch back to DVI even when the rig was off. So unless the difference is really compelling I'll probably stick w/the VGA output of the new card.
Thanks,
Joe