'Bout to pull the 'Order' trigger, need one last bit of help.

[JPS]

I am getting the last bits together for a new build and the one I have been holding out on is the video card. Currently I am working off a Matrox G400, but the new mobo will be PCIe, not AGP, so I need to upgrade. I do not do intense gaming so SLI is not needed, nor do I need a really high-end solution. The box I am building will be used primarily for code writing/compiling, scientific simulations, everyday office work (writing and editing craploads of reports and spreadsheets), and ventures onto the 'ole intarnet. I like that my G400 is passively cooled (silence is good) and it would be great if the new card was the same - but not a dealbreaker if it is not. Here is where I need advice...

1) NVIDIA or ATI for best 2D output? In that I do not game hard-core, I am sure any solution will work from the 3D standpoint, but I do spend a crap load of time working in a 2D world so I want things to look good. I will likely be upgrading to a 19" LCD (either Samsung or Rosewill), so I am hoping the combo of PCIe and LCD will be better than some of the earlier LCD systems I used 3 years ago - poor visual clarity, blurring, unsharp, color bleeds & oversaturation, etc....

2) If NVIDIA, I am thinking something like the 7600GS chipset. Should I be looking elsewhere chipset wise? If I do go with the 7600GS, I have seen solutions from ASUS, Gigabyte, eVGA and XFX that are all fanless with this chipset. Does it matter which vendor I choose from? Is one better than another?

3) If ATI, I am thinking either x1300 or x800GTO chipsets. Prices, IIRC, are pretty similar between the two chipsets so is one dramatically better than another? Also, regarding vendors, the only fanless versions I could find are from Sapphire or HIS - is one better than another here?

4) Cost - under $150 ideally

5) I have not upgraded video solutions in a while, so is there something else I need to consider?

Thanks in advance for the feedback & suggestion!

 

[JBT]

ATI has been known for having superiour 2D. Though I think most of that was from back in the GF2 and 3 days when some partners used some shady components. I doubt that it is true any more. So really I'd go with whats cheapest. Either way both of your selections are over kill.

 

[JPS]

Originally posted by: JBT
ATI has been known for having superiour 2D. Though I think most of that was from back in the GF2 and 3 days when some partners used some shady components. I doubt that it is true any more. So really I'd go with whats cheapest. Either way both of your selections are over kill.

If they are both overkill, then what chipset(s) would you suggest I look at? Seriously, I am at a loss as I have not even thought about video cards for over 5 years!

 

[Elfear]

I just bought an X800GTO for my office rig for <$100 and it is great. 2D looks superb and I can actually play quite a few modern games on it too.

 

[JBT]

I donno probably a Nvida 6600 or 6600GT. They are around $100 or so but even then you could get something even less expensive than those. The 6600 series would atleast allow you to have some options if you ever felt playing a game or two. Basically any ATI 9250 would be fine and any other low cost NV card.

 

[JPS]

Originally posted by: Elfear
I just bought an X800GTO for my office rig for <$100 and it is great. 2D looks superb and I can actually play quite a few modern games on it too.

Cool - thanks for the reply - that is kind of what I am thinking anyways...

ALong this same ATI line, I have one more dumb question: I am building off an Opty 165 + NF4 Ultra platform so does it even matter if I used an ATI-based card in an all NVIDIA rig otherwise? It is a dumb question I know, but figured I would ask in case there was an issue.

================

Originally posted by: JBT
I donno probably a Nvida 6600 or 6600GT. They are around $100 or so but even then you could get something even less expensive than those. The 6600 series would atleast allow you to have some options if you ever felt playing a game or two. Basically any ATI 9250 would be fine and any other low cost NV card.

Hmm, I will have to look into those later on - thanks for being a bit more explicit!

 

[JBT]

hey no problem. Also ATI cards work just fine with NV NF4 motherboards. Just look at a few peoples sigs with ATI cards almost all of them are NF4's, like my self.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: JBT
hey no problem. Also ATI cards work just fine with NV NF4 motherboards. Just look at a few peoples sigs with ATI cards almost all of them are NF4's, like my self.

:thumbsup:

 

[A5]

No games at all = Nvidia 6200 or Ati X300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127204

$36, and it will play some games too (not well, but they'll start).