Graphics Card Recommendations?

[basstrap]

I have a Dell 2.8 GHz Pentium with HT and 512 MB of RAM. Right now I am using integrated graphics. I am considering buying an AGP card to improve performance for video editing and authoring. Does anyone have any recommendations for the minimum specifications that I need? I don't plan to do any gaming, just video.

[holistic]

A video card will not - improve performance for video editing and authoring as such.

For convience of MPEG2 capture look at the ATi AIW radeon series.

For high quality 2D multi monitor capable cards, look at the Matrox dual head series of cards.

64Mb is more than enough . You do not need more for 2D video work.
Multi monitor (or s video to TV) is an asset.

Ensure your motherboard onboard video can be disabled. Since it already has an AGP slot it would appear so.......but you never can tell with dell.

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[teegee420]

I'd say get a minimum 64mb of DDR VRAM. Just so you know, a new graphics card probably won't help editing and authoring performance. Those 2 things are CPU and RAM dependant. However if you want to do analog capturing, a new card that has capturing abilities like an ATI All-In-Wonder would be a good investment.

[basstrap]

Thanks for the quick response.

While I was inserting chapter points in TMPGenc, I was noticing a delay in the frame-by-frame display view when I was scrolling through footage. I was thinking that a dedicated graphics board would improve/fix this, but it sounds like I should not expect it to. It sounds like I should probably save my money since I don't need a capture board right now (though I might go this route in the future).