Good vid card useful for NON-gamers?

[Unseen]

I am trying build a new comp and seeing if need to get new vid card to replace old and crappy vid card. Don't want spend too much on new comp. I am currently using 866 mhz with Geforce MX 440 which I got for cheap $$, actually replaced a older 16 mb TNT card with that.

Anyhow, what is a good vid card needed for expect gaming mainly? Was thinking rendering and video encording might need it, but I rarely ever do that. I usually never do any intensive gaming. Only play starcraft soemtimes, which actually ran just fine on my old P 166mghz comp, so doubt that would really call for new vid card.

Usually never do anything intensive, expect multitasking. Usually use firefox, Visual C++ complier, chat programs, winamp, etc at the same time, which slows down my 866 P3. Think it worth spending $$ on new vid card for my new comp?

 

[Spitfire_x86]

I don't think upgrading video card will help you.

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[AznAnarchy99]

u need cpu not videocard

 

[Crashman]

You'd be better off with a new CPU, a PIII-S 1.4GHz would be nice!

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[Spitfire_x86]

At Pricewatch, lowest price for PIII-S 1.4 GHz is $212 and $155 for 1.26 GHz PIII-S. 1.2 GHz P3 (256k L2 cache) costs $68, but his mobo have to support Tualatin CPUs.


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[ChipDeath]

Stick with the geforce. If you don't play games, then there's no point. Put the money saved on the new build into CPU or RAM.

You said you don't want to spend too much - how much is too much? Athlon XP System is good for low budget (XP Mobile if happy to overclock). A64 covers mid and high range quite nicely...

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[Crashman]

Tualatin support isn't such a big issue, Socket 370 Tualatin adapters cost $8 at Compgeeks, good Slot-1 adapters cost $20.

Both of those also allow you to set a Tualatin Celeron 1.1GHz/100MHz/1.475v CPU up as a Celeron 1466/133/1.65v CPU, if you need to save more money and still get the 133MHz bus bandwidth.

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[xeenrecoil]

Heya Unseen;

Go to <A HREF="http://www.pricewatch.com" target="_new"> Pricewatch </A>
This is a great resource for quickly refrencing hardware, but mainly for purchasing.

Keep your Geforce untill compatability for it dies since you dont need anything else.

I recommend you go out and buy an Intel Pentium 4c - 3.2Ghz (Northwood), an Abit IS7, 2x512MB Crucial pc3200. This is a very fast high end multimedia platform, and will serve your multimedia demands, and do it very well, for the low budget price of $450, or if you want to cut your system memory in half to 2x256MB you can do it even cheaper for around $350.
Now keep in mind this isnt your old computer core and this is a power hungry bastard and will require a powerfull Power supply, i recommend you get a Antec True Power 430w, they are inexpensive at $65 and have power just oozing out of them, you can do all of this at rock bottom cost, and come away with a killer computer core, if your a smart shopper.
For your system memory go directly to <A HREF="http://www.crucial.com" target="_new"> Crucial </A>

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[Unseen]

I actually have most of my comp spec worked out in my mind Just wondering if I should bother wiht new vid card or not. Right now I am browsing in ebay to see if I can get cheap hardware or not. Here my cost/idea for CPU:

CPU: $200 USD, probably A64 3200 newcaslte (maybe a 3400 if I can get it cheap at ebay)
MB: MSI Neo Platinum, I am sure I can get it under $80 in ebay
Memory: Corsiar/Muskin/Geil value 512 MB DDR 400 (which ever is cheaper, right now I am seeing 1 GB of corasir in ebay for $95, might try and get that too)
PS: $80. Thermaltake 480w with PFC (was going to get Antec but lower end ones don't have PFC for cheap!)
Case: Something for $80 or lower
Monitor: Viewsonic E70F + SB for $140, or something like that if I find anything on ebay.

Already have the following that I upgraded by P3 866 mhz with:
Seagate 8 MB, 120 GB HD 7200 rpm (think with 5 year warranty! )
Nec 2500A DVD-RW 8x
Cd rom drive from dell
Geforce MX 440
Winfast Tv tuner

Total: around $650.

Am going to post my spec on the CPU form bit later on. So didn't post anyting about my spec. ANyhow ty for the info about the vid card!