Best vid card for photo editing dual monitor?

[Niege]

I'm running Athlon x2 3800, 3GB, in an Acer 360 (Foxconn mobo). I've gotten into digital photography, don't do much gaming. I've been using the on board vid (256mb) that also shares some RAM. Speed isn't that great and as editing eats up RAM (sometimes I'm into the swapfile) I'm looking for a video card that also supports two monitors (that I also hope to get). In looking at a bunch of cards I find myself very confused and would appreciate some suggestions. Thanks!

 

[themisfit610]

1) Get 4 GB of RAM Editing video - especially with Premiere - gobbles memory at an astonishing rate. Even if you're running XP, max it out!

2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102726 Theres a hell of a deal for a dual DVI Radeon 3650. Love it $60!!

~MiSfit

 

[Niege]

Thanks, ~MiSfit! I have the RAM to upgrade to 4GB but I'm running XP Pro and I understand that XP will only address 3-3.2GB. The reviews look great for my mostly 2D work.

 

[themisfit610]

If you're coming from anything less than that - it's worth it.

 

[taltamir]

if you dont game, at all a 3450 should suffice...

Here is one with actual dual DVI, no reason for VGA in this day and age.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814102731R
And since it is 3450, it is actually passively cooled and absolutely silent.

Ram is a priority, even if XP can only address 3-3.2GB, it is still better then only having 2GB.. especially if you get into swap file.

For serious editing.. get XP64 or vista 64 and 8GB of ram.

 

[RamarC]

he's already got 3gb so he's only getting a useable 256mb if he adds another gig. that doesn't make sense. keep it at 3gb.

to really speed up premiere, add a second internal or e-sata drive and use it for scratch/editting.

 

[themisfit610]

Indeed. Scratch drives are a good thing !

 

[Niege]

Thanks! I have a second internal sata drive and have my scratch directory on it. Mainly I'm editing still images in PhotoShop or Capture NX2. PS is a huge program and Capture NX is a memory hawg. I'm hoping that the separate vid card with the 512 will offload some of the RAM spillover from the on board video. I did order the Radeon 3650, so we'll see!