GPU recommendation for non-gamer

808dude · May 22, 2017

I'm apparently looking at replacing my failed AMD R7 240 4G DDR3 GPU, since problems quickly spiraled in to me hearing 6 beeps on attempting startup... after just blowing dust out of the CPU, now recurring no matter what I try. (GPU was already giving problems - not supporting multiple monitors for the last month.)

I don't game, at all. We do, though, quite often use the PC to drive a remote monitor that's nothing special, maybe 1080p - though I'm overdue to upgrade that - for movies, streaming and downloaded stuff, obviously without high-end-demanding tastes at present.

Supporting dual monitors simultaneously is important. Do some cards provide dual HDMI ports, or is it always a mix of DVI/HDMI/VGA?

Amazon's range runs from something like $25 to $700. If I simply go by reviews, it seems like highest cluster is for a $105-ish outlay, which isn't horrible, but even THAT card seems to be touting gaming performance, which as I say is just not a concern for me.

What specs should I be looking for or paying attention to?

Existing CPU: HP 700qe Desktop PC
Product number: E6S61AV#ABA
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 processor quad-core, 3.4GHz,8MB Shared Cache

Thanks - Dave

RaDiKaL_ · May 22, 2017

Go get the cheapest most modern card you can find, the more recent the gpu the more codecs for HD it supports, and you can always look around to find one with 2x HDMI ports (personally never looked for that so no idea if that exists).

atomicWAR · May 22, 2017

If y our not gaming why not just use te iGPU? does it have two connections you can use? I am guessing no if your posting here but I wanted to check to be sure. You could look at getting a gtx 1030 or rx 550 if you just want something good enough for video and multi-monitor.

808dude · May 22, 2017

atomicWAR :

Well IIRC I kinda screwed myself with the original purchase; "Intel HD Graphics [DVI-I, DVI-D]" is in the specs and I never even thought it necessary to confirm whether that meant it could drive two monitors (even my then-five-year-old PC came with a card that drove two monitors, stock). Thus I didn't consider ordering a separate graphics-card with it. Again, this was a few years back, but I think when I got in touch with HP to ask about all the complete lack of joy I was having getting two monitors to work, their tech politely implied I had been an idiot for not having ordered a GPU with my original build. Sound about right?

Or you could make my day and tell me that the DVI-I and DVI-D ports are indeed two video outputs, but I think not.

I'll check out your GPU product-mentions...thanks.

Dave

808dude · May 22, 2017

RaDiKaL_ :

Thanks...wondering how I can tell, from Amazon, say, what's brand new and what's old. Here's one for just $30...but no idea how old...
http://

RaDiKaL_ · May 22, 2017

Well that one is older than your previous RX 270, you could try to aim to at least a GT 610 if found at that 30$ price tag, otherwise an RX 550 like someone suggested above would be great for you.

808dude · May 22, 2017

RaDiKaL_ :

Well, I went with an EVGA GT 710 2GB DDR3 64bit @ $45... I felt like I'd have had to have made a study of the product-lines to see if there's some succession to the product numbers they choose, but without having done that, I'll assume that a GT 710 is 100 louder than a GT 610...right?

Thanks - Dave

RaDiKaL_ · May 22, 2017

Hehe slightly better, at least in that regard they didn't make it that complicated, for your requirements it should satisfy you.

Search

GPU recommendation for non-gamer

808dude

Distinguished

atomicWAR

RaDiKaL_

Splendid

atomicWAR

Glorious

808dude

Distinguished

808dude

Distinguished

RaDiKaL_

Splendid

808dude

Distinguished

RaDiKaL_

Splendid

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page