Agp Vga Dual

What Graphic Card is the Best for Me?

Dedicated graphics cards, which we will be discussing in this guide, are needed if you want to do 3D gaming or watch high definition movies (even though it may sometimes suffice with a powerful CPU and lot’s of internal RAM) Important Specifications to Consider When Choosing a Graphics Card

GPU

GPU stands for “Graphic Processing Unit” and is the main controlling circuit on every graphics card. The GPU is the most determinant feature of every graphics card when it comes to the overall performance and speed. The two biggest manufacturers of GPUs are NVIDIA and ATI (which is owned by CPU manufacturer AMD). They do the reference designs for each new generation of graphics card. But most graphics cards are sold by other manufacturers who produce their own flavour of the reference cards from NVIDIA and ATI. Examples of those manufacturers are MSI, Asus, ECS Elitegroup, XFX and more. Examples of recent generations of graphic GPUs from NVIDIA are; GeForce 8500/8600/8800/9800 GT/GTX/GX2 and GTX 260/280. ATIs latest generations of graphics cards are: RADEON HD 3850/4850/4870 in different versions.

RAM

It is also important to consider the amount and type of the onboard RAM of the graphics card, which is a different thing than the RAM of your computer. The RAM is important for a number of technical reasons we will not go into further here. But in short you should go for a graphics card with at least 256MB of RAM. The type of RAM is less important, but we recommend that you buy a graphics card with the second or later generation of GDDR (GDDR2 or later).

Different Slot Types

There are three different slots available on the PC market. The “slot” is where you connect the graphics card on the mainboard of your computer. You must verify which type of slot your mainboard has before purchasing a graphic card, or you may waste money on something you cannot use. The available slots are PCI (very old), AGP (old) or PCI express (today’s standard). All fairly recent bought computers are outfitted with a PCI Express slot, but be sure to check it. PCI express is the newest technology and allows the largest bandwidth which means better performance for you.

External Connectors

The connecters on the graphics cards are also important. Standard analog VGA connectors have been replaced by DVI (digital) connectors. The DVI connector is a must, some cards even come with two DVI connectors which will allow you to connect an extra display. Additional external connectors to look for are: •HDMI, which will enable you to connect your computer to a plasma or LCD-TV. (This can also be done through a DVI connector with a DVI/HDMI converter) •S-Video outputs are used to connect the PC to an older style VCR or TV and allow outputting the same display as present on your screen. •DB-15/VGS/SVGA connectors are basically utilized for a standard output to an analog monitor. Good if you have an old monitor.

Considering your budget

Of course, you financial possibilities will limit your purchase options too. Let’s take a look of what you can expect depending on how much you want or can afford. Remember that graphics cards are products with short cycles so suggestions below are only guide lines.

Low budget graphic cards

We are talking about spending $50 to $80, what can you expect? In this lower budget level the most popular and valuable GPUs from ATI and NVIDIA are the ATI Radeon HD 3650 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 and 8600GT/GTS. These cards typically carry a RAM of 256MB-512MB depending on model and manufacturer. There are no problems to find cards with multiple DVI connectors and some even carry a HDMI connector. These types of cards are suitable for silent HTPCs and media centres since you can get them with silent passive coolers. We cannot recommend the entry level graphics cards for hardcore gaming rigs, even though they will play some older games with no sweat.

Medium priced graphic cards

In this segment, with prices from $80 to $250, you will find graphics cards with good performance even for gaming. You should be aware, because as we said, this is a fast moving market and you can sometimes find real bargains on the current generation of graphics cards when the next generation cards are introduced to the market. Prices drops fast when retailers and e-tailers have to make place in their stock for the new generation of cards. As always we recommend you to read expert reviews of graphics cards to find which the leading expert editors have recommended. Also based on the reviews, try to find out which is the last generation of GPU for the time being. Right now the last generation high end GPU from NVIDIA is the GTX 280. We couldn’t find a 280 GTX card below $250, but we did find one for $260 so the prices are dropping. We recommend you to go with the next to last generation cards like the GeForce 9800GTX or 9800GX2 (dual onboard GPU) and the ATI HD 3850 and 4870. They will offer you a great performance/price ratio.

Advanced graphic cards

Obtaining maximal performance and resolution may lead you to spend $400 and above on a high end graphics cards. This is for real gamers who need that extra FPS rate and resolution to perform optimally. You should look for dual GPU solutions, either onboard dual GPUs or using SLI or Crossfire technology (two physically separated graphics cards working together). The 3870 X2 with 1GB RAM from ATI is a good alternative and is somewhat cheaper than the 4870 X2 which naturally gives some extra percents of performance. From NVIDIA you should take a look at the GTX 280 and 9800GX2.

About the Author

Start by setting clear points of what you want, need and can afford. Read Expert reviews of graphic cards, it's the best way to obtain knowledge. Do not hesitate to ask around in hardare forums, people are generally happy to give you advice. Good Luck
For more expert reviews on all products,visit us at Testseek.co.uk

64MB nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS SDRAM Dual VGA AGP 4x Oem $23.78 64MB nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS SDRAM Dual VGA AGP 4x Oem

16MB IBM Matrox G450 DualHead Dual VGA AGP 22P1987 $9.73 16MB IBM Matrox G450 DualHead Dual VGA AGP 22P1987

64MB nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA 25P6684OEM $26.23 64MB nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA 25P6684OEM

32MB Matrox Millenium G550 Dual VGA AGP 4x G55MADDL32DR $23.72 32MB Matrox Millenium G550 Dual VGA AGP 4x G55MADDL32DR

JATON NVIDIA GEFORCE 6200256MB DDR LOW PROFILE SUPPORT AGP 8X DUAL VGA OUTPUTS $111.65 JATON NVIDIA GEFORCE 6200/256MB DDR /LOW PROFILE SUPPORT / AGP 8X/ DUAL VGA OUTPUTSNVIDIA GEFORCE 6200/256MB DDR /LOW PROFILE SUPPORT / AGP 8X/ DUAL VGA OUTPUTS Manufacturer : JATON UPC : 642404338930

64MB HP / Compaq Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA (Low Profile) AA931A $13.91 64MB HP / Compaq Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA (Low Profile) AA931A

32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G450-Dual Head AGP Dual VGA 202901-001 $19.32 32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G450-Dual Head AGP Dual VGA 202901-001

32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G550 AGP 4x DDR Dual VGA 246746-001 $33.39 32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G550 AGP 4x DDR Dual VGA 246746-001

64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA SDRAM 273304B21 Graphics Adapter $15.55 64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA SDRAM 273304B21 Graphics Adapter

64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-003 $8.79 64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-003

32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G450-Dual Head AGP Dual VGA 203626-001 $15.67 32MB HP / Compaq Matrox Millennium G450-Dual Head AGP Dual VGA 203626-001

64MB HP / Compaq Quadro 4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 351383-001 $8.69 64MB HP / Compaq Quadro 4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 351383-001

64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA SDRAM AA603A Graphics Adapter $26.23 64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x Dual VGA SDRAM AA603A Graphics Adapter

64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-002 $8.82 64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-002

64MB HP / Compaq Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA (Standard Profile) AA931A $8.86 64MB HP / Compaq Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA (Standard Profile) AA931A

64MB HP Quadro NVS 280 AGP DMS-59 Video Card w/DMS-59 To Dual VGA Cable $25.04 64MB HP Quadro NVS 280 AGP DMS-59 Video Card w/DMS-59 To Dual VGA Cable

64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-001 $8.97 64MB HP / Compaq nVIDIA Quadro4 280NVS AGP 8x Dual VGA 350969-001

64MB IBM nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x SDRAM Dual VGA 33L3543 $26.59 64MB IBM nVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS AGP 4x SDRAM Dual VGA 33L3543

256MB Jaton nVIDIA GeForce 6200 DDR AGP 8x Dual VGA 3DFORCE6200TWIN $51.92 256MB Jaton nVIDIA GeForce 6200 DDR AGP 8x Dual VGA 3DFORCE6200TWIN

64MB PNY nVIDIA Quadro4 550XGL AGP 4x Dual VGA DDR VCQ4550XGLPB VCQ4550XGL-PB Retail 550 XGL $279.77 64MB PNY nVIDIA Quadro4 550XGL AGP 4x Dual VGA DDR VCQ4550XGLPB VCQ4550XGL-PB Retail 550 XGL

32MB Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead AGP 4x Dual VGA DDR G45FMDHA32DB $31.04 32MB Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead AGP 4x Dual VGA DDR G45FMDHA32DB

32MB Matrox G450 DDR Dual VGA AGP 4x Oem G45+MDHA32DR $18.67 32MB Matrox G450 DDR Dual VGA AGP 4x Oem G45+MDHA32DR

256MB ATI All-in-Wonder 2006 Edition Radeon 9600 AGP 8x/4x Dual VGA 100-714145 $84.23 256MB ATI All-in-Wonder 2006 Edition Radeon 9600 AGP 8x/4x Dual VGA 100-714145

Radeon HD4650 512MB AGP $83.99 DIAMOND AMD ATI Radeon HD 4650 AGP 512MB GDDR3 Video Card with Dual Link DVI + HDTV (SVideo/Component) + VGA connectors.

64MB HP Compaq ATI Fire GL 3D T2-64s Dual VGA Low Profile AGP Fire GL T2 DK599A $27.02 64MB HP Compaq ATI Fire GL 3D T2-64s Dual VGA Low Profile AGP Fire GL T2 DK599A

64MB Radeon 9000 DVI/VGA/TV AGP $18.99 64MB Radeon 9000 DVI/VGA/TV AGP

8MB ATI Rage XL AGP VGA 1096670001 $5 8MB ATI Rage XL AGP VGA 1096670001

32MB Sapphire Rage 128 Xpert 2000pro Ultra AGP VGA AGP 1025-B4030 $18.44 32MB Sapphire Rage 128 Xpert 2000pro Ultra AGP VGA AGP 1025-B4030

32MB Sapphire Rage 128 Xpert 2000pro Ultra AGP VGA AGP 1025-B4020 $14.99 32MB Sapphire Rage 128 Xpert 2000pro Ultra AGP VGA AGP 1025-B4020

Radeon Hd4650 Agp 512mb Dvi Vga Svid $89.99 RADEON HD4650 AGP 8X 512MB GDDR3 DVI VGA SVID 300W REQ

8MB ATI Rage XL AGP 2x VGA 25P2814 109-80400-00 $6.24 8MB ATI Rage XL AGP 2x VGA 25P2814 109-80400-00

128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP Oem $30.58 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP Oem

64MB Sapphire Radeon 9000 DVI/VGA/TV AGP 100540 $19.99 64MB Sapphire Radeon 9000 DVI/VGA/TV AGP 100540

128MB Sapphire Radeon 9100 DDR DVI/VGA/Tv AGP 100547 $22.18 128MB Sapphire Radeon 9100 DDR DVI/VGA/Tv AGP 100547

128MB Chaintech GeForce FX5200 AGP DVI VGA TV Out SH5200 $26.12 128MB Chaintech GeForce FX5200 AGP DVI VGA TV Out SH5200

128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP 383588-001 $25.98 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP 383588-001

32MB ATI Radeon 7500 VGA / ADC AGP MAC Edition 109-9170000 $39.95 32MB ATI Radeon 7500 VGA / ADC AGP MAC Edition 109-9170000

128MB Dell Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP Oem U0842 $27.98 128MB Dell Quadro FX500 DVI / VGA DDR AGP Oem U0842

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