question on video card

arm and hand · May 14, 2009

Just starting a first time computer build, so these questions probably sound rudimentary. I understand that some motherboards have built in sound and some don’t; so in the motherboards that do not you have to install a graphics card. Am I on the right track here? If I am on the right track, I also understand, generally speaking, you are going to get better graphics with an installed card. I do not want to spend zillions on a graphics card, so what do the forum members think the best graphics card value card is out there right now? Thanks for your suggestions.

DrPepper · May 14, 2009

Okay erm all motherboards come with sound as standard. You can upgrade that with a sound card if you wish. Also if a motherboard does not have a IGP (Integrated graphics processor) you will need an add in card. How much money are you willing to spend on a graphics card to be precise ? Also what Power supply and motherboard do you have.

arm and hand · May 17, 2009

I do not have a psu picked out yet. I would like to keep the graphics card under $100.00. I don't have a motherboard picked out yet either. Any suggestions for as to these items would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

frankie827 · May 17, 2009

get a 4830

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

LittleLizard · May 17, 2009

or a 4770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131155

frankie827 · May 17, 2009

LittleLizard said:
or a 4770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131155

thats a tad more expensive though

arm and hand · May 17, 2009

Thank you for the video card suggestion. What SLI versus Crossfire? What are the pros and cons there, and can you explain the difference? Thanks for the assistance.

arm and hand · May 17, 2009

By the way, I only need to run one (1) video card at a time, right or wrong. Thank you forum.

ShadowFold · May 17, 2009

Depends on your res. You wont need Crossfire for anything under 1680x1050, a single 4770/4850/4830 would be good enough for anything under, and the 4870/4890/4850X2 for 1920+ resolutions.

frankie827 · May 17, 2009

if you want to do sli or crossfire you will need at least 2 of the same graphics card. sli and crossfire are based around the same concept, make your computer perform better. but they do that in different ways. some people will crossfire is better and others will say sli is better, from what i can tell, it's every ones personal opinion. you really only need sli if you are going to be playing games at a resolution of over 1680x1050, if you aren't than one card is just fine.

jamupnorth · May 17, 2009

arm and hand said:
By the way, I only need to run one (1) video card at a time, right or wrong. Thank you forum.

Yes you only need one for normal use and 2 if you are a gamer

frankie827 · May 17, 2009

jamupnorth said:
Yes you only need one for normal use and 2 if you are a gamer

i know you added wink to the end, but i'm going to have go against you on this one. i have a single gtx260 core 216 and all my games are just fine (crysis, crysis warhead, farcry 2, etc..)

ShadowFold · May 17, 2009

Single 4850X2 here, maxing everything with 4x AA and 50+ FPS. Crysis included. Best card I've ever owned since the 4850 single

arm and hand · May 18, 2009

Thanks for all the replies.

arm and hand · May 18, 2009

"Single 4850X2 here, maxing everything with 4x AA and 50+ FPS. Crysis included. Best card I've ever owned since the 4850 single"

Ah, so what card would this be and what company? Thanks very much.

arm and hand · May 18, 2009

This may sound ridiculous, but the bigger the number means the graphics cars has more horsepower? Thanks.

frankie827 · May 18, 2009

arm and hand said:
This may sound ridiculous, but the bigger the number means the graphics cars has more horsepower? Thanks.

thats a common misconception. and it is not at all true. for example, the 8800gt is MUCH better than the 9400gt, it's actually comparable to a 9800gt.

in regards to the 4850x2, that is by ati. here is a link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102809&Tpk=4850x2
about $150 over the price limit you stated earlier.

System Name	arm and hand's system
Processor	AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2 GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Pro
Motherboard	BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
Cooling	see case
Memory	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Video Card(s)	none
Storage	Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Dr
Display(s)	Planar (cannot recall model number)
Case	COOLERMASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1 Black Steel ATX Computer Case
Audio Device(s)	none
Power Supply	CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Comp
Software	none
Benchmark Scores	no benchmarking achievements at this time

System Name	Rusky
Processor	Intel Core i7 D0 3.8Ghz
Motherboard	Asus P6T
Cooling	Thermaltake Dark Knight
Memory	12GB Patriot Viper's 1866mhz 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s)	GTX470 1280MB
Storage	OCZ Summit 60GB + Samsung 1TB + Samsung 2TB
Display(s)	Sharp Aquos L32X20E 1920 x 1080
Case	Silverstone Raven RV01
Power Supply	Corsair 650 Watt
Software	Windows 7 x64
Benchmark Scores	3DMark06 - 18064 http://img.techpowerup.org/090720/Capture002.jpg

System Name	arm and hand's system
Processor	AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2 GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Pro
Motherboard	BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
Cooling	see case
Memory	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Video Card(s)	none
Storage	Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Dr
Display(s)	Planar (cannot recall model number)
Case	COOLERMASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1 Black Steel ATX Computer Case
Audio Device(s)	none
Power Supply	CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Comp
Software	none
Benchmark Scores	no benchmarking achievements at this time

System Name	Gaming PC
Processor	Core 2 Quad Q6600 B3@3.3ghz @ 1.376V \| VID: 1.313V
Motherboard	Evga Nvidia Nforce 680i LT SLI
Cooling	7x 12cm case fans+Xigmatek HDT-s1283 Dark Knight
Memory	4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2
Video Card(s)	896mb Evga GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 (720/1515/1135)
Storage	2x 160gb Seagate Baraccudas + 1x 640gb Western Digital Caviar Green + 1x 1tb Samsung F1
Display(s)	Sceptre 20.1" 1080P Widescreen
Case	NZXT Zero
Audio Device(s)	Creative Soundblaster Audigy SE+Creative Fatal1ty Headset/Logitech X-530 5.1 Surround
Power Supply	Silverstone Zeus 750watt
Software	Vista Home Premium 32-Bit
Benchmark Scores	15883 on 3dmark06 w/ windows 7 beta @ 3.3ghz 13188 on 3dmark vantage w/ windows 7 beta @ 3.2ghz

System Name	The Lizard v2.4
Processor	Intel Celeron G1840 (for the time being
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-H81-S2PH
Cooling	Intel Stock Fan
Memory	16GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card(s)	MSI Gaming GTX 750Ti (For the time being)
Storage	500GB Samsung F1, 160GB Maxtor "Older than god"
Display(s)	AOC 28' LCD
Case	Coolermaster N200
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Antec VP500P
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores	No crashes in the last 24 minutes.

question on video card

arm and hand

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DrPepper

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arm and hand

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frankie827

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LittleLizard

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arm and hand

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arm and hand

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ShadowFold

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frankie827

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jamupnorth

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frankie827

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ShadowFold

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arm and hand

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arm and hand

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arm and hand

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frankie827

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System Name	The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor	AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard	ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling	Stock
Memory	Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s)	XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage	Western Digital 640gb
Display(s)	Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case	Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s)	Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply	Antec Earthwatts 650w
Software	Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Benchmark Scores	-❶-❸-❸-❼-