Best Budget Card For Non-Gamer?

[essential]

I did a few forum searches, and most topics about "budget" cards were talking in the $200-$250 price range. I'm looking for a card in the $50-$70 range.

I'm building a machine for a friend who basically needs a quiet, very solid/stable, PCI-E card with DVI output, nvidia preferred. He uses Adobe Photoshop, MS Office, and the Internet. Adobe would be the most stressful thing for the card, but he does not game. I fell out of the video card market when i built my last machine and am not up on my research. Anyone know any good budget cards offhand? A lot of the cheap cards i saw on newegg had the ability to share system ram, which i'm not sure i like. Anyway, if anyone could throw me a few links, i'd appreciate it.


Thanks.

 

[daveybrat]

This is one of the nicest budget cards i use to build systems at work:

EVGA GEFORCE 6200TC 128MB DDR2 PCI-E

$44.00 and $4.95 shipping and also there is a $10 MIR, so $40 total.

It's a very nice card, with 128MB DDR2 onboard, passive cooling, no fan, supports dual monitors, DVI, Tv-out.

Best card for his price range IMO. :thumbsup:

 

[akshayt]

6600GT should be your best bet.
Else consider the 256mb Geforce 6800XT OC if it is any better

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: akshayt
6600GT should be your best bet.
Else consider the 256mb Geforce 6800XT OC if it is any better

The OP did say 'NO GAMING', so those cards are a bit overkill

6200TC should be fine, 7300GS another choice (not sure if it has PureVideo feature like other 7 series cards?).

 

[yacoub]

I'm probably going to go with the X1600 Pro since it's under $100, 256MB onboard, and ATI's slightly better 2D IQ.

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: essential
I did a few forum searches, and most topics about "budget" cards were talking in the $200-$250 price range. I'm looking for a card in the $50-$70 range.

.....

I suggest the 6200 model or the X300.
Passive cooled X550 (same as X300 but clocked higher) $45 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102626
Another X300 $50 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102012

 

[SKoprowski]

How about the S3 Chrome cards?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814272001