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Need to replace graphics card, need some suggestions

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Need to replace graphics card, need some suggestions

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comfortablynumb   11-14-2007 at 06:53:53 PM

I been out of the hardware scene for a while, my Geforce 6200 PCI Express just died and I'm not sure what to buy.

I don't really play any computer games and basically just use the computer for photo editing, watching DVD's, and surfing the web. Would I be better off with an Nvidia 8400GS or the Radeon HD 2400XT or something else altogether? I have a 19" widescreen monitor and run a resolution of 1440x900

Thanks in advance

Computer Specs
DFI Lanparty Ultra D (Nforce 4) PCI Express
AMD 64 3000+ (939)
1 GB Corsair XMS ram
EMU 0404 Soundcard
WD SD16 320GB SATA II


Message edited by comfortablynumb on 11-14-2007 at 07:32:42 PM
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einstein4pres   11-14-2007 at 07:17:26 PM
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There's a recent article on offloading the decoding of HD onto video cards here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] purevideo/

Since you don't play games, there is little need for either of the cards you mentioned unless your CPU doesn't do the job of decoding your DVDs fast enough (though I don't know if they accelerate DVD playback also).

My guess is that you should buy a cheap, used card off ebay.

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comfortablynumb   11-14-2007 at 07:32:11 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for the link, looks like from the review neither are as good as there more expensive siblings in DVD playback, but still I would have to think it would be better then what I've seen with my Geforce 6200 right?

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einstein4pres   11-14-2007 at 08:10:02 PM
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The tests were for HD video. They have hardware and drivers designed to deal with those specific problems. I don't know if these cards have specific solutions to DVD acceleration, or if that is needed given your system. I rarely had any trouble with my 2500+ and 9200SE watching video, so I'm guessing unless you're doing watching high definition video, any card will be overkill. But this isn't my area of expertise.

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comfortablynumb   11-15-2007 at 08:54:16 PM
- 0 +

Well I decided to go for a Gigabyte ATI 2400 XT for $59, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125076 maybe overkill for what I do but I still have a couple older games I may decide to install one day.

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