2560x1440 graphics card not for gaming

grammar · Mar 5, 2015

Hello,

can anyone suggest a cheap, minimum, and passive (if possible) graphics card to run 2560x1440 smoothly? I currently own a GeForce GF210, but it does not run smoothly at all at that resolution.

I just need it for photo editing and surfing, not for gaming.

My system info:

Z77A-G43
I5 2500K
2x4GB 1600MHz DDR3
GeForce GF210
ModXStream Pro 600W

Thank you.

xStampede · Mar 5, 2015

Radeon R7 240 would do the job, it is a great budged card that can run smoothly and have 2GB of video RAM. You can even use it for some basic gaming, it will run all games on lower settings.

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11216-00-20G/dp/B00DR3M050/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425558729&sr=8-1&keywords=radeon+240

grammar · Mar 5, 2015

A but pricey for me, although a budget one indeed. What about a GeForce GT610 2GB DDR3? I really do not game

xStampede · Mar 5, 2015

grammar :

The thing is if you want it to run 2560x1440 smooth then it also have enough power for basic gaming. I think you should try get second hand r7 240 for 30 $, they are kinda heavy duty and rarely stop working so you are safe going for a second hand one.

grammar · Mar 5, 2015

I see, and will surely consider it. But pls tell me what is your opinion on the Geforce GT610 2GB?

xStampede · Mar 5, 2015

I think GT610 should be enough for your situation.

Moonstick2 · Mar 5, 2015

Backing up a little, what software are you using for photo editing?

Only a few packages use graphics card grunt, most just require a card that can output the necessary native resolution, all the hard work being done elsewhere inside the PC. If you're finding stuff slow, the video card is the last thing I'd be looking at. RAM (8 GB is great for games, but for masses of photo editing can end up being limiting) and hard disk are more likely candidates for your issues.

So what software are you running, and what hard disk(s)? How much free space on the disk(s)? What size photos are you working with (in MB)?

RobCrezz · Mar 5, 2015

The Intel integrated graphics can run 1440p in windows just fine, have you tried that?

grammar · Mar 6, 2015

xStampede :

Thank you xStampede. I think I'll probably start with this one.

grammar · Mar 6, 2015

Moonstick2 :

I use Lightroom and Photoshop on Win7 Home Premium 64-bit, and the discs are OCZ Agility3 60GB (70% occupied) and WD Caviar Green 500GB. The photos are 4-5MB. The whole unit was intended for basic HD video editing, which is why there is 8GB RAM and I5 2500K, but I ended up just with photos... I didn't need a discrete GPU as the Quick Sync of Intel HD3000 was reported to outperform GPU's work back then.

But going back to the point, it turned out in the meantime that GF210 poor performance I referred to earlier was due to Windows Aero which was slowing things. When disabled, everything runs smoothly, almost perfectly.

But I've been also told that GPU's Memory Interface is more important than VRAM for the kind of things I do. So if the GF210 I own uses 1GB DDR3 (32-bit), and it does the job pretty decently but is kind of a minimum, should I go for, e.g. GF210 1GB DDR3 (64-bit) just to see if it is noticeably better, and then, possibly, for GT 610 1GB DDR3 (64-bit)?

And the second question - are you saying that I would benefit from using let's say 4GB instead of 8GB? I would appreciate any suggestion on this very much.

grammar · Mar 6, 2015

RobCrezz :

Yes, I have, but HD3000 supports 1440p over DisplayPort only, and my motherboard does not provide such one.

Moonstick2 · Mar 6, 2015

I meant that you *might* benefit from 16 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB, but it depends on your RAM usage. If the Aero thing has stopped the stuttering, then perhaps now you're fine?

2560x1440 is < 4 Mpixels. Even if triple buffered and with 24 bytes (made up amount) per pixel, it's small fraction of your VRAM. Refreshing 2D graphics at millisecond values...I doubt you're going to see any benefit at all with a wider VRAM bus.

RobCrezz · Mar 7, 2015

grammar :

Should be able to via DVI also?

grammar · Mar 7, 2015

Moonstick2 :

I was fine but with browser running only, and maybe one app. So if not a wider VRAM bus, then what may help? In your opinion.

grammar · Mar 7, 2015

RobCrezz :

grammar :

Should be able to via DVI also?

DVI only up to 1920x1080.

Moonstick2 · Mar 8, 2015

grammar :

For 2D work, just about any graphics card these days can do the job. If there are slow-downs it's either due to software (drivers requiring updates, removing bloatware and so on), or a RAM/processor/hard-disk upgrade.

For what you're doing, your hardware should be more than sufficient which would suggest a software problem. You're not clear on whether turning off Aero has or hasn't fixed it. You could try updating the graphics card drivers, and you can try making sure you haven't something unnecessary running in the background that's slowing up your system somehow.

grammar · Mar 13, 2015

Moonstick2 :

Turning off Aero has fixed it, however, there's a very slight difference in how the windows open, minimize, maximize or flow accross the 27'' display set at 2560x1440 resolution, as compared to a 1920x1080 resolution on my old 22'' display, and even to 1920x1080 on 27''. The difference is in the fluidity of movement - a very slight stuttering at 2560x1440 on 27''.

And all of this I observed using GF210 521MB/32bit, but currently I'm waiting to instal GT610 1GB/64bit. I've also cleared some space on my system drive, although it is an SSD, which is said to have no need for much free space to operate properly.

Anyway, thank you Moonstick2 very much for your time and explanation.

Moonstick2 · Mar 13, 2015

You're welcome. Window stutter is one of the harder-to-diagnose issues, though the cause these days is never one of GPU grunt, I'm sure of that.

e.g. This guy fixed his Aero lag by removing a USB extension cable!?

If you've got a GTX610 on the way then (if the issue is the GPU drivers) hopefully that'll fix it, just be prepared for the possibility that it might not. Let us know what happens either way.

On the SSD, they do need a reasonable amount of free space to work properly. As a rule of thumb, >75% occupied is supposed to be the beginning of slowdowns (although it seems somewhat wasteful to me...). Yours was only 70% full anyroad.

grammar · May 22, 2015

Moonstick2 :

To let you know, Moonstick2, and anyone interested, the GT 610 has arrived and fixed the thing, and it's ASUS GT 610 1024MB DDR3. Just sorry for posting this answer so late.

Cheers.

2560x1440 graphics card not for gaming

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Expert

Reputable

Reputable

Reputable

Distinguished

Expert

Reputable

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Share this page