AGP Video Card, Monitor Selection Help?

[Refractoryman]

I have a ASUS A8V Deluxe MB w/ ATI-AIW X800 and Dell 2405FPW. I'm thinking about upgrading to a DELL 3008 WFP and will need a new Video card. What would be a recommended card to drive this monitor? Work out of my house Doing mainly AUTOCAD drawings and application work. Some phototagraphy here and there. CPU is AMD Athlon 64 X2, 4800+, (2) gigs ram. I know MB has 939 socket and is obsolete but system is still fast and I see no need to upgrade at this time. Second option would be to run (2) 24" monitors? Can I do that with current video card? Producttivity wise what is better, (1) large 30" monitor or (2) 24" monitors? Need help to decide? What would other users do or have you done?
Thanks

 

[Refractoryman]

Another option could be the Dell UltraSharp 2709 as a second monitor to my 24" No new video card required. Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[brblx]

your current card is fine and isn't that far behind the fastest agp cards out there (3850, which is basically one generation away). i would wait for a larger upgrade some time in the future, including some kind of pcie mobo.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

^The 3850 is technically three generations ahead of the X800.

Bigger is always better, so you'll need a card that has a dual-link DVI to use a 30" Dell. I think the X800 should have it, but a google search showed one person having a problem with a certain setup. If anything, you could always get the 30" monitor and see if your card can display it at the max resolution. If not then you buy a new card. No big deal, really, as you can get a card with dual link DVI for under $100.

 

[brblx]

x800/850 performance is in line with the only AGP 1-series available (1650) and the 3850 is essentially a 2900.

i'd call it one generation for all practical purposes. for what he's doing i doubt it's going to net him any performance gain (will autocad even use an x800 for acceleration?).

if you just don't have the required outputs, i guess it's a different situation, though.