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Thread: New Graphics Card Required!

  1. #1
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    New Graphics Card Required!

    Okay, here is my dilemma.

    I need to connect 2 monitors to my media pc but my current 'very old' geforce 2 card only has 1 vga output. Hence I need a new card with 2 outputs.

    Now I only want to spend 50 quid max and thats pushing it. I would also like the card to be passivly cooled but this is not essential.

    What do you think of old used workstation cards or a cheap All in Wonder?

    I wont be playing games on it. It is just to be used to view internet etc. Hence image quality is probably the most important thing.
    Gaming PC: Athlon 64 3400+ @ 2.4 Ghz Stock; Shuttle SN85G4V3; Club 3D X800XT; 2x1Gb OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum 2-3-2-5; SB Audigy 2 ZS; WD Raptor 150GB; Maxtor DM10 200Gb; Pioneer DVR 110

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    Senior Amoeba iranu's Avatar
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    9700 pro £44 http://www.retekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Video_Cards.html

    DVI>VGA convertor £1.99 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=162502

    I know it says vga>dvi but I bought one and it's definitely female DVI > male VGA
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    That card is 51 quid with delivery so not bad. How good is the card with games compared to a 6600gt for example?

    Also what is the difference between a 9600, 9700 and 9800. Sorry but I only started knowing about PC's about a year ago.

    Also does this card run quiet?
    Last edited by Kef9; 07-01-2006 at 09:58 PM.
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    Media PC: Athlon Thunderbird 1.2 Ghz; Shuttle SN45GV2; Geforce 2 MX; 2x256Mb OCZ PC3500 CAS2; Seagate Bararcuda 160Gb; NEC DVD

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kef9
    Okay, here is my dilemma.

    I need to connect 2 monitors to my media pc but my current 'very old' geforce 2 card only has 1 vga output. Hence I need a new card with 2 outputs.

    Now I only want to spend 50 quid max and thats pushing it. I would also like the card to be passivly cooled but this is not essential.

    What do you think of old used workstation cards or a cheap All in Wonder?

    I wont be playing games on it. It is just to be used to view internet etc. Hence image quality is probably the most important thing.
    Radeon 9250s... around £25... silent...
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=174202
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=170474

    I use a 9200SE and it's just fine

    Apply the DVI>VGA converter mentioned before
    k0nigen

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kef9
    That card is 51 quid with delivery so not bad. How good is the card with games compared to a 6600gt for example?

    Also what is the difference between a 9600, 9700 and 9800. Sorry but I only started knowing about PC's about a year ago.

    Also does this card run quiet?
    Just spotted you were asking about gaming

    My 9200SE runs Unreal Tournament 2004 very well with mediocre settings

    It would probably struggle a little bit with more recent games
    k0nigen

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    Quote Originally Posted by k0nigen
    Radeon 9250s... around £25... silent...
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=174202
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=170474

    I use a 9200SE and it's just fine

    Apply the DVI>VGA converter mentioned before
    Yep Ive had a look at them and there appealing. there are also some cheap 6200's aswell.

    Ive read up on the differences between the 9700 and 9800 now, very minor really.

    Wonder how the upcoming 7200's will perform if they come out on AGP?
    Gaming PC: Athlon 64 3400+ @ 2.4 Ghz Stock; Shuttle SN85G4V3; Club 3D X800XT; 2x1Gb OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum 2-3-2-5; SB Audigy 2 ZS; WD Raptor 150GB; Maxtor DM10 200Gb; Pioneer DVR 110

    Media PC: Athlon Thunderbird 1.2 Ghz; Shuttle SN45GV2; Geforce 2 MX; 2x256Mb OCZ PC3500 CAS2; Seagate Bararcuda 160Gb; NEC DVD

  7. #7
    Senior Member Smudger's Avatar
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    I've got a 9700Pro from Retek, and it's fine. It plays Far Cry and CoD on pretty decent settings.

    The first one I got from Retek blew up, but they replaced it no bother. It might even be worth going to a 9800 Pro for a few extra quid.

  8. #8
    Yeah dude! NightshadowUK's Avatar
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    It'd definitely be worth getting the 9800 Pro from Retek *if* you plan on gaming.

    <3 9800 Pro.
    Last edited by NightshadowUK; 08-01-2006 at 03:07 PM.

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