Dual dvi (2xdvi) - 3 cards: best price/value for non-gamer

[ferretmania]

Greetings and thanks for taking time to peruse this post.

I'm a non-gamer replacing a 5 year old system with new build based on:

Intel Core i5-2400S Sandy Bridge + ASUS P8P67 PRO

Because I love split/extended desktop for business apps, I really want a true dual head card with 2 x dvi to drive my 2 lcd monitors.

Please post your opinions of these 3 cards all of which are in the $50-75 (unless, of course, you feel strongly that a more expensive card is needed for my occasional photoshop, music and light video edit projects - like the 4th card below)

Many thanks to all who reply!!! [:henry chinaski:9]

Primary concerns:

* Low noise & power consumption
* 2 x dvi
* non-gaming card



EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 ($45 after MIR)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-130-395&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

XFX HD-465X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4650 1GB ($55)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150396

SAPPHIRE 100288L Radeon HD 4650 1GB ($60 after MIR)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102851

______________________________________________________________________________________

A video editor friend also strongly suggested that I took a look at this card:

FYI: I know that this card only has 1 dvi port. So I'd have to run my 2nd monitor off the vga port. The trade off, I guess, is that he HD 5670 supposedly has the latest technology supporting video features, including DX11 and others.

HIS IceQ H567Q1GD Radeon HD ($99 @ newegg, $89 at amazon)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161334&Tpk=HIS%20IceQ%20Radeon%20HD%205670

 

[Pallimud]

If you get a H67 motherboard instead of a P67 then you can run dual monitors without getting a separate graphics card. You just need to get a VGA to DVI converter (or HDMI to DVI) which is just a little thing that prob costs $2 on ebay. You might be able to find a board with two DVIs but most come standard with a VGA, DVI and HDMI output.

The reason I suggest this is because you aren't a gamer, so you don't need a discreet card. Plus the graphics capabilities of the new Sandy Bridge cards is enough to play any game out right now.

 

[hunter315]

That Sapphire 4650 isnt an option, its an AGP 8X card which your board wont have a slot for, i would go for the XFX 4650, you dont need the fancy features of a 5670, it wont give you much if any advantage in anything you do.

@Pallimud, AFAIK you can only use one video output from an IGP at a time, it provides all the different connectors so you dont need adapters, but it can only provide data to one at a time, IGPs are weak enough, i dont think you want one trying to do double the work.

 

[ferretmania]

If you get a H67 motherboard instead of a P67 then you can run dual monitors without getting a separate graphics card. You just need to get a VGA to DVI converter (or HDMI to DVI) which is just a little thing that prob costs $2 on ebay. You might be able to find a board with two DVIs but most come standard with a VGA, DVI and HDMI output.

The reason I suggest this is because you aren't a gamer, so you don't need a discreet card. Plus the graphics capabilities of the new Sandy Bridge cards is enough to play any game out right now.

Pallimud:

You definitely know your stuff, and you're point is well taken about the Asus H67 mobo having an onboard gpu. I did consider that. Perhaps I made a mistake by spending the extra $70 on the P8P67, but I'm trying to make my new build as green as possible. Did I go overboard in terms of price/performance?

I know I can always RMA the P67, but if I go with the H67 and incur the associated extra cost of having to buy an discrete graphics card, which of the 4 I listed would you suggest?

Many thanks for your help!!!

 

[Pallimud]

hunter315's suggestion of the 4650 is what I'd recommend too. It is a better card of the ones you mentioned. Since you won't be gaming, the 5670 is not needed.

Since you already purchased the motherboard, I'd say don't return it. You'll have to spend money on return shipping and spend extra time that isn't necessary. You could have saved energy by going the H67 route but I don't think you necessarily went overboard. You can tweak your system to keep it extra green, ASUS has some software tools to help with that (power saving things), if your hardware is compatible.

@hunter315, I read that you can run dual-monitors on the IGP with the H67... I'm trying to find an official source though just to be 100% sure. The new IGPs on the sandy bridge are pretty good and would handle it perfectly fine.

 

[Pallimud]

@Pallimud, AFAIK you can only use one video output from an IGP at a time, it provides all the different connectors so you dont need adapters, but it can only provide data to one at a time, IGPs are weak enough, i dont think you want one trying to do double the work.

Here we go, finally found an official source: http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/chipsets/ec-h67/h67-overview.htm

Support for HDMI, DisplayPort*, eDP and DVI 2: High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) delivers uncompressed HD video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in a single cable, supporting all HD formats including 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Dual independent display expands the viewable workspace to two monitors.

Multi-monitor support: Multi-monitor support with Windows 7*

 

[hunter315]

Thats quite an improvement for IGPs, thanks for finding that! Means, that now they are quite useful in office PCs that need to be low power but want two displays.

Technically an H67 board would have saved you a bit more power but only about 40W under full load with the GPU, and since you arent planning on gaming i doubt you will ever bring the GPU to more than about 20% load so it wont use much extra power at all.

 

[ferretmania]

Best answer selected by ferretmania.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar