Graphic's Card Dilemna - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/01/2006 09:19:11 PM · #1

Hi, I am seeking some advice as to which Graphics card to buy for my PC. I bought a new Dell 24" LCD last week, with the intention of using it with photoshop to muck around with images. The monitor comes with a DVI connection which I am led to beleive gives better quality when viewing images. My PC however only has the standard VGA port which I currently have the LCD connected to. To get the best out of the monitor I am going to have to buy a new graphics card that supports DVI connection. I currently run an old NVIDIA GeForce MX/MX 400 card (only VGA)

My question to those knowledgeable in this area is: What is the best card to get, for a photographer? I don't play games on the PC so I don't need a 3D card, 2D will suffice. I have read in some Online Forums that MATROX make a good card, specifically the MATROX P750.

I would really appreciate any advice you could give

Many thanks
sneakypete

justintu

Canon EOS-5D

07/01/2006 09:54:05 PM · #2

Matrox or Nvidia would be a good choice. 256MB or greater.

If you are looking for a really good deal though, I found this on XPBargains:

XFX GeForce 6200A 128MB DDR AGP DVI Graphics Card $27 shipped

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/01/2006 09:58:42 PM · #3

AGP or PCI Express slot?

Can you even buy a 2d card? I think you will be looking at a 3d card even if you dont game..

I have a radeon X700 pro 256MB (PCI Express)-- cheap by current card prices and it is awesome..

Message edited by author 2006-07-01 22:07:55.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/01/2006 10:04:40 PM · #4

I have a Radeon 9600, got it with my LCD but have never found the room to dual monitor with it (the reason for purchase).

07/01/2006 10:07:10 PM · #5

Thanks for the advice. What does AGP and PCI express slot mean though? I have no idea

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

07/01/2006 10:09:31 PM · #6

Well you are probably running intergrated video right now-- but you should have an open card slot to put in a new card, what type of PC is it, how old? Any specs you can share?

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

07/01/2006 10:16:03 PM · #7

You can open up the PC and see what type of bus the graphics card is on; if it's AGP it should be the closest slot to the ports on the motherboard, usually a brown slot, and if it's PCI it'll be any of the lower ones, usually a white slot.

07/01/2006 10:16:40 PM · #8

Computer about 5 years old
Intel Pentium 4 1.5GB CPU
512 MB RAM
40GB 7200rpm Hard disk
64MB Geforce 2 MX AGP video card with TV out
ATX tower case
Looks like there are two spare slots underseath the VGA connection on the CPU. Is that where i would put the new card if I got one.
Thanks Buzzrock

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

07/01/2006 10:21:53 PM · #9

Well you are gonna defintly go with agp being 5 years old--

The empty slots are most likely the traditional PCI slot-- not PCI Express for graphics.. these are for like modems and sound cards..

JeffryZ

Nikon D80

07/01/2006 10:22:06 PM · #10

What you will want to do when you get your new AGP video card is to uninstall your NVidia drivers and then shut off the computer. Remove the GeForce2 card- your new card will go in its place. It won't fit in any of the other slots. Once it is all connected, boot up. It will go through a hardware check and then you can install your new video card drivers (should come on a CD with your new card).

07/01/2006 10:33:34 PM · #11

Thanks for the help guys, I think I will go with something from either NVIDIA or ATI (Radeon 9600) around the 256MB mark