Which graphics card... I'm so confused by all the numbers!

spidertwig

Having been an avid laptop user for many years - I've come to aquire a desktop. Didn't have to "do" PCI graphics with my laptop! Been a few years since I had a desktop and things have changed!

Now, its an AMD with 6gb of ram - as i do a lot of photoshop, flash and web work. The onboard graphics are no-where near good enough, they score a rate of 3 with windows vista's performance tool. Whereas everything else scores 4.9+.

The slot for the graphics card to go into is a PCI-E 16x. This is where i get confused. I know i need a graphics card that fits into it. That bit I "get". However - it's all the numbers of the graphics cards that confuse me!

I want something sub £100 that will handle photoshop (no 3d rendering - just camera raw images), will let me play a few games (as the OH has a penchant for Unreal Tournament!), handle the web, films and a DVI out to my HMDI (720p) TV.

It just needs to support 64bit vista ultimate and my motherboard ASUS M2N-VM DVI.

Please help!

piggeh

my 8800GT does the job - under £100 these days, scores 5.9 on vista experience, runs everything well. Bought a year ago so not sure if there's anything better in the same price range these days.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/benchmarks,30.html

..is quite useful to compare cards.

jaydeeuk1

Ati 4670 will do the job. HD video acceleration, good gaming performance, low power use and for the price (£50) can't be beat. The 4830 next step up for about £75-£80 is a cracking buy too if you want to spend closer to £100. Nvidia cards at similar price are good too, just prefer the bang for buck you get with ATI.

spakkker

As posted 4670 -http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-radeon,2151-6.html

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/351126/ati-hd-4670-512mb-pci-e-graphics-ca/showthread.php?t=351126

Livingthedream

I've got the Ati 4830 great for gaming. went with ati because as stated by jaydeeuk1 more bang for your bucks. But each to their own use tomshardware and google reviews to help you decide.

Right I'm off now before this thread becomes an Ati V Nvidia thread :eek:

asininity

ATI for me as cheaper and now better. I have the 4670 which is awesome and I go it for 55 quid, 4870 is better but a little more expensive.

Percy1983

I built a PC using a 4670 for my future brother in law and at 1440x900 is great for games and has full video decoding. In your budget you could go for a 4830 which will be better again.

Personally I have a 4870 1GB but that is more than you need, I like to run things at 1080p with as much AA as possible.

spidertwig

Thanks for all your replys


The ATI way of numbering cards seems to be easier! Going to have a peek at the 4870 when I get in from work later.

Thanks once again - if anyones got more to add into the mix I'd be grateful!

Livingthedream

One last thing before you rush off to buy, make sure that your PC's power supply unit is up to the job the wattage should be printed on the side of the PSU;
ATI 4670 requires 400w PSU
ATI 4830/4850 requires 450w PSU
ATI 4870 requires 500w PSU

Don't worry about the 6pin power connector the graphics card will come with a convertor connector.

Link for 4800 series
Link for 4600 series