Can any one recommend a stable, PCIx16 2.0 video card for a Dell Optip

[Webdesignerwithkids]

It is for business use. Dell says my stock 285 watt power supply is too small, so I upgraded to a Dell 400 watt power supply.

I have a new Dell Optiplex 990 with 64-bit Windows 7 64-ti with 8GB RAM, Core i5-2500 , that has a PCIx16 2.0 slot in a full size tower. I need 4 monitor support for 1920 x 1200, DVI or Display port. My budget is between $200-$400, but I could go up a little if there was a performance gain. I mainly do web design, with Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop, and am not a gamer.

 

[kss207rc]

If you want four monitor support then i would recomend an asus eah 6970 directcu ii because it supports 6 monitors
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6970_DCII2DI4S2GD5/
But i think you would be more benefited form nvidia's cuda technology with the apps you use but you cant have the four screen setup with one nvidia cards i think you need two cards for 3 monitor setup.
I think you should go for the asus then.

 

[Webdesignerwithkids]

If you want four monitor support then i would recomend an asus eah 6970 directcu ii because it supports 6 monitors
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6970_DCII2DI4S2GD5/
But i think you would be more benefited form nvidia's cuda technology with the apps you use but you cant have the four screen setup with one nvidia cards i think you need two cards for 3 monitor setup.
I think you should go for the asus then.

Thanks for the reply. That card looks like it has very good specs and good reviews, however its a bit pricey and probably has more performance than I need. Can you or anyone recommend something a little less pricey that is good bang for the buck?

 

[kss207rc]

You can also look for the 6950
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6950_DCII2DI4S2GD5/
I must say that they take 3 slots in the case.
Genereally the amd cards support 3 monitors and if you combine them you can have 6.
Oh i forgot that you have a 400watt psu fso dont go for the 6970 defenatly,it want handle it.
I'm affraid you need a better psu for powering those cards.At least a 500-550watt.
With this psu you must look for the cheaper solution like this
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1037&pid=0&psn=000101&lid=1&leg=0
and if you want to have the 4 monitors one is not enough so aither you buy another one and crossfire them,or buy the asus 6950 which is better and your setup will be more stable,but again you need a bigger psu.
The bottom line is go for the asus 6950 and spend another 60-70$ for a good psu like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
or better
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
Sorry for the crappy english and sorry if i tired you.

 

[Supermuncher85]

Could you please give the exact model? I know you said full tower, but there are 4 different case sizes the Optiplex is offered in. I assume you have two pcie 2.0 slots, one 16x and one 4x. If this is the case the cheapest solution would be to buy two cheap 2dvi port graphic cards.

 

[Supermuncher85]

And there's also the firepro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195089, nvidia has a version as well but I can't find it at the moment. Like I said though, if you can install 2 cards, that will be the cheapest solution (around $100-140).

 

[Webdesignerwithkids]

Could you please give the exact model? I know you said full tower, but there are 4 different case sizes the Optiplex is offered in. I assume you have two pcie 2.0 slots, one 16x and one 4x. If this is the case the cheapest solution would be to buy two cheap 2dvi port graphic cards.

Supermuncher85, the exact model is "OptiPlex 990 Minitower EPA". Dell's item number is 225-0421.

You are correct about the PCI slots. Here is a description of the slots and a picture of the motherboard.

(Slot 1) - PCI Express x16 card connector
(Slot 2) - PCI Express x1 Card connector
(Slot 3) - PCI Card connector
(Slot 4) - PCI Express x16 (wired as x4) connector

The Asus HD 6950 that kss207rc recommended might not fit because it takes 3 slots. It also may fit, as all of the slots are open now. I haven't confirmed with Dell yet if a large card like the Asus HD 6950 will fit. Based on appearance, it looks like it will.

Dell tech support says 2 video card's can't be used at the same time, yet the Dell on-line system builder says "Dual graphic combinations are available utilizing dual PCIe x16 slots (one routed as a PCIe x4)."

 

[browsingtheworld]

If you're not playing any games a GT 430 will do.

 

[Webdesignerwithkids]

If you want four monitor support then i would recomend an asus eah 6970 directcu ii because it supports 6 monitors
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6970_DCII2DI4S2GD5/
But i think you would be more benefited form nvidia's cuda technology with the apps you use but you cant have the four screen setup with one nvidia cards i think you need two cards for 3 monitor setup.
I think you should go for the asus then.

Nice card, but unless dell sells it, they won't help at all if it doesn't work. I think my power supply (which I have since gone back to stock 285 watts) would not be sufficient. Dell is telling me that the reason 2 of my monitors go blank intermittently is because my 285W power supply is inadequate, so I'm being forced to order Dell's 500W for $80.00 more. I told my sales rep to factor in if the power supply needed upgrading and she said tech support said mine was adequate. Needless to say, I am having trouble with the recently purchased Dell supplied add-on ATI Radeon HD 5570 1 GB DDR3 SFF QUAD VHDCI x16 PCIe Graphics Card. Dell says I need at least their 500W power supply. So I"m ordering my 2nd part in 2 weeks since my new Optiplex 990 arrived.

 

[Supermuncher85]

The 5570 is a low power card a "needs a 250 watt or greater power supply." http://www.visiontek.com/vhdci-cards/hd5570-1gb-vga.html I would double check the cabeling and the drivers prior to ordering a new PSU.

 

[Webdesignerwithkids]

Best answer selected by Webdesignerwithkids.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey