Time to upgrade videocard...advice or recommendations

[jetmechG550]

Ok all, was sitting around at work today shooting the poop with someone and got to thinking about my current computer and that my video card is a little dated (64MB) ATI Radeon something or other. Anyway, I haven't paid too much attention to what the hell is out there but thought, after the holidays I should throw something new in. What's hot, what's a decent card. I don't do much gaming on the computer so that's not really an issue. I do quite a bit of photo editing if that will make a difference. I'm just a little out of touch with what's out there right now. Any recommendations? I don't need to spend a whole lot or I'd rather not spend a whole lot preferably in the $100-$150 range.

 

[cvec7]

Well, what games do you play?

I don't pay much attention to what's hot and such, but I can say that I reccomend PCI express x16 if your motherboard supports it, and SLI is the hot thing right now, but very expensive. But ya, PCIe is great if you can get it...AGP 8x is also fine as well...

 

[whuggs1]

Power Color Radeon X700 256 MB AGP $ 140.00 Shipped
or save some $$
Power Color Radeon 9550 256 MB AGP $ 75.00 shipped

Don't think his board suports the PCI express.

 

[beason]

i got a 9800 pro and I'm pretty happy with it. bout 150 ish i think

 

[retarded pilot]

thats the big question, what games & types of games do you play? ...a new video card will do little if anything with photo / video editing those are prossesser intensive not video card

from what I'm reading you should be able to get away with something like this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...450-8536&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1019AA

 

[jetmechG550]

thats the big question, what games & types of games do you play? ...a new video card will do little if anything with photo / video editing those are prossesser intensive not video card

from what I'm reading you should be able to get away with something like this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...450-8536&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1019AA

I got that today in the e-mail and was wondering if that was a decent card or not. I almost figured for $45 WTF, why not right. I really don't game on the computer anymore, almost all my gaming now is on my PS2.

 

[FastEddy]

Your money is best spent on System ram and a second hard drive to use as a scratch drive with Photoshop. 1 gig of ram will do WONDERS for photo and video editing.

 

[retarded pilot]

i agree with eddy ...why are you looking to upgrade? ..do you just want to do SOMETHING to it ....or are you noticeing some kind of deficiency?

 

[jetmechG550]

Don't know really, guess I'm just looking to do something to it. I have 1GB (maxed) of ram already and my second HD is 400GB on top of the primary that is 160. I guess what I wanted to do was go to a larger screen res, I'm at 1024 x 768 now, if I set it larger 1280 x 1024 it's not the best looking picture (text is fuzzy) or doesn't seem as sharp as it should.

 

[FastEddy]

Are you using a Flat Panel?
If so, you will need to look at the "native" resolution of your monitor and set it there. If you have a FP, are you running a Digital cable or a standard VGA cable?

In photoshop there is a setting that will move your scratch drive. Set it for the 2nd HD and PS will run much faster with larger photos.

Does your video card have a digital cable output? It will have squared off corners, a bunch of pins and off to one side either 1 or 2 flat spay looking pins.

 

[bustedgears]

Something mid-range should do you well. that 5500 will be much more power than what you have now.

 

[jetmechG550]

Unfortunately I am running the VGA cable. The way our home office is setup a digital cable would be waaaayy to long which = way too costly I think. I also want to say now that you mentioned "native res" I recall seeing something about my FP being what I have it set to now (1024 x 768). I may get that one RP mentioned for shits and grins. Thanks for the info!