Video Card Upgrade Questions

[ilya124]

Hey guys, I recently recieved a Nvidia Geforce 8400GS 512 mb as a gift. I have a dell vostro 400 with 3 gig ram and a Geforce 8300GS 128mb. The PSU in the dell isnt very powerful, i think its 300 watt. I narrowed down the choices to a ATI Radeon HD 4350 and a EVGA Geforce 9400gt. Both are 512mb. Which one is better for watching HD movies? (i dont game)

 

[deadlockedworld]

Of the two you list, the 4350 is the better value for watching movies--its cheaper and more power efficient than the 9400GT.

However, An 8400GS should be just fine for letting you watch HD video. The 4350 is a little better (and more power efficient) but probably not enough so to make purchasing the new card worthwhile. There is no reason to get another card unless you decide to start gaming/graphic editing. (or have a really honking big monitor)

A 300w dell PSU should handle the 8400GS or an 4350 just fine. Dell generally puts decent quality PSU's in their computers, and the 8400GS only requires 300w.

This graphic card hierarchy chart on Toms can help you compare different cards:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-310-5970,2491-7.html
As you will see, both cards are relatively low end performers--but that's all you need for watching video.

 

[rolli59]

^+1

 

[ilya124]

Of the two you list, the 4350 is the better value for watching movies--its cheaper and more power efficient than the 9400GT.

However, An 8400GS should be just fine for letting you watch HD video. The 4350 is a little better (and more power efficient) but probably not enough so to make purchasing the new card worthwhile. There is no reason to get another card unless you decide to start gaming/graphic editing. (or have a really honking big monitor)

A 300w dell PSU should handle the 8400GS or an 4350 just fine. Dell generally puts decent quality PSU's in their computers, and the 8400GS only requires 300w.

This graphic card hierarchy chart on Toms can help you compare different cards:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-310-5970,2491-7.html
As you will see, both cards are relatively low end performers--but that's all you need for watching video.

I have a 23 inch samsung monitor and i didnt install the 8400 yet. I was waiting to see if i should exchange it for a 9400 or a ati 4350. But a 9400 would be better than an 8400 right? Plus, on the chart the 9400 and the 4350 are on the same level. So i'm stumped. What do you think?

 

[rolli59]

9400GT is a little bit better than the 8400GS. But if you are changing then you might as well go with the HD4350 since it handles HD content better.

 

[ilya124]

9400GT is a little bit better than the 8400GS. But if you are changing then you might as well go with the HD4350 since it handles HD content better.

So theres not much of a difference between 8400 and 9400? and the 4350 is the best out these? I think the 9400 is the newest model out of all of them but i might be wrong. I also read that ati card upscales dvd to near hd quality. Is this through software or does it automatically do that through the card. And do the nvidia ones do that?

 

[sabot00]

The 4350 is newer.

 

[sabot00]

Actually the 4350 would be green, as it uses less power.

And CUDA/PhysX on a 9400GT? You gotta be sarcastic.

 

[rolli59]

the 9400GT is better! Go green! Not red! Well the 9400GT got physx and cuda but since you dont game I dont THINK its necesarry. Both are good cards but the 9400GT is a lil bit better ýeah, on the other hand id keep my 8400GS if i were you. If your watching HD movies it should be enough.

lol! phycx for watching movies.

 

[ilya124]

so i should go for the ati 4350? or keep the 8400?

 

[obsidian86]

the 9400 gt is a better card then the 4350 the 9400 gt trades blows with a 4550

keep the 8400

or get something on here

 

[sabot00]

He's only watching movies, a 4350 would use less power.

 

[rolli59]

The 8400 is enough for the intended use.

 

[deadlockedworld]

I agree that the 8400 is still enough for you.

If returning the 8400 gift would be a hassle than you should definitely keep it--however if you have a receipt and everything and could do it yourself the 4350 would be a slightly better card for a similar price--but the difference between the cards isn't even worth the shipping cost to return it by mail.

(although if they bought it from best buy or some other tech store than rips people off you could probably return it and pay half the price by getting it online at newegg. I recently saw an 8400 for sale in a store for $90--when its really only worth $30.)

 

[ilya124]

I agree that the 8400 is still enough for you.

If returning the 8400 gift would be a hassle than you should definitely keep it--however if you have a receipt and everything and could do it yourself the 4350 would be a slightly better card for a similar price--but the difference between the cards isn't even worth the shipping cost to return it by mail.

(although if they bought it from best buy or some other tech store than rips people off you could probably return it and pay half the price by getting it online at newegg. I recently saw an 8400 for sale in a store for $90--when its really only worth $30.)

my dad got it at best buy for 47 so thats pretty good. But i did see this card:

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-01G-P3-N...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262387503&sr=1-3

on amazon for not much more, plus its a gig instead of 512 mb. I checked the evga website and it said itll run on 300 watt PSU. So i think i should go for the EVGA from amazon. What do you think?

 

[sabot00]

You won't need 1024 MB as you are not gaming.

 

[ilya124]

but what about future proofing, so i can just do it and forget about it. ?

 

[sabot00]

Will you be gaming in the future?

 

[rolli59]

That gpu is good for the computers lifetime based on the current use, configuration and regardless of memory size.

 

[ilya124]

no i probably wont be gaming on it, i have a 360 for that.

 

[deadlockedworld]

You dont need 1 gb memory on the card unless you plan to expand your monitor size sometime soon.

I'm not certain why you went back the the old nvidia 9400GT--even on amazon the newer/better HD 4350 card is available for less. There are no competitive Nvidia cards under $70--ATI has a better low end lineup.

If you are interested in buying something online Amazon.com does not have good computer component prices. You should look at Newegg.com and Tigerdirect.com.

 

[ilya124]

if i was going for the ati 4350, which one should i get, i was looking at the visiontek but i dont know if its the best one. ?