What card do I have to buy for Windows Server 2012?

[vbuggy]

Hi

I have a machine that's running WS2012 on an evaluation basis to try and figure out whether something works or not. Aside from fully grasping the ridiculous nightmare of encumbering a server fricken OS with a touch-best UI and the application problems I have, I have another issue - the Radeon X1300 Pro pulled from a defunct Dell Optiplex doesn't work (I mean it works, but it appears as a Microsoft Basic Display and I can't get drivers to install to display properly on the monitor being used).

So the question is, what passively cooled card (2D only is fine obviously) do I have to buy in order for Windows Server 2012 to display correctly on a DVI 1920 x 1200 display?

 

[Jimzz]

Buy a cheap 6450 or a 610. Both are still current so drivers will work and be supported for a while.


$30 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102933


EDIT
Most 610's use a fan or a large heatsink that takes up more than 1 slot. So a 6450 is probably the best bet for fanless, single slot, and also current.

 

[vbuggy]

Found passive versions of both - which is a better bet, generally?

I tend to veer towards NVIDIA as a matter of course when graphics are actually important, but I'm not sure what the differences, especially worthwhile ones like display quality, would be like at this level.

 

[DooKey]

Both cards will display nicely with the current drivers. I would buy the cheaper of the two and press on.

 

[vbuggy]

OK, thanks

 

[Gunbuster]

The older Intel integrated graphics work too. You just have to change the driver INF.

 

[Jimzz]

Found passive versions of both - which is a better bet, generally?

I tend to veer towards NVIDIA as a matter of course when graphics are actually important, but I'm not sure what the differences, especially worthwhile ones like display quality, would be like at this level.

I think the 6450 uses a little less power.
But I agree with DooKey, go with the cheaper one. Both should work fine for what you want.

 

[vbuggy]

Thanks for all the suggestions - I ordered the 610 since there seemed to be Catalyst issues from what I've read, but shortly after I left this thread and ordered I managed to dig up a fanless 6600GT while looking through some of the bins in my storage, and took it along to try since I didn't have anything to lose. Worked perfectly with the latest drivers...

... for one day, until Dell T620 I thought would be coming much later thudded on the doorstep - rendering the existing PC redundant.

I couldn't cancel the order soon enough, but I was able to return the 610 once it arrived. Thanks to everyone who replied anyway!