Is this a half decent card?

[severedsolo]

Hi guys, right im looking into buying a new graphics card, I'm on quite a tight budget, and so I know im not going to get anything amazing.

This is the one i'm thinking of buying: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/...idia/NvidiaGT220Series/Novatech/GT2201GB.html
a few questions: Is it any good? If not can you make any suggestions?
Are there any issues i should know about in installing a new card?
oh and really stupid question... is it VGA compatible? the specs say it has a Max VGA resolution so im assuming thats a yes
anything else you can think of...

I'm sorry i feel so noobish... but i really know nothing about graphics cards

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Hi guys, right im looking into buying a new graphics card, I'm on quite a tight budget, and so I know im not going to get anything amazing.

This is the one i'm thinking of buying: GT 220 1GB Novatech GeForce GT 220 1GB GDDR2 HDMI/VGA/DVI PCI-Express - Retail with PhysX, CUDA & 3D Stereo. PowerDirector 8HE Video Editing Software Included 625MHz Core, 1335MHz Shader, 1GB 800MHz GDDR2 Memory, 48 Cuda Processors, 1yr Warranty : no
a few questions: Is it any good? If not can you make any suggestions?
Are there any issues i should know about in installing a new card?
oh and really stupid question... is it VGA compatible? the specs say it has a Max VGA resolution so im assuming thats a yes
anything else you can think of...

I'm sorry i feel so noobish... but i really know nothing about graphics cards

Don't feel noobish as I am wondering how you are going to install a graphics card when yours is integrated?

 

[severedsolo]

I have a spare PCI-E slot to put a new card into its on board graphics im using at the moment, Hence why I want a new card. I've got this right haven't I? I was under the impression if i fit a new card it will shut down the on board graphics?

 

[mpcrsc562]

Are you planning on gaming with it? If so, I'd say no. But you get some video editing software with it, which I suppose would be enhanced by CUDA, so that's a plus.

 

[severedsolo]

Are you planning on gaming with it? If so, I'd say no. But you get some video editing software with it, which I suppose would be enhanced by CUDA, so that's a plus.

nothing major, certainly nothing beyond what i'm doing at the moment. as i said i don't want anything amazing, just something that is half decent. Probably the only half graphic intensive game that will be played on it is Sims 3, which my system can handle fine anyway with the graphic settings turned down

what would be nice is if it could handle HD... thats the one thing my system sucks at at the moment. and yes i know i will need to upgrade my monitor too

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Are you planning on gaming with it? If so, I'd say no. But you get some video editing software with it, which I suppose would be enhanced by CUDA, so that's a plus.

nothing major, certainly nothing beyond what i'm doing at the moment. as i said i don't want anything amazing, just something that is half decent. Probably the only half graphic intensive game that will be played on it is Sims 3, which my system can handle fine anyway with the graphic settings turned down

what would be nice is if it could handle HD... thats the one thing my system sucks at at the moment. and yes i know i will need to upgrade my monitor too

With computer prices falling why not save and get bundle package of newer computer with new monitor?
Save the old one to use as a tester!

 

[Fumz]

If the Sims is the most demanding game you plan on playing, then your choice is fine... hit that buy tab with confidence!

 

[severedsolo]

If the Sims is the most demanding game you plan on playing, then your choice is fine... hit that buy tab with confidence!

thank you Fumz and my other questions?

1) will it handle HD? with an HD monitor obviously....
2) It does have a VGA port right? I cant really tell from the picture... although the specs say that it has a max VGA resolution of 2840*1536 so im assuming that is a yes

 

[RST101]

It'll definitely handle hd video and the like. I had a 9500gs a couple of years ago and that was able to handle high def so there is no doubt in my mind that the newer more powerful GT220 will do so.

Your needs will be more than catered for with that card severedsolo

 

[severedsolo]

thank you very much for the advice everyone again i apologise for the noobish questions. as someone who doesn't really have much interest in PC gaming i've never really looked into graphics cards. Networking and Installation is like chalk and cheese to me... graphics cards... not a clue thank you so much

 

[Captain Zero]

Once you install the new card, disable onboard graphics from the BIOS. And yes, make sure you have a free slot AND enough room in the case by checking dimensions. The new cards are large.

 

[paulpicks21]

Hi Martin , hows it going mate?

Not spoke for a while , hope your well.

Yeah as others have said , that card will be absolutely fine for what you will use it for.

I made the mistake of buying the next model down from the GT220 , the 210. I didn't have much to spend and had just got a new pc that only had onboard graphics so I thought it would do the job , but it turned out to be a load of rubbish , god only knows what I expected for 34 quid

Straight away I decided to save for a better one , set my sights at around 70 quid , then saw the Ati HD 5770 so thought I would save a bit more (that one was like 120 quid) , then I saw the HD 5830 and thought hell I might as well save a bit more and get one of them (175 quid ish) then I saw the HD 5850 (235 quid!!!!) and in a moment of total madness I ordered it lol.

Then of course I needed a better PSU

Then I thought the old dual core might not be up to the job so bought a quad core to go with it haha.

Then I thought the memory might not be enough so got a nice new 4gig of OCZ titanium.


The crazy things you do eh!

But the PC is running great now pmsl.

Cheers

Paul.

 

[Zathras]

I'm not up on my exhange rates, but for "not a lot more" cost, about $120 USD or so, you could probably get something like an ATI 4850 card, which would be substantially better for newer games. Up to you as to whether you think it would be worth the extra cost.

 

[Fumz]

If the Sims is the most demanding game you plan on playing, then your choice is fine... hit that buy tab with confidence!

thank you Fumz and my other questions?

1) will it handle HD? with an HD monitor obviously....
2) It does have a VGA port right? I cant really tell from the picture... although the specs say that it has a max VGA resolution of 2840*1536 so im assuming that is a yes

Yes, and yes. Although, ideally you'd want to use the dvi cable provided.

Video
Max VGA Resolution 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz, 32-bit color
Max Dual-Link DVI-I Resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz, 32-bit color Maximum HDTV Out Resolution 1920 x 1080 (1080i)
Max Monitors Supported 2 API Supported DirectX 10.0, OpenGL 3.0 TV Inteface HDMI

 

[severedsolo]

Yes, and yes. Although, ideally you'd want to use the dvi cable provided.

Video Max VGA Resolution 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz, 32-bit color Max Dual-Link DVI-I Resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz, 32-bit color Maximum HDTV Out Resolution 1920 x 1080 (1080i) Max Monitors Supported 2 API Supported DirectX 10.0, OpenGL 3.0 TV Inteface HDMI

Well when i buy a new monitor I will get one with a DVI port. the monitor im using is fairly old now (circa 2003 i think) thank you very much!

 

[Fumz]

You're very welcome.

 

[Tpiom]

GeForce 220 should just work fine for gaming, I had 250 before I changed, to Radeon - and it worked fine. You should be able to go with "Medium" graphics quality. My card handled settings between High and Medium on almost every game.

 

[Lomai]

Hi Martin , hows it going mate?

Not spoke for a while , hope your well.

Yeah as others have said , that card will be absolutely fine for what you will use it for.

I made the mistake of buying the next model down from the GT220 , the 210. I didn't have much to spend and had just got a new pc that only had onboard graphics so I thought it would do the job , but it turned out to be a load of rubbish , god only knows what I expected for 34 quid

Straight away I decided to save for a better one , set my sights at around 70 quid , then saw the Ati HD 5770 so thought I would save a bit more (that one was like 120 quid) , then I saw the HD 5830 and thought hell I might as well save a bit more and get one of them (175 quid ish) then I saw the HD 5850 (235 quid!!!!) and in a moment of total madness I ordered it lol.

Then of course I needed a better PSU

Then I thought the old dual core might not be up to the job so bought a quad core to go with it haha.

Then I thought the memory might not be enough so got a nice new 4gig of OCZ titanium.


The crazy things you do eh!

But the PC is running great now pmsl.

Cheers

Paul.

I'm looking for a pair of 5870's right now - or 5970's x 2 if I can find them. Don't ask me why
:roflmao:

 

[paulpicks21]

Wow , now that will be awesome whatever you go with