Need some suggestions from you pro's.

M

Mycophiles

Limp Gawd
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Oct 10, 2002
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I just got myself an LCD after using the same 19" Viewsonic for 5 years. I'm giddier than little red robbin hood on her way to meet grandma BUT I need a video card w/ HDMI (or DVI if HDMI doesn't come on video cards, which If they do it will be the first I"m hearing about it lol)

I'm not looking to buy the biggest and best because I just don't need it. I play CS1.6 like every 2 months once or twice but otherwise just watch movies and use the monitor for regular computing.

This is the monitor I'm getting.

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/s...atalogId=10051&productId=207132&cmArea=SEARCH
* 21.6" Widescreen Active Matrix TFT Display
* Resolution 1680 x 1050
* Contrast ratio 1000:1
* Brightness 300 cd/m2
* Response time 5ms
* Analog Input: (1) D-Sub 15 Pin (VGA) HDMI w/HDCP
* 1W x 2 Channel Built-In Stereo Speakers
* Dimensions 20.5"W x 9"D x 16.2"H (12.2lbs)
* 3 year warranty

Anyway, any help is appreciated.
 
What's your budget? Two really good choices are a GeForce 9600 GT or an 8800GT depending on your budget.
 
Don't worry about HDMI or the lack thereof on your video card. DVI to HDMI cables are cheap and work just fine (I'm using one now).
 
Palit brand graphics cards usually have, like, every connector type available. Some have HDMI, Display Port, DVI on 1 card. For example Also, most brands that make 9800GX2 have HDMI, and those are kick ass cards.

Plus, Palits are good cards with good cooling. But they are pricey usually.

But like the one person said, don't worry about HDMI for a monitor. Leave HDMI to a/v stuff. DVI is fine for monitors, and cheaper.
 
Yeah, don't worry about haveing a card with HDMI for your LCD. I have the Hanns 28" and the DVI to HDMI connection is great. Does your monitor come with an HDMI to DVI cable? If not, just pickup a cheap one. Also, from what was just mentioned by bmorton, a 9600GT or 8800GT will do nice for that 21.6" lcd with 1680 x 1050 res.
 
These cards look good but im looking for somehing under 60$. Anything real fast will just be bottlenecked by me cpu. (amb 4600).

thanks for the replies.

btw. I can get a hdmi to dvi adapter from my work for CHEAP. ;)
 
IMHO, an Athlon 64 X2 4600+ is still plenty fast and shouldn't be a bottleneck for most games out there. I don't think that any of the graphics cards suggested so far would be a bottleneck, and (again IMHO) all graphics cards that are slower than the 8800 GS/9600 GT are simply not worth it, when for just a little more money you could get worlds more performance.

If money is the main concern, I'd get the EVGA 8800 GS 384MB. Slightly more money now, but less push to upgrade later. The 8600 GT is just as slow as my two-and-a-half-year-old old 7800 GT.
 
So I got my monitor and hooked it up. If I try to set it at a higher resolution than 1200 by 900 then the vid card freezes the computer. :rofl: So, I guess I'll bump my budget up to 80$.

There's the
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...AFC-hardOCP&cm_mmc=AFC-hardOCP-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA
Card that was suggested (10 instant rebate making it 79.99$.

Or the
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161098

Which is 69$ then 20 MIR making it 49$. What are your opinions. Which card (or another!) Whatever.

Once again thanks for the reply's. :)
 
I've put up WTB threads all over the place... sooooooo... questions....

Someone offered The ATI Radeon 9800 Pro for 50$. I think this is the one that has 128megs ram. Looking at the specs I don't see it running the resolution I need to run. Any, suggestions on this card?

Keep your britches on I'm sure there will be more to come. :)
 
The 9800 Pro was a wonderful card in its day, but it's way old and outdated now. Better to get even the 2600 Pro than that, at least it would be new-in-box and probably faster. That said, it's silly to not get the latest tech when it's the same price. If you're set on the $50-$60 range and don't want to consider getting something longer-lasting, I'd go for the Radeon HD 3650. It will offload video decoding from your processor (unlike the very old 9800 Pro), and support any resolution up to and including that of a pricey 30" monitor.
 
I would get this HD2600XT over that HD2600 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102703

You can also get this EVGA 8600GT 512MB. You pay $100 upfront but, there's a $30 mail in and shipping is free
http://www.buy.com/prod/evga-geforc...ss-x16-sli-supported/q/loc/101/206728107.html

But, you should get this 8800GS 384MB card man. It is worth the extra cost as the performance will be alot more than the 8600GT or 2600pro/xt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150275
 
http://www.amazon.com/Geforce-8500GT-256MB-3PORT-Passive/dp/B000UEDPMQ

Don't buy from there, but that's the card you should look at. 8500GTs will tear through CS 1.6 for sure, and are good for HD playback as well. This particular card is low profile and is passively cooled, aiming more towards HTPC builds, but I've seen fan cooled 8500's w/ HDMI for $30 or so after rebate. Try FatWallet.com and SlickDeals.net just search "8500GT hdmi" or w/e VGA card you're looking for w/ HDMI next to it
 
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ok iposted upa wtb thread on a couple different sites. these are the offeres. id like opinions but ill seriously look into getting the 8600gt or the 8500gt.

msi x1600 pro = 32$

asus 6800gt = 44$

xfx 8600gts = 85$

power color x1900xtx 512m = 90

ati radeon 9800 pro =50

evga 7900gt 256m = 75

his 2600xt 256m ddr4 = 65

I realize these cards are all around the same spec. if the price is going to be aroung 80 then I will prob. go for a 100=110 card.

question: will a faster card make my system run faster than it is now
 
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