Which graphics card?

[sbanks]

Hello again!

I'm getting confused about what graphics card to go for, as there are so many of them!

Also, with many components you can get an idea of what's a better product by the price (e.g. a better CPU will usually cost more than a slower CPU) but as I have no interest in playing games on the PC I'm building I can't do that as you can spend hundreds and hundreds on a graphics card but I may not see any benefit over one costing £50.

Basically, I'm planning on building an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 with at least 2 gig RAM and a fast Raptor hard drive. So I am wanting a fast PC, I'm just not interested in playing games on it.

I want to spend enough on a graphics card to get a good one that doesn't hold back my system, including when I upgrade it to Vista, but I don't want to start paying for facilities that are only really going to be of any use to gamers.

Two other things - I'll want PCI-E and will also need it to support two (possibly 24\" widescreen) TFT monitors at high resolution.

So could you recommend a few graphics cards that are top of the range for 'normal' XP/Vista use that can handle two large TFT monitors?

Thanks in advance! :)

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[sbanks]

Thanks PrivatePyle!

When I do a search for 7300GT or 7600GT I get a number of cards returned - are they all similar or did you mean a specific one?

I don't mind paying more for a card if it'll make a difference to 'normal' computing, So if the 7600GT is better then I'm happy to get one of them.

Having a brief look at requirements for Vista I've seen it stated that you need DirectX-9 to be able to use their new interface. So I'd better get one that supports that. If anyone knows anymore about the Vista requirements then let me know!

This one supports DirectX 9.0 and two monitors:

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24290

Does that one look ok, or is there a better one? I don't mind paying £50 or £100 more, but only if it's for something that'd make a difference to non-gaming applications!

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[sbanks]

I suppose I don't really push my system too much graphically. I more want a fast PC that can handle multiple applications running at the same time.

I develop websites and so have several browsers open, a PHP development program, Word, email, notepad, etc. So I suppose not a lot that pushes things graphically, other than I'm wanting two large monitors and for it to run Vista well.

One aplication that will push things more is Photoshop, though. But in reality I don't use that a huge amount and it's probably things like a fast processer and lots of memory that affect that most.

Thanks for the tip about DDR3 - I'd seen it on some specs of graphics cards but didn't know if it was any more desireable than anything else!

[mac124]

If you do plump for a 7300gt then really it MUST be ddr3 as it makes a huge difference in performance. They are cracking little cards for the price and unless you want to do some hardcore hires gaming then i am sure it will do pretty much what you want it to in photoshop etc etc.

At the moment the only cards that can handle vista in all its glory (DX10) are the nvidia 8800's i am afraid.

[Anonymous]

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[t31os]

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24789

Few quid difference and these cards clock great should you want to.

Can't hear the fan on it at 100% let alone any other speed, unless you have a SUPER quiet rig. Quite dependant on inside case temps because of the lack of slot cooler but its a great card.

[mac124]

[quote:41e9779684=\"PrivatePyle@Work\"][quote:41e9779684=\"mac124\"]At the moment the only cards that can handle vista in all its glory (DX10) are the nvidia 8800's i am afraid.[/quote:41e9779684]

Really? Perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought that running Vista itself on DX9c was OK.. So what do you lose by not running it on DX10? I say this because Vista for businesses is already out, and surely you don't need a £300 graphics card in an office desktop PC to run the OS?[/quote:41e9779684]

Not sure tbh mate, but i thought that you needed dx10 to run vista with all the bells and whistles, could be wrong though?? And i probably am :lol:

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]