Graphic Card Buying Help

[bigmck]

My Graphics Card is old, 5-6 years, not really sure. It still puts out a nice picture but it is probably time for a new one. I don't do a lot of games, just surfing the net, a few games now and then. I want something better than onboard video. I don't have a firm budget but was hoping to find one in the area of $60. I just want a decent one and have no idea what to look for in the specifications. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

 

[Boozad]

This may be of some help http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/337229-choosing-gpu-core-basics.html

I'll have a look around and see what I can find. A Radeon HD7750 may run at around $70 or so and might be an option.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks, I appreciate any help.

 

[Boozad]

You're welcome. Have a read through that guide then have a look around for some 7750s and check the prices. I'll search around for the best deals tomorrow night when I have more time.

 

[Indianatone]

I am not a gamer and can recommend this card. HD 6670.

Newegg.com - Newegg, graphics cards for desktop, 6670
Good performance and quiet. I have 2 Gigabyte cards.

 

[Boozad]

What games do you play when you do game? If it's nothing intensive then the 6670 could be a good shout.

 

[bigmck]

What games do you play when you do game? If it's nothing intensive then the 6670 could be a good shout.

Thanks Indianatone for the suggestion. I usually just play sports gams, baseball, football or golf. Nothing with a lot of movement in the picture. == Here is the 6670 that caught my eye as the price is good. I noticed that the display input was red. I don't know if it means anything as all the ones I have seen are white.
XFX HD-667X-CDF3 Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-Bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 Video Card - Newegg.com

I also found this one. What do you think about it?
EVGA 01G-P3-2631-KR GeForce GT 630 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

Boozad, I just noticed that you wrote the Graphics Tutorial on Seven Forums. Very nice article. I feel I am in good hands. == On both of these cards, I assume a power connection has to be made other than the PCIe slot, is that correct. I just didn't see a connection on either one.

 

[Boozad]

Here is the 6670 that caught my eye as the price is good. I noticed that the display input was red. I don't know if it means anything as all the ones I have seen are white.
XFX HD-667X-CDF3 Radeon HD 6670 2GB 128-Bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 Video Card - Newegg.com

I had an XFX card in my old rig, albeit it was only an HD4000 series, and it served me well. It handled low end games and all other day to day stuff just fine. I've not seen many XFX high end cards about but at this level I think they're pretty solid.
The price is about right for a 6670, I sold mine last year for just under that after using it from new for a month or so. The size is pretty discreet and the power draw will be low which is always a bonus.

The downsides are it's only PCIe 2.1 and DDR3 so it won't make full use of any PCIe 3.0 slots you have on your motherboard, and the most up to date VRAM is DDR5, but for your usage I don't think these are deal breakers.

The DVI-D port being red is probably just XFX's brand colours showing through, or a nod towards it being an AMD card, the port will still work as normal. Do you have HDMI input on your monitor?

All in all for the price and for what you want to use it for I'd say this card is pretty decent.

I also found this one. What do you think about it?
EVGA 01G-P3-2631-KR GeForce GT 630 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

This card only has half of the VRAM the XFX model has and is restrictive on the I/O options. These two points alone would make me give this card a miss if it was a choice between the two.

Boozad, I just noticed that you wrote the Graphics Tutorial on Seven Forums. Very nice article. I feel I am in good hands. == On both of these cards, I assume a power connection has to be made other than the PCIe slot, is that correct. I just didn't see a connection on either one.

Thanks for the compliment mate, much appreciated. The card will power from the PCIe slot and won't require any additional power connections from your PSU.

 

[bigmck]

I believe you sold me on the HD 6670. That is what I will get. I really appreciate your help on this. Have a good day. == I want to also thank Indianatone for the help provided.

 

[Boozad]

You're more than welcome mate, it was a very good recommendation by Indianatone.

Don't forget to uninstall your existing card via Device Manager before fitting your new card, give us a shout if you need any help at all.

 

[Indianatone]

I believe you sold me on the HD 6670. That is what I will get. I really appreciate your help on this. Have a good day. == I want to also thank Indianatone for the help provided.

You are welcome, the EVGA has a 3 year warranty and is leaner on the Power supply requirements.
Both are very good card for the money and casual gaming is fine. Like I said I have 2 of them and have been very happy with them. I also have its big brother the 7770 1 Ghz edition, a HD6770 Silent and a NVIDIA GT9800 1Gb Silent and a GTS 450 all by Gigabyte for their 3 year warranty.

 

[bigmck]

You're more than welcome mate, it was a very good recommendation by Indianatone.

Don't forget to uninstall your existing card via Device Manager before fitting your new card, give us a shout if you need any help at all.

Thanks for the tip on uninstalling. I would not have done that.

 

[bigmck]

Don't forget to uninstall your existing card via Device Manager before fitting your new card, give us a shout if you need any help at all.

I ordered the card today. Let me go through the installation with you. == I uninstall existing card from the Device Manager, install new card Drivers from CD (assuming there is one). Power down, replace card with new one and boot. Would that be the correct order of things?

 

[AddRAM]

Make sure there is no software from the old card in Control Panel / Add Remove Programs

Get the drivers from amd.com

The drivers on the cd, which of course will come with the card, are outdated. ( Most likely )

Download the drivers, install the card, then install the drivers.

http://www.amd.com/en-us

 

[bigmck]

Make sure there is no software from the old card in Control Panel / Add Remove Programs

Get the drivers from amd.com

The drivers on the cd, which of course will come with the card, are outdated. ( Most likely )

Download the drivers, install the card, then install the drivers.

Global Provider of Innovative Graphics, Processors and Media Solutions | AMD

My concern is that if I install the card with no drivers that when I boot, the card will not work and nothing will be on the screen which makes it very hard to install drivers.

 

[maxie]

Windows should Install the Driver for you .. If not it will Install a Standard Driver which will let you Install the proper Driver once Windows has loaded ..

 

[bigmck]

Thanks Maxie. I just didn't want to have a black screen on my hands.

 

[maxie]

Most welcome you will be fine