Which graphics card shall i buy?
- Thread starter mikedeuk
- Start date
diduknowthat
formerly liuliuboy
You don't really need that good of a card to watch HD video. And also, if you want to use it as a media PC, I'd suggest you get Vista. Vista's media center is much better than XP's.
mikedeuk
Member
Ok what would you suggest that would support blu-ray?
Is vista's media center ALOT better? I dont think i could afford it unless any1 knows how i can get a cheaper copy? PM me
mikedeuk
Member
Cheers sounds like a good deal but im in sunny england!
Can anybody advise me on a good value graphics card?
Ramodkk
VIP Member
I agree, you don't really need an expensive video card. An 8400GS or HD3450 should do it really.
It's been around the forum a lot that Windows 64-Bit has horrible compatibility with a bunch of stuff. Not worth it.
why not wait till windows 7 x64 bit ? i read somewhere it might be out in September for your os.
but yeah like mentioned you dont realy need a great card for what you want.
This should be okay.
ASUS HD 3650 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141131
but yeah like mentioned you dont realy need a great card for what you want.
This should be okay.
ASUS HD 3650 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141131
mikedeuk
Member
Thats a long wait without a computer!
Im spoilt for choice with cards now lol Ebuyer has some good prices for UK, Think i'll see what comes up on Ebay.
What do i need to look for? What does HTCP mean?
Ive got 2 normal pci slots, 1 bigger and 1 smaller but don't know what i can use them for? I want graphics, Tv, And wireless.
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
64-bit XP? True. 64-bit Vista? Not so true.
While some people still run into problems, generally getting Vista 64-bit is a safe move. If you don't plan on upgrading your memory, however, 32-bit will do fine.
mikedeuk
Member
Whats the differnce? Better graphics?
Could somebody explain my different pci slots to me please?
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
For an average windows user, 64-bit simply means that you can use more than 4GB of RAM.
PCI is old and slow, usually used for low-bandwidth devices (10/100 Ethernet, sound cards, etc.), PCI-E is new, used for high-bandwidth stuff like graphics cards, gigabyte ethernet, some new sound cards; pretty much every half-decent reasonably priced card is out on PCI-E. Any reasonably new (from last 3 years) computer should have at least one PCI-E slot that you can stick yout graphics card into, so you don't have to worry about that.
PCI slots are usually white and fairly small, PCI-E x16 slots are tad longer an usually colored black, though most SLI/CF boards and novelty mobos like to have their slots done up with funky paintjobs.
ALSO, they are NOT compatible in any way or form.
mikedeuk
Member
Whats not compatible?
Thanks for the great explanation.
My mobo has the following: (So i guess this would work ok?)
1 x PCI Express x16 - (My graphics card)
1 x PCI Express x1 - (No idea
)2 x 32-bit PCI - (tv card & wireless card)
Mike
Whats not compatible?
Thanks for the great explanation.
You can't put a PCI-E x16 card into a PCI-E x1 slot. Or a PCI slot. It won't work, and physically won't fit - if you've looked at your mobo you will see the PCI-E x1 is a tiny little one.
Hope that helps, Doug.
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
PCI and PCI-E. You can't put a PCI card in a PCI-E slot and vice versa.
Yep, that setup would work fine. PCI-E x1 is used for ethernet cards, low-end and low-profile graphics, soundcards and so on; basically it's supposed to replace PCI as a generig low-bandwidth interface.
Technically, due to the nature of PCI-E and the way it works, you can saw the end of a PCI-E x1 slot in order to make a full PCI-E x16 card work with it. Though this, of course, isn't recommended since it requires a fair bit of skill to do this without screwing your board - also, it would severely bottleneck higher-end cards.
@OP - nevermind the above, I'm just nitpicking