Video cards

[benhasajeep]

I am just getting into digital seriously. One of my new pieces of equipment will be a new computer. I have been looking at a Dell with probably a 3.2 ghz pentium and 1 gig of ram (extra). But the one thing I don't know about is video card choice. I believe most of the cards are ATI but can't remember now. 128 and 256's. Do they make a real difference with still photos? I don't do and most likely will not do video in the future either. Nor do I play games.

Also what about Microsoft Windows Media edition? Is that based mostly for video as well?

[iwatkins]

Graphics Card: Matrox for 2D/Photoshop. if Dell don't offer one, don't buy one. :)

Cheers

Ian

[KevC]

Stop! Before you buy a high end computer premade, please please please consider building it yourself! I know you will be responsible for everything, but you will be able to customize this baby to the very end. And you'll know exactly what will go into it.

Since you're in the US, you will also save tons of money :) Building a computer is not as difficult as many would imagine. I do it all the time, if there's any help you need... just ask. But please, consider it. :)

As for video cards, it's not as important as a fast hard drive (consider a raptor!) and lotsa memory. Any of the new video cards have very good IQ (image quality) so I wouldn't even worry about that :)

[lomond]

If I were upgrading I'd look at a dual head card to drive twin monitors.
I hate tabbing the tools on and off, or struggling with a small image.
And I do like Matrox.

Cameron

[benhasajeep]

Stop! Before you buy a high end computer premade, please please please consider building it yourself! I know you will be responsible for everything, but you will be able to customize this baby to the very end. And you'll know exactly what will go into it.

Since you're in the US, you will also save tons of money :) Building a computer is not as difficult as many would imagine. I do it all the time, if there's any help you need... just ask. But please, consider it. :)

As for video cards, it's not as important as a fast hard drive (consider a raptor!) and lotsa memory. Any of the new video cards have very good IQ (image quality) so I wouldn't even worry about that :)
I tried to put one together about 4 years ago. Bought everything and installed it (propperly). But the thing that got me was installing windows. I couldn't do it. Absolutely could not get the computer to fully load windows so it would work (full edition out of a new box). So after a week I gave up and took everything back. My current old photo computer (use a totally seperate one for photos) I have changed drives and cards. I have no problem tackling installing stuff. But I am very weak in the software knowledge aspects.

[CyberDyneSystems]

You know,. I used to allway build my own,. and save $$,...

Prices have come so far down now its amazing though.. a freind recently replaced a 4 year old PC I had built him.. with a Compaq from "Staples"

@ $425.00 he got a pentium 4 with 120GB hard drive,. 512MB ram,. decent video,. DVD-RW burner,. onbard USB2 card reader... etc etc etc..

No,. it is no power set up... but it is dead quiet (especially compared to the loud ass fans in my custom machines) and it works well.

I was really pleasantly surpriesd. It wasn't en overloaded woth tons of autoinstalling bloatware.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ooops.. I forgot why I posted,...

Yes,. Matrox!

[pcasciola]

I totally agree with CDS. I have built at least 30 computers over the past 20 years for myself and family/friends, and it just doesn't pay anymore unless you need something very specialized. The margin is so low now that buying the parts barely saves you any money if at all. I could post at least 6 links to sub-$400 name brand machines right now with full warranties.

That being said, I will probably continue to build my own, but not for other people. I like to build machines for myself with high end power supplies, dual CPU and like others have suggested, Matrox video cards with dual DVI output (digital instead of analog), and those are the only types of machines where you can save a lot and get exactly what you want building it yourself.

The key word there again is Matrox, preferably DVI if you are getting a flat panel. As long as you are not heavy into gaming, Matrox is the way to go. If you go DVI just make sure you get an LCD that has a DVI input, because not all do.

[benhasajeep]

Actually I just saw the link to the Dell wide screen. I am very interested in it at the moment. Not sure if it has DVI input or not. I really had not thought of dual screens though. Not sure if that is really necessary for my workflow. But I am interested in the best card for photo's. Within reason of course. Not going to pay $500 for a card that is only slightly better than a $300 card (just guessing prices have not looked for just cards). Practically has to enter somewhere.

[CyberDyneSystems]

That being said, I will probably continue to build my own, but not for other people. I like to build machines for myself with high end power supplies, dual CPU and like others have suggested, Matrox video cards with dual DVI output (digital instead of analog), and those are the only types of machines where you can save a lot and get exactly what you want building it yourself.

Ditto!
It's especially true if you want something different from the normal boxes. But If a normal box will do,. I simply can't build one as cheap as Compaq can. Not anymore anyways.

The key word there again is Matrox, preferably DVI if you are getting a flat panel. As long as you are not heavy into gaming, Matrox is the way to go. If you go DVI just make sure you get an LCD that has a DVI input, because not all do.

Matrox simply BLOWS away all other consumer level cards at 2D (meaning photoshop) rendering.