Video card recommendations

[zoobie]

I need to update my video card from this 32mb 10 year old card. I don't game at all and want something that will compliment my video editing experience.
Any suggestions for a top notch card to use with my AMD 2600, 256 ram, and DVI monitor? Or should I just go out and buy a AMI 9800 pro and be done with it? Cheapest reliable place to buy?

Looking for quality & reliablilty & value and expect to pay dearly.

Thanks so much.

Best,
z

[edDV]

ATI 9800 pro is for games, nothing else.

for video editing all you need is 2D. I would recommend a two head card that will go up to 2048x1600 for future use with HDTV. S-Video out would also be nice.

Get a basic dual monitor ATI card off this list.
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/specs.html

or equiv NVidea

Save the money for something that will complement video editing such as better I/O or a faster CPU.

[zoobie]

Ahh...I guess just about any will do then.

I found an ATI 9550 on eBay for around $90 which comes with lots of bundled software:

Power Director SE+
Power 2 GO
PowerProducer
MediaShow SE
PowerDVD

Are these worth having or should I just get a regular card without all this fluff?

Thanks again

[edDV]

PowerDVD is very usefull as a viewer. The others are OK if you have nothing better.

[Nilfennasion]

It is worth saving your money and buying a card for around $200. For that price, you will generally get something fast and well-featured. ATI make some great cards. I have a Raedon 9600 and could not be happier.

[Soopafresh]

Consider the new Nvidia 6200 card. It's quite inexpensive ($120.00) and it will allow you to run PureVideo technology (this reduces CPU load when you play HDTV quality video).

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-216&depa=1

Also, you really should get another 256MB of RAM for your PC. XP runs very slowly if you don't have at least 512MB. You'll appreciate this even more than the new video card.

NewEgg is a good place from which to order computer stuff. They're cheap, reliable, and fast.

[jdizzy40]

Yes at least 512 of Ram, 1 Gig is what I run and never have a hiccup.

[Skith]

for graphics card, get what you can afford, but you do not need anything super powerful or fancy unless you play games.

I agree with the above members who recommend an ATI card. There should be little difference in 2D performance between the various models. Only when you get into 3D will differences become apparent.

Definately have at least 512MB RAM.

[zoobie]

That PureVideo looks interesting...but from what I read, it's for only the user's display and nobody elses. I was hoping the effect could be used in the actual dvd burning so others could see the clarity.

Sounds like I should be buying the cheapest 2d card and saving the money to spend elsewhere as mentioned above.

Still looking for the best or next to best 2d card out there.

[morr1s]

I bought the ATI All In Wonder 9600xt at Newegg and love it. All the inputs and outputs I could want plus the ability to watch tv and a nice remote.
My only complaint is no toll free number for tech support. I ran into an issue installing it that I could have figured out with a little research on the web. Instead I called the number. I was on hold for about twenty minutes. I have free US long distance so didn't think anything of it until I got the $40 bill because it was an International call to Canada.

I put off buying it for a while because it was more than I wanted to spend, but worth every penny.

[zoobie]

I'm leaning towards the Canopus 50 or 110 right now for converting. The reviews say it blows the AIW away.

Anyway, I found a new Radeon 9600LE 128MB Jetway AGP 8X 4X DVI 64 Bit card for $75 delivered. Looking at the XT series now.

Comments on this or any other card?

Thanks

[edDV]

tell us more about what you are capturing and your overall goals.

DVD, DVR, compression for internet transfer, high end uncompressed?

[zoobie]

Using prosumer or consumer hardware, I want to convert my hi-8, some (S)VHS, and DV, edit, and distrubute my own DVD's with very-good to excellent quality...with HD in the mix, too.

Looking at ATI 9600 xt series now for around $125