Good 2D PCI-e videocard with no turbocache or hypermemory

[nealh]

I need the videocard for a dictation machine at my office..I use Dragon Nat. Speaking Med 9...it is a ram hog

I will play no games or 3D apps...so I need a good quality 2D signal

I have been looking at:
Radeon x550
Nvidia 7100 or 7300 cards

I need a card that will avoid taking any system memory

Captante: has helped me alot..thanks

I need any suggestion you all have TIA

Neal

 

[dawza]

As I understand it, Turbocache dynamically adjusts the amount of system RAM it uses based on your graphic needs. I use a 6200TC PCIe card in my work computer for 2D only, and have not noticed any difference in RAM utilization versus my home computer which has a 7800GT; both sit at around 220MB of RAM at idle (XP Pro SP2).

Even the lowest-end 6200, which has 16MB of onboard RAM, should be able to handle 2D work without having to dip into system RAM.

That said, if you want to be absolutely sure that the card will not use any system RAM, something like a 6600GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143084) or a 6200 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122205) would work. The 6600GT might be a better choice, as there are reports of the 6200 coming with a very inadequate, unreliable, and loud heatsink/fan; the heatsink on the 6600GT looks decent, and you can always crank down the fan with RivaTuner or simply hook up the fan to run at 5V, as you would not need much cooling while running in 2D mode. Another nice feature of the 6600GT is dual DVI (NOT dual-link) outputs, if you ever wanted to hook up two LCDs.

Then again, the 6200 is immediately cheaper, and for another $10 and 20 minutes of your time, you can easily replace the POS stock heatsink.