help me pick out a video card please (aka I am lost)

[tjr2mental]

I am updating my pc now that I killed my 1.4 thunderbird chip to a xp2100 that I will overclock. I think I have evrything figured out that I want, but I am still way lost when it comes to video cards. I have read almost every post that looked relevent to what I am looking to do, but none really seem to match up with what I am looking for.

What I intend to do with my pc is watch movies on my dvd player, watch some .avi and .mpg files, and do some video editing. Mind you, I am not really into it at this time, but as we do more and more I think I will get more into it. I do want to have a card that has video in an video out. Also, I think I want to set up a dual monitor system, just do not think that I will be doing that in the near future. Seeing as how I do not do a whole bunch of gaming and stuff like that at this time I do not think that I need the top of the line card, but then again I do not want to be left behind so early in the game if you know what I mean.

Say you had 200 to spend, what would you get to fill these needs? Thanks for any ideas that you may be able to provide in advance.

 

[Duvie]

If you are really serious that you do not game alot or play any real direct x 8.1 games the GF4 MX card would suit you just fine...

I got one with Tv-out+CRT+DVI (so there is you dual monitor support) and it also has VIVO (video in (capturing) and video out (TV-out))

It is 8xagp for newer boards.

I have been running it lately and it can do quite well in games (minus direct x 8.1 where it wont take advanatge of those features) as it clocks to 320/620 thanks to the 3.3ns memory. It scores 8000+ on my system in 3dmark2001SE and my radeon 8500DV at default only does like 8400 or so. I can clock the 8500 up to get 9000 though. The GF4 can't do nature portion so it takes a hit on the score but if you look at fps in the first 3 test it equals the ability of the radeon 8500DV for gaming....

The 2d quality is amazing and unless I had something out of whack in my 8500 the dvd and divx viewing quality is noticeably and I mean noticeably better...

You can find cards from 50-130 in GF4 mx models spanning from low end low 3d speed cards lacking vivo and daul monitor connection to high end everything with VIVIO, 8x agp and 128mb ddr....


The VIVO suite comes with some nice video capture and video editing software as well as latest version of windvd...all the programs are by intervideo the maker of windvd..

 

[natopotato]

i'd get an ATI all-in-wonder VE. very nice card, only thing i have against it is that there is no AGP version. it does great with video editing.

 

[spanky]

aiw8500

 

[Duvie]

The aiw is overkill and way more expensive...You going to use the tv tuner??? Other then that and the pause tv it still just uses a mpeg1/2 software encoder like anything else. The software can be a bit more hassle and unnecessary if you don't see yourself using most of the options...

trust me I own them both right now!!!

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: Duvie
The aiw is overkill and way more expensive...You going to use the tv tuner??? Other then that and the pause tv it still just uses a mpeg1/2 software encoder like anything else. The software can be a bit more hassle and unnecessary if you don't see yourself using most of the options...

trust me I own them both right now!!!

it might have more features then he currently stated, but it's not that expensive anymore (i don't think). and besides... his budget is $200.

edit - that is for a refurb from newegg... cables and the extra goodies is not guaranteed. newegg has a non-refurb aiw8500 for like $170 i think.

 

[tenoc]

AIWs are not dual monitor capable unless you count a TV as a monitor. (I don't.)

With all the in/outputs on the back of the card, there's just no room.

 

[Tominator]

I'd recommend a PCI card for the second monitor. That way you are not tied down when it comes to future upgrades.

Get a GF3 and a PCI card. Both would only set you back for something less than 125. Bank the rest and step up to another 'used' card after the next round of new cards comes around.

 

[tjr2mental]

I do not think that I will use my pc as a tv, so I think that Duvie is right about me avoiding the All in Wonder card. I would like to be able to input some stuff that I have saved in my PVR box that we have (goes with the DishNetwork system that we have in the house) so I can burn them to cd. Also, seeing as how I already have a Radeon 64mb DDR (whice I am told is a good card, but not as good as the things that are out on the market today) I can use that as the second card for my dual monitor system right?

Do I have to get a APG card? Is that a better way to run the video card? Thanks for the ideas everyone. While I am still a bit lost on what I need, the input is apprecated greatly.