Need help Picking Video Card

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

Im building a new PC and was wondering what would be the best card to buy for around $200. I'll be doing some gaming and Alot of Photoshop stuff.

Thanks

[kram 2.0]

Welcome to PC Mech forums

If you're going to be doing a lot of stuff with Adobe Photoshop and no/light gaming, then I'd recommend the Matrox P650 64MB should be the card you want - at 155 USD, it has very nice 2D support. 3D support, as in games and such, is a little shaky, but for Photoshop, that should be the best card you can get.


Hope that helps,
kram

[pam123]

This might work for you at that price : http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-366&depa=0

Especially with your emphasis on photoshop.

[ja83]

Well if the photoshop stuff is minor and gaming is more important, then you could get a Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro for $194 plus $2.95 shipping. It's on sale now for OEM bulk I think. The 9800 Pro can do photoshop stuff pretty good, and it's awesome for gaming.

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

How good are those ATI 9800 Pros at handeling Dual Monitor Config? Also, why ATI and not nVida? So will that 9800 run games like(for example) "Painkiller" well?

Thanks, I just dont know much when it comes to Video Cards

[kram 2.0]

Hey,

Yes, ATI runs better on games than the nVidia for the mainstream cards - in other words, around 200 USD where you're looking at, ATI has the edge on 3D support. Every ATI card, as well as nVidia, is dual monitor capable - just use both the DVI and AGP hook ups and use a converter if need be.

The Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 256-bit that ja83 recommended for 197 USD is a very good deal. Only about 6 months ago, it was the best card on the market - now, it's a sweet spot component. ATI also offers some great 2D graphics support, so that won't let you down for Photoshop.


Hope that helps,
kram

[yellohut]

the 9800 will run games great.. including painkiller. if those are the games you want to play, go for something like a 9800pro or 9600xt, instead of the matrox.

and we're all going with ati because for a budget of $200, ati is a better deal than nvidia... although things may change for the new line of cards coming out.. but that's for the high-end big $$$ cards.

[jeffr]

Personally, I'm not to crazy Nvidia. I've had to replace 2 of them within the past year. You should definetly stick with ATI. Just my 2 cents....

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

Would it be worth it to buy the retail version for $15 more?? Oh and whats this stuff there saying about flashing it to an XT Bios??

[pam123]

Originally Posted by D-RobotWillNeverDie Would it be worth it to buy the retail version for $15 more?? Oh and whats this stuff there saying about flashing it to an XT Bios??

As a newbie you're better off with the retail that provides all the hardware and software that you'll need.
For your second card you'll have enough experience to get the OEM/bulk version if you want to.
Flashing the bios of a video card is a trick gamers use to get more performance from it.
It can kill your card and it will kill the warranty. It's definitely done "at owner's risk".

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

I belive the OEM version has all the softwear as the reatial except for the Game. Am I wrong??

[kram 2.0]

The OEM is usually just the product - no box, no drivers. Often times, that's what saves you money. I would just go with retail if you can afford it - it's better off having to start out with a solid manual/CD if you're still new to this stuff.

Hope that helps,
kram

[pam123]

What Kram said.

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

this is what the site says comes with the OEM version


Model# RADEON 9800PRO 128M
Item # N82E16814102268

Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9800 PRO/380MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/680MHz
BUS: AGP 8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI Connector
Support 3D API: DirectX®9, OpenGL®2.0
Cable/Accessories: 4 Cables, VGA via DVI Adapter, PowerDVD, Driver CD
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz



and the reatail description does differ

[kram 2.0]

Also, that stuff about flashing to the XT Bios. In graphics cards, there are certain "Cores" used - such as the Radeon 9800 series utilize either a R360 core or an R350 core. If you have a Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro 256-bit 128MB with a R360 core, that is an identical card to the Radeon 9800 XT...just 128 MB onboard memory. What you would be able to do is to make the card think that it's a Radeon 9800 XT instead of a Radeon 9800 Pro - that way, it would work far better. I do have to warn you this will void warranty and I will personally highly disrecommend doing it.

kram

[D-RobotWillNeverDie]

Oh and heres the specs on the retail


Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9800PRO/380MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/680MHz
BUS: AGP 4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI Connector
Support 3D API: DirectX®9, OpenGL®2.0
Cable/Accessories: 3 Cables, VGA via DVI Adapter, Composite via S-Video Adpater, 4 CD
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
Retail Box (See pics for details)

so based on that it looks like he OEM comes with 1 more cable, no S-Video, and 2 less CD's but still includes the Driver CD. Right