Which graphic card?

[TheBull]

I'm contemplating buying a graphic card, but have no clue on which one to get!
I'm not really playing games, mostly for my graphic drawing programs. So looking at my specs what would you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

 

[stormy13]

How much you willing to spend, and what power supply do you have (make and model number)?

 

[ivanmor]

Hey Bull!

Alot depends really like Stormy said, with money you have and the power supply.... it also depends what your graphics needs are.... that said...

If your looking for all round game playing, have no need to exceed say 1 22inch monitor, and have at least one PCI-X power connection, I would suggest either a Radeon 4600 series or the NVidia 9800 range, both shouldnt put you in the poor house and are both respectiable starting points....

I am sure everyone has their preference, ATI vs Nvidia, i was a nvidia guy for so long, but the HD line of ATI, is simply amazing!

 

[7echno7im]

Here is a quick run down i just saw for best performance per dollar.

$500 - Nvidia GeForce GTX 295
$250 - Nvidia GeForce GTX 275
$150 - ATI Radeon 4870

Since you don't play games or do any rendering, really, any cheap video card will do.. What do you have now?

 

[mickey megabyte]

if you don't do any gaming, i would recommend a passively-cooled card that relies on a large heatsink rather than a noisy fan.

 

[Snives]

Just as a side note, nVidia's 300series and ATI's HD5000 series are both rumored to release very soon. If this is the case you can expect to see price drops on current gen as well as the obviously new cards being available. It might be worth looking into before purchasing anything at this point.

 

[Duesco]

if you don't do any gaming, i would recommend a passively-cooled card that relies on a large heatsink rather than a noisy fan.

That depends on what he means by rendering, if he's doing some wacky AutoCAD something he might need a workstation card. If not, an HD 4650 would be peachy.

 

[lokiundergod]

Ah, the eternal question...or, rather, one of them, anyway!

 

[Konceptz804]

Here is a quick run down i just saw for best performance per dollar.

$500 - Nvidia GeForce GTX 295
$250 - Nvidia GeForce GTX 275
$150 - ATI Radeon 4870

Since you don't play games or do any rendering, really, any cheap video card will do.. What do you have now?

Me personally I'm looking at selling my two 8800gt cards and getting a single GTX 275, my PS3 has taken me away from PC gaming.

 

[smarteyeball]

Me personally I'm looking at selling my two 8800gt cards and getting a single GTX 275, my PS3 has taken me away from PC gaming.

And my PC brought me back from console gaming

 

[dan7777]

And my PC brought me back from console gaming

+1 here too

 

[skunksmash]

well.....if you dont game i'd say the HD4650 (ATI) would do, but as time winds on even your GFX apps will become more intensive, so i'd grab something with a bit of poke (PSU permitting)

GTS 250

9800GTX

8800GT

HD4850

HD4870

all of these cards are pretty low power, but are great performers.......even if you dont game these cards are now cheap enough to consider for any platform.

 

[Sandygay]

I'm contemplating buying a graphic card, but have no clue on which one to get!
I'm not really playing games, mostly for my graphic drawing programs. So looking at my specs what would you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

Hi There,
I'm a digital Artist and do play the odd game, I'm using a 7800 GTXpci express, which by todays standard is an old card and it's fine for my digital software N Painter and Artrage, I don't know if it's sold anymore, if it is, it would be cheaper, but if you wanted directX 10 I'd go with a single slot 9600 pci express 768mb memory only £74 in overclockers, I'm getting similar when the card I'm using dies. Sorry didn't look at your specs.
Sandy.

 

[Sandygay]

I'm contemplating buying a graphic card, but have no clue on which one to get!
I'm not really playing games, mostly for my graphic drawing programs. So looking at my specs what would you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

Have now taken a look at your specs and the card you are using should
be fine for what you're using it for.
Sandy.

 

[Dogz]

I have an Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT and I got for about $200 best thing is that it's Plug'n'Play and it does 3d as well.

 

[Static]

Hands down. Nvidia GeForce GTX 260. So nice. and relatively cheap 150bucks. for the xtra 50 or so from the under ones. its well worth the money. the 250 is just a rehashed 9800 which is a remodeled 8800 that was just triple overclocked.

Id recommend the 260

 

[Techymike]

Honestly I do not feel there is a better card between the two companies. If you can swing the cash then the software is better for Nvidia even though I run the sapphire 3870 x2 which is also a great card. I do not game at all! A buddy of mine uses two 4870 x2 as he plays flight simulator. He loves them!

 

[Fumz]

I'm contemplating buying a graphic card, but have no clue on which one to get!
I'm not really playing games, mostly for my graphic drawing programs. So looking at my specs what would you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

If by, "not really playing games", you mean that you don't game and don't see yourself gaming anytime soon, then why bother getting a new card at all? As it stands, your current card is about on par with an 8800... which is quite powerful for an admitted non-gamer.

About the only real case against your current card is going to be made in the context of gaming, by fairly serious gamers... but for CAD, not so much... you've got more than enough as is.

If you want to get a new card, "just because" (which is the best reason of all ), then perhaps you might want to look into the Quadro line as they're for CAD.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_family.html

 

[Dogz]

ATI Raedon HD5860

 

[Coolness]

I'm contemplating buying a graphic card, but have no clue on which one to get!
I'm not really playing games, mostly for my graphic drawing programs. So looking at my specs what would you guys suggest?

Thanks!!

If by, "not really playing games", you mean that you don't game and don't see yourself gaming anytime soon, then why bother getting a new card at all? As it stands, your current card is about on par with an 8800... which is quite powerful for an admitted non-gamer.

About the only real case against your current card is going to be made in the context of gaming, by fairly serious gamers... but for CAD, not so much... you've got more than enough as is.

If you want to get a new card, "just because" (which is the best reason of all ), then perhaps you might want to look into the Quadro line as they're for CAD.

NVIDIA Quadro FX ? Professional workstation graphics cards and solutions for workstations

Well said mate, well said. I would recommend the 9600 series from Nvidia, and the 57xx series from ATI. Good luck choosing