Solved Does it matter if you use a DDR2, DDR3, etc video card?

[Dj SharK]

Hi,

Well, here's the deal. My 3+ year old - 22" LG LCD Flatron W2242T is pretty much FUBAR. I'm planning to get a new monitor in a couple hours. Preferably a 24" or above LED - maybe a Samsung, LG or...... ~ any suggestions/recommendations? (brand wise).

Now, since I'm going to get a new monitor, i decided to get a new graphic card as well. My current card is an old NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB DDR2.

Before i continue, let me mention that my motherboard is Gigabyte G41M-Combo. I could use both DDR2 and DDR3 memory/RAM but I'm uncertain about graphic card.

2-part question

1. As i understand, my current graphic card is a DDR2. Does it matter if you use a DDR3 or DDR2 video card? Or the DDR2/3/4/etc plays a factor and i can't use anything other than a DDR2?
2. If i could use any card (DDR2/3/etc), which brand/model should i go for (only select the list posted below please - You don't have to be specific if you don't want to; a simple answer such as 'You should always go for -i.e: Asus-' would be good as well).

As I'm on a budget, i could only get one of the following:
** Asus ENGT 520 Silent 1GB DDR3 | Asus EAH5450 / EAH6450 Silent 1GB DDR3 | MSI N520GT 1GB DDR3 LProfile | Palit GF210 1GB DDR3 PCIE | Palit GT520 1GB DDR 64B TC | Sapphire HD5450 1GB DDR3 | Sapphire HD6450 1GB DDR3 PCIE | XFX GT220 1GB DDR2 | XFX HD6450 1GB DDR3 | EVGA GT430 1GB DDR3 **

Thank you for your time and patience. It's truly appreciated.


Cheers
Dan

 

[Sardonicus]

The short answer is always opt for the faster components in your system, within your budget.
DDR3 RAM and GDDR3 Video card.

 

[Dj SharK]

Thanks for your response. Now, what about the 'Could i replace my DDR2 graphic card with a DDR3/4/5/etc card'? Could i make that happen or it's a no-no?


Dan

 

[Sardonicus]

Thanks for your response. Now, what about the 'Could i replace my DDR2 graphic card with a DDR3/4/5/etc card'? Could i make that happen or it's a no-no?


Dan

Sure.

 

[Dj SharK]

Much appreciated. Rep added.

Topic marked as solved but if anyone would like to suggest/recommend preferred brand for both monitor and graphic card (as listed in original post), it would be great.


Dan

 

[Joshatdot]

GT 430 is the best of the bunch you have listed. But for about the same price as GT 430s, you can get HD 6570s, much better card.

I have had very good experiences with Asus LCD/LED monitors.

 

[bobkn]

To reiterate: there's no connection between the type of RAM on the graphics card and the RAM used by the motherboard. You could hang a graphics card with GDDR5 memory on a DDR2 motherboard.

Can you get a graphics card with a Radeon 6670 chipset, at a tolerable price? (Sapphire would be a good brand, although it probably matters little.) It's about the same price (in the USA) as an nVidia GT430 based card, but it has significantly better performance.

I don't know what to recommend for a monitor. I've had a couple of Samsung displays (CF backlight), and they've worked well. A friend has an inexpensive display from Acer, and that seems fine. My current main monitor is from Asus; I've only had it a few weeks. Seems good, although I've had to turn the brightness way down to get it in a normal range.

 

[Dj SharK]

Thanks a million Josh & bobkn. All your suggestions/recommendations are great. I'll be leaving home in about an hour to start purchasing what i could. I've got a list of things to get (monitor, graphic card, 3-in-1 printer/scanner/copier, portable charger for Sony Xperia S, etc). Will keep all suggestions in consideration.

Reps added.
@bobkn: Can't rep you for now. "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to bobkn again." IOU1 mate.


Dan