Entry Level Video Card

[Off Top]

Hi,


I'm building my own for PC for the first time, and I've been making some progress. I learned as much as I could about RAM, and putting together PCs.


So far, I've decided to get a ASUS P4P800SE Intel mobo, a P4 3.0E Prescott 800MHz processor, and Kingston 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) for the RAM.

First I need some opinions on these choices. I'm 95% sure they're all compatible. Crucial.com isn't showing otherwise.

Second, now I need to figure out what video card to get. I won't be using this PC for gaming, just web browsing/Photoshop/watching avi's... I need a cheap, entry level video card that's reliable.

Third, with this mobo/ram/proc, will I need special cooling, or will a regular case and fan do the job?

Thanks in advance

[jankerson]

Looks like you will be fine with your choices.

No you won't need extra cooling as long as you get a good case.

The SAPPHIRE 100582L Radeon 9250 128MB would be a good choice for a base card

[Off Top]

Thanks for the quick response..

any particular reason I'd need 128MBs for a basic card? I only ask because the 32 and 64MB cards are almost half the cost.

Here's a few side by side
Not sure what the different features/specs mean. I just learned the ins and outs of RAM today.

[jankerson]

It's better to have the added ram for watching videos and future proofing your system so you won't have to upgrade later on.

The card is only $39.50.

[Off Top]

is there a quick & painless way to see which video card is on my current PC?

[jankerson]

is there a quick & painless way to see which video card is on my current PC?

Right click on your desktop and click properties.

Click advanced, then adapter.

[Off Top]

Thx

Okay, this one's a Dell M991 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 with TV Out

I like the way it plays videos... what type difference would I see on a 128 card? I thought contrast/picture quality/response time were all determined by the monitor I get.

[jankerson]

Thx

Okay, this one's a Dell M991 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 with TV Out

I like the way it plays videos... what type difference would I see on a 128 card? I thought contrast/picture quality/response time were all determined by the monitor I get.

It's both really, picture quality depends on the monitor because if you have a really low end monitor then it won't matter what card you have, it will look bad.

But then if you have a really good high end monitor and the video card won't handle the resolution and drive the video etc you will still be in the same boat.

With the next vers of Windows coming out next year (Longhorn) that will require a 128mb Video card min to enable all the new features of the OS it would be smart to get the 128mb card.

I never recommend anything below 128 MB cards these days as there isn't any reason not to get at least a 128mb card.

[Off Top]

ok, thanks... 128 it is

[jankerson]

ok, thanks... 128 it is

It will give you plenty of room to do what you want and if you do end up wanting to play some games then it will work fine for that too.

It is a much better card than what you have now so the video quality will be a lot better too.

[Off Top]

wait, I just thought of something. I do graphic and flash design, and one of the problems I've had in the past is that my machine is too far advanced from my clients, so sometimes they see different colors than I do, or flash moves slower.

Will this video card affect the richness of my monitor's colors, or affect flash animation speed?

[jankerson]

I will improve somewhat.

[F_A_L_C_O_N]

wait, I just thought of something. I do graphic and flash design, and one of the problems I've had in the past is that my machine is too far advanced from my clients, so sometimes they see different colors than I do, or flash moves slower.

Will this video card affect the richness of my monitor's colors, or affect flash animation speed?

Why dont you get IGP (integrated graphics) Intel motherboard then

This way you will have the onboard video card most office computers are equiped with and will know exactly how they will see your apps.
Mind you 3Ghz P4 is not exactly what typical office comp comes with, not to mention some have 256MB of ram and less and those slooooow 5400 rpm hard drives.
Still it will give you at least some idea whats going on on the client side of the bussiness.

BTW Intel onboard video cards are actually not too bad as far as image quality goes, just really slow in 3D and in any other HW accelaration stuff.

[CenturionStrategy]

Yeah, the card that Jankerson suggested should be nice and quick for what your needs are - a good balance between speed and price. The next few years will see higher demands on video processing, with High Def videos arriving, so this card should serve you well, and at such a low price!

Nick

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Thanks for the suggestion, Falcon. I was originally planning on that, but a friend advised me to not go with onboard videocards, because if the video card messes up, I'll have to swap out the entire mother board. Plus, I won't be able to upgrade.

I'd like to have a dual monitor set up, with one 128MB and one 32, and have them on 19 and 17" monitors respectively. But that's a bit out of my price range at the moment. Still weighing my options.