Graphic designer -- need better graphics video card

csinclaire

Commendable
Oct 8, 2016
2
0
1,510
I am a graphic designer. In June, I had a computer crash and had to buy a new machine. But knowing I wanted to create a VR machine in the near future, I decided to wait for new video cards that were due out pretty soon. Meanwhile, I worked with the onboard graphics (something I'd never done before). My monitor didn't change, but my display became much poorer with this move -- guidelines in InDesign were not dark enough anymore. Ticklines on Word rulers were barely visible. I figured I needed a real video card. I'd had Nvidia something or other before, so figured it would work again. I now am running Geforce GTX 960 at the suggestion of my computer shop. But I have had NO improvement whatsoever, and I've tweaked the snot out of every setting I can find on both video card and monitor itself. I've since chatted around and learned -- much to my embarrassment -- that these Nvidia cards are more suited to gaming. I don't WANT to buy a new card, but I think I have to, and I have absolutely no clue if 1) the card is the problem for this overbrightness/indistinctness that showed up when I got the new computer, or if 2) the computer itself could somehow be the problem (has anyone ever heard of this happening?), or 3) if a decent graphics-oriented video card would make a difference, and if so, which ones should I consider? Any help would be appreciated. I'm getting serious eye strain, and even though it is not the monitor's fault -- it had a great image before -- I am always on the verge of throwing it out the window. Help, anyone, and thanks. (P.S. anyone have ANY ideas about the cause of all this?)
 
Solution
That makes me think that your old card was a workstation GPU. Workstation GPUs (NVidia Quadro line and Radeon FirePro line) have special drivers in them that allow for higher accuracy in their outputs, but come at the cost of less raw power. The GTX line is a gaming line which comes with less accuracy but with much much much more raw power, but that doesn't mean all NVidia GPUs are simply for gaming. I don't know that you can get a workstation GPU that will be able to power a VR desktop, but I'm not incredibly well versed in workstation GPUs, simply what they're used for.

genthug

Honorable
That makes me think that your old card was a workstation GPU. Workstation GPUs (NVidia Quadro line and Radeon FirePro line) have special drivers in them that allow for higher accuracy in their outputs, but come at the cost of less raw power. The GTX line is a gaming line which comes with less accuracy but with much much much more raw power, but that doesn't mean all NVidia GPUs are simply for gaming. I don't know that you can get a workstation GPU that will be able to power a VR desktop, but I'm not incredibly well versed in workstation GPUs, simply what they're used for.
 
Solution

csinclaire

Commendable
Oct 8, 2016
2
0
1,510
Thanks for the reply. Sorry I got distracted with an out-of-state trip and didn't get back to check before now. This gives me something to think about for sure. Maybe when I upgrade, I'll call Nvidia first and get their recommendation. I didn't really understand, until now, that there were diff types of video cards (workstation vs gaming). Thanks for the info. :)