JCBeezy Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ok, so I'm not the most tech-savvy person (though people around me seem to think I am...silly children), and I'm trying to find a solid video card that will allow me to run dual monitors at home. I have the set up in my office at work, but I'm trying to bring some of that tech back to my place so I can work from home more often. I don't want to run Crysis or anything (I'm not a PC gamer), but I do want to make sure it outputs in HD and such. If it can run games, sure, but I'm most aiming for it to be able to just run photoshop/draw in one window and reference or info in another. Graphic's Card my roomie wanted me to get last year, before he moved.I'm sure I could do better than that though right? Any information would help, as like I said, I'm computer retarded tech wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 The card your roommate suggested will do perfectly fine. It's not highend or anything, but it will definitely handle two monitors really easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Well, is there a decently more powerful card that might cost a little bit more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 You could try the GTS 450, or you could go with a GTX 550 which would be even better. There's also the GTX 460 which is better than both of them. The PNY version is currently going for $149 with free shipping. How many watts is your power supply, and does your motherboard have a pci express slot?http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133326http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600007323%20600062521&IsNodeId=1&Tpk=gtx%20460http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=gtx+550&x=0&y=0http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=gts+450&x=0&y=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leviathan87 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 the 460 is a great card. i have in my 3rd computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 The biggest thing for me, is that I don't need (nor want really) a gaming card as much as I just need the display options, ya know? Hell, in a perfect world, I would have three monitors (one being my home office flat screen lol). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 If you're not going to game then the 9500GT your friend suggested will be a really good card for you to get. The cost is low and it uses very little power. If you want a better card than that you could check out the 9600GT. I had one when they first came out and it was a really good card.If your motherboard supports sli (nvidia cards) or crossfire (ati/amd cards)... (it will have 2 or more pci express x16 slots) you could have multiple cards which will allow you to have more than 2 monitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Ballard, how would I know what my motherboard supports exactly? Would I need to pop open the case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Ballard, how would I know what my motherboard supports exactly? Would I need to pop open the case?You will need to open the case, or you could tell me the computer model and I'll look it up.Here's an example of what a pci-express x16 slot looks like. If it's a prebuilt computer chances are that it doesn't support sli or crossfire. (This isn't always the case though.) If it does have 2 pci express x16 slots I'll need to know the computer model or the specific motherboard you are using, so that I can tell you if it's sli or crossfire.I hope this answers your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RikuoAmero Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I'm using an ATI Radeon HD 5770 at the moment, running $119 on Amazon.com at the moment. It's a dual slot card, meaning it takes up a bit of space in your case, and it needs a six pin PCI connector, so if you do get the 5770, you may need to upgrade your power supply (I did). It's a handy card, I'm dual-monitoring at the moment, running 1920 x 1080p on two monitors, HDMI out to a 40 inch LCD TV and DVI out to a 23 inch LCD computer monitor.By dual slot, what I mean is...check out the first picture Ballard put up there. What would happen is you would slot the card into the PCI-E x16 slot, like he's indicated, but the card is so big that it goes over the slot that's to the left of it, meaning you wouldn't be able to put in a second card in that smaller slot. So if you plan to put in say a sound card or a USB 3.0 card, you would have to economize and plan ahead.As for how powerful the card is? It runs the original Crysis + Warhead at 1080p highest settings no problem. Haven't tested Crysis 2 though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 You will need to open the case, or you could tell me the computer model and I'll look it up.Here's an example of what a pci-express x16 slot looks like. If it's a prebuilt computer chances are that it doesn't support sli or crossfire. (This isn't always the case though.) If it does have 2 pci express x16 slots I'll need to know the computer model or the specific motherboard you are using, so that I can tell you if it's sli or crossfire.I hope this answers your question.For one Ballard, THANK YOU. Your advice and knowledge is appreciated beyond words. According to my system information, my hub PC is a Gateway T524, which is a budget model I acquired from a roommate who owed me money. lolAs far as I know, it should have a PCI Express slot? But I'm not completely sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 I looked up the T524, but couldn't find anything on Google or Gateway's website. By any chance is there a sticker similar to this one anywhere on the tower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Not that I could find. I double checked and it's eMachines T5234. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Your motherboard does have a pci express slot. I would personally recommend getting a GT240 graphics card. It's better than the 9500GT and according to nvidia's website it only requires a 300w power supply. This card would be good if you don't want to upgrade your current psu, but if you're willing to then you could get a more powerful card.http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=gt240&x=0&y=0http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=gt240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 So pretty much any of the 240's? I know it won't run Crysis or anything, but I'm sure anything is better than what it has as onboard graphics already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 It could probably run crysis on low. I can't say for sure though because I've never used this card before . It's definitely a million times better than what you have onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 It could probably run crysis on low. I can't say for sure though because I've never used this card before . It's definitely a million times better than what you have onboard.I'm never playing Crysis. But at least I know I can finally use Steam, and it fits the dual monitor bit. Since you know your stuff, I'd say just give me the link to the one I should buy and just be done with it. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Out of all the ones listed on newegg this one would be the best option... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133391 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBeezy Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Out of all the ones listed on newegg this one would be the best option... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133391And it SHOULD work well with the piece of crap I got? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
† ballard Posted September 1, 2011 Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 Ya it'll work with your computer. I have a 9400m in my laptop which is weaker than the 240 and I'm able to play games on steam perfectly fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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