Dual Monitor Video Cards

[jhorton]

I have 2 24in LCD monitors and need to purchase a video card to support this and I do a lot of video editing. I dont need a video capture card. Which one is best for video editing, video watching and with 2 monitors? Thanks

 

[WR2]

Just about any video card will do a good job. What is your budget?

 

[jhorton]

Thanks for the reply...I would like to stay under $200

 

[jhorton]

I'd like to stay under $200 - what do you think about the BFG GeForce 9800 GTX

 

[Silverion77]

GTX 260 or HD 4870 (512 or 1GB version)

Both will be fine

Edit: that 9800 would probably be fine too

 

[jhorton]

Appreciate all the help!

 

[WR2]

You could certainly get by with a $50 GPU. Look for models with dual DVI connectors.
The only upside of a card like the 9800GTX is that it's also a decen gaming card.

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

To the best of my knowledge there isn't a single GPU that helps with the encoding processes. A decent one will help with decoding though. I've seend 9800gt on sale below the 100 dollar mark after rebates.

 

[MU_Engineer]

To the best of my knowledge there isn't a single GPU that helps with the encoding processes. A decent one will help with decoding though. I've seend 9800gt on sale below the 100 dollar mark after rebates.

There are GPU encoding applications that use the GPU's shaders to do the computation. NVIDIA has a program called Badaboom that is a video encoder and runs on GeForce 8000 series and newer hardware. ATi had a program out there that was somewhat similar to Badaboom and it ran on Radeon x1800/1900 cards. I am not sure if they still have such a program. Either way, you'll need at least a midrange GPU to outdo a modern quad-core CPU for video encoding.

 

[San Pedro]

If you are just doing video editing and watching video get a low range passively cooled card. Try to get one that will help accelerate high-def playback if you want to watch blu-rays. I know all ATI cards will do this above the 3450.

There is no need to spend anywhere close to $200 unless you want to do some gaming.

 

[jhorton]

That's the kind of info I need, and excuse the ignorance, but what is the difference between a GT, GS and a GTX card?

 

[mamw93]

GTS 250 or up.

 

[MU_Engineer]

That's the kind of info I need, and excuse the ignorance, but what is the difference between a GT, GS and a GTX card?

Performance and price. They are ordered from lowest to highest price and performance.

- GS = cut-down version of the standard model. Has fewer shaders and render backends, may be clocked lower and typically has less memory bit width.
- GT = the "standard" model card
- GTX = higher-clocked version of the standard model card
- Ultra = fastest and most expensive NVIDIA card currently available. You only see this as a suffix on NVIDIA's top model, unlike the other suffixes.

 

[jhorton]

Thanks everyone!