Spec me a graphics card

[Deisel Weisel]

Just finished ordering components for my first build. Only thing left is the graphics card, which I’ve not much of a clue on, so please help me out.

I’m not into gaming. Need quiet, so only passive cooled. My mobo has AGP and PCI (not PCI Express).

All I know is...

Matrox appear to have a reputation for making the best cards for working with video/photo. G450 / G550 / P650 aren’t cheap. The 64mb P650 appears to have OpenGL, which perhaps the 450/550 do not have(?). 650 has higher resolution if I ever swap my CRT for 20” LCD. The 650 is £105 (50% more money than my motherboard!) and apparently requires an additional converter cable for TV-out. 32mb G550/450 are about £68.

I see decently rated cards (AGP/128mb) for about £35-£45, so I could perhaps be saving money instead of going for a Matrox. But which card? I’ve heard Vista and high definition video will require a minimum of 128mb of memory – so to be future-proof it might be advisable to get 128mb?

Also, what’s the deal with low profile cards? Are they meant for laptops?

[dphirschler]

Some sales flyer I just looked at yesterday (One of these: Circuit City, CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples, Micro Center, Fry's) had a PNY brand FX-550 (or was it FX5500?) AGP for ~$29. If I didn't already have one, I'd buy that.


Darryl

[edDV]

Just finished ordering components for my first build. Only thing left is the graphics card, which I’ve not much of a clue on, so please help me out.

I’m not into gaming. Need quiet, so only passive cooled. My mobo has AGP and PCI (not PCI Express).

All I know is...

Matrox appear to have a reputation for making the best cards for working with video/photo. G450 / G550 / P650 aren’t cheap. The 64mb P650 appears to have OpenGL, which perhaps the 450/550 do not have(?). 650 has higher resolution if I ever swap my CRT for 20” LCD. The 650 is £105 (50% more money than my motherboard!) and apparently requires an additional converter cable for TV-out. 32mb G550/450 are about £68.

I see decently rated cards (AGP/128mb) for about £35-£45, so I could perhaps be saving money instead of going for a Matrox. But which card? I’ve heard Vista and high definition video will require a minimum of 128mb of memory – so to be future-proof it might be advisable to get 128mb?

Also, what’s the deal with low profile cards? Are they meant for laptops?

I'd say get the minimum card that meets your needs. My needs were for MPeg2 hardware playback acceleration with all the HDTV bells and whistles (1080i, 720p, 480/576p out, etc.).

No card is MPeg4 (full hardware decode) or HDCP ready, don't waste your money unless you are on a gamer's 6mo. turnover.

My choice was a ATI 9550 dual head clone that I bought for $38 (after $20 rebate) at Newegg. I already had a Theatre 200 capable All-In-Wonder in the other machine. Both can output to my HDTV.

Vista will require a higher end card, but I'll buy that HDCP capable card when I need it. It will be better and cheaper then.

[redwudz]

You might look into a video card with ATI 9550 chipset. They average about $60-70US, depending on the manufacturer. They have passive cooling for the most part, DVI and S-video out. They will also work with a ATI DVI to Component video adapter if you want to use the computer for a PVR and play back on a HD video display.

Low profile cards are most often used in desktop cases where there can be limited room for a wide card. The cards are placed in the vertical position.

AGP is not really 'future proof'. The PCI-E interface is becoming the standard and little development of AGP cards is taking place anymore.

EDIT: edDV was faster. (And with a better price. )