[mcgsxr]

I recently updated the monitor on my 4 year old Dell PC.

I bought this - http://benq.com/products/LCD/?product=838, and the current video card cannot output high enough resolution, to hit the native rate of 1680x1050.

My wife is complaining, and I can see her point, that text is not as clear as it was on the old 17 inch 4:3 display.  I have tried the XP Powertoy thing and it does help a little for text reading, but I think perhaps I should just pony up a little more dough, and do this better.

I use this PC (from a video perspective) strictly for browsing, word processing, email, and home related pictures and videos.  No gaming, no high end photo stuff etc.

Looking for a cheap, decent video card with a DVI output, so I can best leverage my new monitor.

I am in Canada, so I think my options are NCIX, Tigerdirect.ca etc, but if anyone can recommend a good card, I would appreciate it.

I am lost as to 128mb vs 256mb etc.

Is this trash?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3501648&CatId=1559

[mcgsxr]

For the record I am currently running an Nvidia GeForce FX 5200.

Not sure if that is or is not a PCI card etc, so please be gentle!  I know squat about video!

[mizzuno]

the fx 5200 is an entry level chip with minimal pipelines, what interface is it using? AGP, PCI-Express?(hopefully not pci lol)

Michael

[jqp]

A good card for the money would be a late model Matrox card designed for dual digital LCD monitors - probably any of the ones that have this capability would be good. Matrox focuses on 2D instead of 3D so you could get a better bang for the buck for you applications.

For a really cheap card this might work for you if you have PCIE

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3198128&CatId=1559

if you have AGP then this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1776106&CatId=318

I didn't spnd a lot of time and there are your own factors to consider but these should work...

[mcgsxr]

How can I determine what interface my current card is using?

The Matrox units look nice, but the cheapest one I have seen is $120 

[satfrat]

I'm using a Nvidia FX-6200 for my Acer 1900x 1080 LCD. This card replaced a more expensive ATI Radeon X-800 that just wouldn't accept a DVI cord and I got tired of using a VGA cord with less resolution. An added bonus was the fact that it's so much easier with the Nvidia card to switch from my Acer monitor to my 1080i HD Sony XBR for DVD viewing. Doing this with the ATI card was a real PIA.


Cheers,
Robin

[ecramer]

open control panel \system \hardware \ device manager \ then click on display adapter your video card should be listes click on that it should tell you

i like nvidia cards myself im running dual geforce 8800gts 320meg

How can I determine what interface my current card is using?

The Matrox units look nice, but the cheapest one I have seen is $120 

[jqp]

On boot up you should see a black screen that lists your video type, and installed harddrives, with all the IRQs etc.

If you look carefully (may require a few boots) you should be able to see either PCI or AGP or PCIE - otherwise you will have to open the case (which you will need to do anyway to upgrade) and examine the video card - compare to pictures on the interwebs. NOTE: your video may be in the form of an embedded video chip on the motherboard.

If $120 is too much I would go with the ones I linked in Tigerdirect. They are both lower end nVidia but should do just fine as satfrat says - I have 2 nVidia cards, 1 embedded nForce 6500 and one nForce 8800GTS ($300)

What are the specs for your PC? Processor, amount of RAM, or even the brand and model of PC will tell us.

[WGH]

How can I determine what interface my current card is using?

The Matrox units look nice, but the cheapest one I have seen is $120 

I believe Dell Support will have that info, all you need is your model number and serial number.

For video cards, $120 is cheap.

[mcgsxr]

For the video card (and it is an actual card, not on mobo) the location says - PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0

The main specs of the Dell unit are - Dimension 8300, P4, 2.8Ghz, 1.25G ram.

Thanks for the links, I will see what that one costs off Tigerdirect.ca.

What about the one I initially linked to - trash?

[satfrat]

  GeForce 6200 128MB AGP VCD w/TV-Out DVI    $58.99

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=221&s=1092&ID=39960&P=F

[WGH]

Not meaning to start a war, but Nvidia cards are designed more for gamers, while ATI and Matrox cards have better quality graphics. If you are not happy with the quality of your current Nvidia card I would switch brands.

One way to guarantee a clean start is use driver cleaner.
http://www.drivercleaner.net/

[jqp]

What about the one I initially linked to - trash?

The one you linked to had these specs:

 GPU/VPU:     Radeon X600 SE   
Additional Features:     DirectX 9 OpenGL 2.0   
Video Memory:     128MB   
Memory Type:     DDR   
Interface Type:     PCI Express   
Interface Speed:     16x   
Connector(s):     DVI TV/S-Video

The areas in bold are where this card is obsolete - if you are going to crack the case you should at least get better specs

Here's some good news

"The 8300's case opens like a book after you press buttons at the top and bottom. The PC's innards are divvied up between the two halves of the case--with drive bays on one side and the motherboard and cards on the other. The design provides plenty of room for accessing all components. Should you need help working on the PC, you can turn to Dell's comprehensive "Solutions Guide" manual, which has illustrated sections on performing upgrades, and troubleshooting advice for common problems."

It looks as if you have this card?  ATI Radeon 9800 Pro board with 128MB of memory.

This page suggests AGP 8x

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8300/sm/specs.htm

You also have 2 SATA drive ports - you probably have 1 available for a cheap 320GB SATA drive.

[satfrat]

Sounds to me like what this guy's looking for isn't spec's, gaming, or top of the line but is simply looking for a cheap card that will have the resolution to support his monitor for a clear text picture. Heck I still have my ATI X800Pro card if anyone thinks it's that great. Make me an offer,,

Cheers,
Robin

[WGH]

mcgsxr - The X800 is a great card, make Robin an offer.

Another option:

An ASUS ATI 9250 for $39.90 at MWAVE
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA31040

The X800 has a fan, the 9250 is fanless, which is a lot quieter if you plan to use the PC for a home theater.

Radeon™ X800 XL, Radeon™ X800 PRO, Radeon™ X800 XT and Radeon™ X800 XT PLATINUM EDITION require a connection to your PC's internal power supply for operation. Consult your system builder or OEM to ensure your system has an adequate power supply. Otherwise, ATI recommends a 300-Watt power supply or greater to ensure normal system operation where a number of other internal devices are installed.

[ecramer]

What do you think games are all about, the graphics  there's not a word processor, web browser pr spread sheet that put a strain on  any  video card in years

Not meaning to start a war, but Nvidia cards are designed more for gamers, while ATI and Matrox cards have better quality graphics. If you are not happy with the quality of your current Nvidia card I would switch brands.

One way to guarantee a clean start is use driver cleaner.
http://www.drivercleaner.net/

[ecramer]

The asus cardl ooks nice ive used asus cards in a couple of systems and they were always good performers

satfrats card does not have dvi

mcgsxr - The X800 is a great card, make Robin an offer.

Another option:

An ASUS ATI 9250 for $39.90 at MWAVE
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA31040

The X800 has a fan, the 9250 is fanless, which is a lot quieter if you plan to use the PC for a home theater.

Radeon™ X800 XL, Radeon™ X800 PRO, Radeon™ X800 XT and Radeon™ X800 XT PLATINUM EDITION require a connection to your PC's internal power supply for operation. Consult your system builder or OEM to ensure your system has an adequate power supply. Otherwise, ATI recommends a 300-Watt power supply or greater to ensure normal system operation where a number of other internal devices are installed.

[WGH]

What do you think games are all about, the graphics  there's not a word processor, web browser pr spread sheet that put a strain on  any  video card in years

All true, sort of. Gaming cards are frame rates first, graphic quality second. That said, there is not much quality difference between the latest ATI and Nvidia cards, but at the lower price range manufacturers have to make compromises.

Dunno about satfrats card and DVI, I just went by specs on ATI's site:

X800 Series Display Support:

        * VGA connector for analog CRT
        * DVI-I connector for digital CRT or flat panel
        * S-video or composite connector for TV/VCR
        * YPbPr connection to HDTV
        * Drive two displays simultaneously with independent resolutions and refresh rates

[satfrat]

satfrats card does not have dvi

Ed, the ATI X800Pro sure as hell does have a DVI on it, where did you ever get the idea that it didn't?  




Cheers,
Robin

[ecramer]

well i miss read you post i guess What did you mean by "X-800 that just wouldn't accept a DVI cord"

I'm using a Nvidia FX-6200 for my Acer 1900x 1080 LCD. This card replaced a more expensive ATI Radeon X-800 that just wouldn't accept a DVI cord and I got tired of using a VGA cord with less resolution. An added bonus was the fact that it's so much easier with the Nvidia card to switch from my Acer monitor to my 1080i HD Sony XBR for DVD viewing. Doing this with the ATI card was a real PIA.


Cheers,
Robin