Video card recommendation

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phillyman36

Golden Member
Jun 28, 2004
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I am about to get a new mobo. I am replacing my Asrocks dual sata for possibly and Asus sli (only getting 1 card though). i dont do heavy gaming once in a blue moon i may play something like Real War but hardly ever. I just surf the web, video encode and watch dvd/movies. Can you all suggest a video card between the $100.00 and $150.00 ish limit. Someone was saying that some of Ati cards enable hardware acceleration which help video quality. What can you all suggest.
ps if you have a Amd x2-3800 please tell me your mobo as well as the video card you suggest if you are using that one. Also do i really need a video card that needs to connect to a power supply? thanks for any info
 
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Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
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Why are you going to buy an Asus SLI motherboard if you do not intend to go with a SLI setup? Seems like you could save some $$ by going with a non-SLI.
 
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Creig

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,170
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Originally posted by: Rockhound1
Why are you going to buy an Asus SLI motherboard if you do not intend to go with a SLI setup? Seems like you could save some $$ by going with a non-SLI.
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I'm wondering why he's replacing the motherboard at all.
 
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Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
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If you're not doing any heavy gaming then there's no reason to get a SLI board, and you can just get any midrange video card. a 6600gt or a x1600xt are decent choices for $100-150. The 6800gs and the x800gto2 are faster in games, but cost more.
 
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Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: munky
If you're not doing any heavy gaming then there's no reason to get a SLI board, and you can just get any midrange video card. a 6600gt or a x1600xt are decent choices for $100-150. The 6800gs and the x800gto2 are faster in games, but cost more.
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I agree! :thumbsup:
 
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phillyman36

Golden Member
Jun 28, 2004
1,791
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I want a motherboard with the firewire so i can use the firewire port on the front of my case. Im not over clocking but i figured now is the time to get rid of the agp card for pic express. My system seems slower than it should be i assumed it was the ASrock mobo so i was going to get a higher quality board ie Asus sli. my current specs are
Amd x2-3800
Bfg 6800 agp
Asrocks dual sata mobo
Seagate 250 g sata drive
2 512 sticks of corsair ram value
Audigy 2 zs sound card
Plextor and pioneer dvd burners

I dont think i need to spend alot of money on the video card for what i do but i figured ide check with you all. Ide like to video quality on the dvd that i play to look a little better but i dont have to experience that you all have
 
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Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
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Originally posted by: phillyman36
I want a motherboard with the firewire so i can use the firewire port on the front of my case. Im not over clocking but i figured now is the time to get rid of the agp card for pic express. My system seems slower than it should be i assumed it was the ASrock mobo so i was going to get a higher quality board ie Asus sli. my current specs are
Amd x2-3800
Bfg 6800 agp
Asrocks dual sata mobo
Seagate 250 g sata drive
2 512 sticks of corsair ram value
Audigy 2 zs sound card
Plextor and pioneer dvd burners

I dont think i need to spend alot of money on the video card for what i do but i figured ide check with you all. Ide like to video quality on the dvd that i play to look a little better but i dont have to experience that you all have
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I believe the A8N-E (or A8N5X) would work for you, but you need to double check for firewire. Keep in mind the ASRock is an ASUS motherboard. Its their niche / circus board Alias.
 
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Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
592
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You do know that you can purchase a firewire PCI card for less than $20? These cards typically have two firewire connections (for the back of the PC) and a header that you can use for the front firewire connection on your case.

Anyway, if you are set on buying a new motherboard and PCI-E graphics card, then I would look at the ASUS as suggested by Topweasel and a 6600GT graphics card. Be sure you verify that the new motherboard has firewire or be prepared to purchase a firewire expansion card. Also, save you money and skip the SLI motherboards. SLI motherboards differ from non-SLI by the chipset they use. It really has nothing to do with quality. Quality is associated with the manufacterer you choose to purchase your motherboard from.

 
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phillyman36

Golden Member
Jun 28, 2004
1,791
201
106
Rockhound i went to MicroCenter and compusa a couple of weeks ago and couldnt find any pci card that had a header for the front of the case. I checked with the sales clerks at both and they said they didnt have anything like that If you happen to see one on Newegg or any online place please let me know thanks
 
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Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
592
0
0
Originally posted by: phillyman36
Rockhound i went to MicroCenter and compusa a couple of weeks ago and couldnt find any pci card that had a header for the front of the case. I checked with the sales clerks at both and they said they didnt have anything like that If you happen to see one on Newegg or any online place please let me know thanks
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Phillyman36, you are correct. After looking into this more, these cards do not offer an internal firewire header, but an internal firewire port instead. I could have sworn that I had seen some of these expansion cards advertised with internal headers... I stand corrected - sorry. I don't understand. To me, and internal port seems useless.
 
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phillyman36

Golden Member
Jun 28, 2004
1,791
201
106
Thanks anyway Rock for checking. Also does the pci express cards like say an x800 does it get power from the pci slot or do i have to attach a cable from the power supply?(Basically are there any pci express cards that dont need extra power?)
 
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Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
592
0
0
I went and looked on NewEgg's site real quick (didn't want to give you anymore bad information). Looks like out of all the X800 series cards, only the X800PRO and the X850's have the additional power connector.

I am running a 6600GT on a PCI-E slot and it does not have the additional power connection. However, if you move up to the 6800GS, it does have the power connector.

 
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