• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Help with graphic card selection

E

ekoostik

Senior member
I'm looking for a graphics card that I can hook up to my Dell 2208WFP 1680x1050 (DVI input) and Visio 1080p (HDMI input). I don't do much gaming (Civilization). I dabble in home video editing. I would like to play movies and stream Hulu, etc to the TV.

What's the cheapest video card I can get away with using? Will this ASUS Radeon 4670 1GB card work?

Should I be looking at a 4850 like this one?

I'm open to any suggestions. The 4770 had been suggested to me before, but I had trouble finding one for less than the 4850, so I assumed that with the 4850 I would get more for less?
 
This 4650 would probably do you quite well since you don't game much. If it was me though, I'd probably go for the 4670, which is fairly similar in performance to my 3850 that I'm quite happy with.
 
Either card would handle a game like Civilization. However, with a 22 in monitor, I would probably go with the 4850, assuming your power supply is strong enough. This would give much better performance than the 4670 in case you want to play a few more games sometimes in the future. However, if you want to go with the cheapest card and low power use, the 4670 would work, but would be underpowered at the resolutions you are using for most gaming. Considering the cost of the entire system, an extra 30 dollars or so would seem to be minimal extra cost for a much stronger card.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. PSU is maybe the component I've struggled with the most (other than motherboards, but there's just not that much info out on the P55's yet).

From what I've gathered, I should be fine in the 450-550 range. Would you agree with that if I did go with the 4850? As I mentioned, I'm planning on putting in a i7 860, have 1 WD 640 Black, may expand to 2 or (less likely) 3 HDDs in the future, one CD/DVD drive, 2x2GB RAM (potentially 4x2GB if needed in future).

I was considering the OCZ StealthXStream 500 W or the OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W because of the great rebates. But I am worried about OCZ reputation. So I've been considering the Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W - and here I've been wondering if the 450W is enough.

What do you think? Any better options I should be considering?
 
I found a review of the OCZ StealthXStream 500w on hardwaresecrets.com. It did not get high marks. However, they did like the OCZ StealthXStream OCZ400SXS 400W.

They also had good things to say about the Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W, which I'm sure isn't a suprise to most people. But for me it was reassuring to see their testing and analysis.

I'm going to go with the Corsair 450VX for the extra headroom, just in case I decide to up my graphics card, now or in the future. This PSU discussion has gotten a little off topic from my initial GPU question, but I appreciate all the advice.
 
I wouldn't get the 500W StealthXStream. It is limited in the number of connectors it has, which may not be a problem. What is slightly annoying is that all of the SATA connectors are on the same output, so there is a possibility for difficult installment when using a SATA HDD at the bottom of a case and a SATA optical drive at the top.

So besides the ModXStream Pro 500W and the Corsair 450W, look at these models which should also be enough:

Antec Earthwatts 430W, 500W, 650W
Any Corsair
Any PC Power & Cooling
Any Seasonic
 
One last question, if I can continue with the PSU line one more time. This is probably stupid but in re-reading the hardware secrets review I'm now doubting myself. The review says "As you can see, this power supply uses a big 120-mm ball bearing fan on its bottom..." Why do they point out it's on the bottom? Am I limited in my case selection as a result? Or can I just put the PSU upside down at the bottom of a case. I would've just assumed it was ok but am doubting myself since the review mentioned it was upside down.

I was considering the Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP which puts the PSU at the bottom of the case, but I have also considered the Cooler Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW which puts the PSU at the top of the case. So does the PSU dictate which case I select? Any other things I should be aware of?

EDIT: Ok, this was a dumb question. I found the answer: no, PSU doesn't dictate the case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top