New Video Cards

[Twinpeaksr]

Having Given up on the Radeon 5870, I am looking at putting 2 ___________ Video Cards in my system and running 4 monitors. I am not doing Gaming (mostly CAD and many concurrent applications running). Don't need fancy, but do need stable.

My only 7600GT is running well, so thinking NVidia this time. Cost is important (Since I need 2) Would spend no more than $150 per card.

Now Open to the experts for recommendation, hate being out of the building game so long, need to upgrade more than once every 5 years!

Key requirements:
- Dual DVI
- PCI-Express X16
- <= $150 each
- Using with a P5N-D Motherboard
- Minimum 1680x1050 resolution (don't think this is an issue)

Thanks!

 

[notty22]

This model of gt 430 offers dual link DVI, its a single height card also. You could get 2 of them for 150.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-609-_-Product
The gts 450 has about 2x the gaming performance, twice the cuda cores for 120.00 vs 75.00 . Its a dual slot card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-527-_-Product

If your not gaming, you don't need the gts 450. They both support hardware 3d bluray playback and 2560x1600 resolution x 2

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Those are what I am looking for, any word on stability?

Thanks!

 

[-Slacker-]

What do you mean "stability"?

 

[Twinpeaksr]

A card/driver that does not have widespread problems with lockups, freezes, reboots, or crashes. I understand every situation is different, but I know there are certain combinations that are prone to more problems than others. This also insinuates that I want to avoid brand new chipsets/drivers as this are inherently more prone to issue and less tested by the general public.

Thanks!

 

[nenforcer]

You could also SLI the GTS 450 together on your motherboard but I don't know if is possible when you are driving 4 monitors but it may make a difference if you for instance, have a 3D CAD model spread across all 4 displays.

BTW I would expect someone who works for the Umbrella Corporation to have a bigger budget and actually go for a professional workstation Quadro 600 or NVS 420 DVI card.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Thanks for the info, Figure I can play with it either way, the CAD models are pretty simple now, but more power is always good!

We at Umbrella are hit by the economy just like everyone else unfortunately. That and we had an issue in the past with a project that I can't mention, the litigation has been pretty costly, and cleanup costs have been astounding. All I want is a fast graphics card to do my CAD models for the new Raccoon City Development Lab , but no, S.T.A.R.S. gets all the money for "cleanup", I know better, but I can't tell you what it's for. Last person who talked didn't show up for 3 months, and even then, he didn't look very good, never was quite himself again.

 

[n0x1ous]

Those are what I am looking for, any word on stability?

Thanks!

I have both a GT430 and a GTS450 in separate systems, and both have been running perfectly for months if that helps ease your mind.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

I have both a GT430 and a GTS450 in separate systems, and both have been running perfectly for months if that helps ease your mind.

Yes it does, Any preference to one or the other?

Thanks!

 

[n0x1ous]

Yes it does, Any preference to one or the other?

Thanks!

Well the 450 is certainly the better all around card. it is used for light gaming and video acceleration in my htpc. the 430 strictly for video/ blu ray acceleration on an old p4 Dell.

also, not that the 430 is hot running or anything, but the 450 is dual slot and exhausts some air out of the case which I prefer. 450 needs one six pin power connector, 430 does not as it gets enough from the pcie slot.

so yeah both fine cards, but the 450 can do some gaming, the 430 not so much except for low resolution.

 

[n0x1ous]

also. the 450 is the quietest card I have ever owned. It is inaudible to me for the most part and I believe if you read the anand review it is one of the quietest if not the quietest card that anand has ever tested. I imagine it can be had for rather cheap with the 550 now out as well. Mine is a reference EVGA model.

the 430 is quiet as well but makes a pinch more noise due to it's much smaller fan.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Thanks for the perspective, the 450 Looks like it may fit the bill for me as I try and get my systems back in order.

Thanks!

 

[Skurge]

Well both vendors seem to have issues with multi monitors on their consumer cards/drivers. You might want to seriously look at workstation cards. They are going to offer the best stability.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Well both vendors seem to have issues with multi monitors on their consumer cards/drivers. You might want to seriously look at workstation cards. They are going to offer the best stability.

I was wondering the same thing, looking at what is out there, the Quadro 600 Is not much more and may be better suited for my work.

Thanks!

 

[n0x1ous]

I have no doubt that a Quadro is probably the best choice for you, but I found this chart to backup my earlier claim about the 450 noise level if that is something you are still considering.

Good luck with whatever you end up with!

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Thanks for the data, the GTS450 is still in the mix, but I am leaning to either the Quadro 600 or FX580 currently, seems to be a better fit for my use case, but I think any will work.

Thanks!