For a non-gamer & few on tv tuners

[JohnDoH!]

If I were to get a card for someone and taking into consideration that she is not a gamer and she only want just enough to atleast keep up with future requirements for the basics (say the next 10 years or so, a card that she can reuse for a new computer build *like quad core system) how big should the memory size be? how many pixel pipelines? how many bits of memory interface?

It'd be nice if you could tell me Max how much? and Min How much?

As for Tv Tuners USB? PCI? which interface is better? and if I use PCI what type would I be using? pci? pci-e x 1? pci-e x 4? pci-e x 16?

 

[fade2green514]

pci-express x16 is what they're designing all the new cards, and if you spend $100 to $150 or so on a card at newegg... personally i suggest a 7600gt or an x1600xt... it'll last her for quite some time, though dx10 is coming out soon and it'll probably play those games on the lower qualities.

as for all those specs, memory bit interface, pixel pipelines, and such... its all relative. the combination of an entire cards specs makes up how it performs.
256mb is suggested.. or 512mb... but 128mb is outdated really, and only the higher end costly 512mb cards are worth getting.

i dont know a whole lot about tv tuners, but spend at least 60 on it... pci interface preferably.

 

[The_Other_One]

Don't worry so much about the memory. Most cards come with more than enough. I mean, getting some old TNT2 with 512M makes it no better than ones with say 64M, or even less...

Depending on how much you wish to spend, a 7600 or a 7300 might be a good option. The 7300 can play Half Life 2 alright on the lowest settings(my room mate has one) 7600GT can about max out the GFX settings(low AA and AF...) And there are many other cards that could be considered... But what's this about the future? 10 years? Don't build a computer and expect to upgrade it in 10 years(not by adding parts)

TV-Tuners...I don't know about HD tuners if you'd even consider that. But by far the best interface is still plain ol' PCI. The speed's more than fast enough for basic TV. I'd suggest something like the WinTV PVR-150. Wonderful card.

 

[JohnDoH!]

Thanks will take that into consideration

 

[fade2green514]

dont forget ATI cards, they tend to last longer... x1600xt would be a great card for her.
the x850xtpe was the 6800ultra's cometitor... now its the 7800gt's competitor... why? because ATI makes a longer lasting card even though they release a bit later... it has to do with software and wut the card supports at the time...

 

[Saurian]

I'd say a 7600GT. Honestly, SM3.0, can play HD content (albiet its at the bottom of the barrel), doesn't use a ton of power and doesn't put out alot of heat because of this.

Though, the thing is to wait and see what comes out that is DX10 and fills the 7600GT's slot in the line up.

 

[maroon1]

Go with 7600GT

dont forget ATI cards, they tend to last longer... x1600xt would be a great card for her.
the x850xtpe was the 6800ultra's cometitor... now its the 7800gt's competitor... why? because ATI makes a longer lasting card even though they release a bit later... it has to do with software and wut the card supports at the time...

not true

The X850xt is SM2.0 card, so it will not last long, and if you know splinter cell double agent doesn't run on X850xt

Depending on how much you wish to spend, a 7600 or a 7300 might be a good option. The 7300 can play Half Life 2 alright on the lowest setting

7300 play Hl2 on lowest setting !!! are you sure ?

I have 6600 vanilla and I play HL2 episode1 on 1024x768, 2xAA, 4xAF and with HDR

 

[Blue]

dont forget ATI cards, they tend to last longer... x1600xt would be a great card for her.
the x850xtpe was the 6800ultra's cometitor... now its the 7800gt's competitor... why? because ATI makes a longer lasting card even though they release a bit later... it has to do with software and wut the card supports at the time...

Lets try and keep the fanboyism to a minimum, it never helps anyone. ATi and Nvidia are both great company's... best bang for the buck is the smart way to shop, not because it is ATi or Nvidia.

 

[The_Other_One]

7300 play Hl2 on lowest setting !!! are you sure ?

Yeah man... He built his computer and just got the cheapest card he could find(locally) which ended up being a 7300GS At 640x480 on his CRT, HL2 really doesn't look THAT bad. But of course, it's nothing when compared to my 7600GT

 

[Saurian]

What DOES look bad at 640x480. At that resolution, Richard Simmons rivals George Clooney!