Do I need a video card?

[lmccrary]

I've just finished a build, but I'm not sure if a video card is warranted. My motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 which has ATI Radeon HD 4290 integrated graphics. I need help determining if I need a discrete card or if the on board graphics are sufficient. I'm not a gamer. Ninety percent of my time is doing office type tasks. If I decide to go the add in card route, I have been looking at the XFX Radeon HD-5670-ZNF3 or a XFX Radeon HD-4850-ZNFC. Neweeg has them priced the same, but I'm not sure which one is the best fit for my usage.

 

[Reincus]

If you don't game then you don't need discrete graphics.

 

[sandorski]

If you don't game then you don't need discrete graphics.

I'll just add in: Or do any heavy Graphics type work, like 3D Modeling or use a lot of Photoshop Filters. Simple Office Apps won't push the Onboard Graphics much.

 

[Geofram]

I wouldn't bother with discrete graphics, if you aren't gaming. Just try it for a while. If you see slowness that you think is attributable to your graphics card, you can always add one later.

 

[0roo0roo]

igp is now windows fast.
esp with h.264 accel these days.
so no, you don't need it.
no rush to buy a discrete, you'll know if you need it soon enough, it uses power so no point adding for no reason at all

 

[hiddensniper11]

in the other 10%, what kind of games do you play?

If you play puzzle games like World of Goo, don't bother getting a discrete.

If you wanted to try out Crysis at max settings, then you will need one.

 

[MisterDonut]

in the other 10%, what kind of games do you play?

If you play puzzle games like World of Goo, don't bother getting a discrete.

If you wanted to try out Crysis at max settings, then you will need one.

Even if you wanted to try something like CS:S, you'd need one. Crysis may need more than one :O.

 

[lmccrary]

Thanks everyone. You saved me some dough.