Video Card Suggestions Needed

[Koendog]

Looking into a new video card to run 2 monitors. DxDiag info below...any suggestions? Will I need additional memory to run a decent video card?

Thanks in advance. 

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090804-1435)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.               
       System Model: Dell DM051                   
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 1022MB RAM
          Page File: 785MB used, 1673MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: RADEON X600 256MB HyperMemory
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: RADEON X600 (0x5B62)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5B62&SUBSYS_06021002&REV_00
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6561 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 8/4/2005 02:10:38, 205312 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 8/4/2005 02:10:18, 1273344 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1822-11CF-136A-0826A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x5B62
        SubSys ID: 0x06021002
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

[Delirium]

What kind of power supply do you have?

[Krusty]

It might help to list what interface your current card is, as well. Is that AGP (I would guess yes) or PCI express?

[Spikes]

It might help to list what interface your current card is, as well. Is that AGP (I would guess yes) or PCI express?

The card he currently has is PCIe.

[Koendog]

What kind of power supply do you have?

Not sure, I looked through the rest of the dxdiag info but didn't see anything that looked like power supply information. The rig is just a stock Dell from 2006, so probably the minimum needed to run the system. If I need to upgrade the power supply, as well as cooling system thats fine.


Here's what it shows for PCI/PCIe, I think:

          Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5B62&SUBSYS_06021002&REV_00                     

[Spikes]

Hmm...yes it'll most likely be just enough for the system to operate right. so on the list would be:
PSU
GPU
Possibly (but not likely unless you want to spend more money, RAM)

How much is your budget?

[Koendog]

How much is your budget?

Well this is the magic question...Im considering a whole new build and put in Windows 7, unless I just keep what I have and upgrade GPU/PSU/RAM, etc. My worry is that by the time I do that, I might as well have spent the extra few bucks and upgraded everything.

So, to answer the question...say ~$200 for a piecemeal upgrade, or ~$500 for a complete upgrade? This even reasonable? 

[Spikes]

By a "complete" upgrade you mean buying everything new (CPU, mobo, ram, psu, gpu)? I think $500 would get you a decent proc, mobo, and ram, maybe PSU.  If you go that route, I may suggest AMD (you can get a good 3.0ghz proc for around 60 bucks)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687
The mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128411
Ram is up to you, could probably get off with 2GBs, about 60-70 bucks I think for a good brand.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231134

I used that AMD CPU/mobo setup in a build before, not a gaming build, but it should work good for that if you don't plan on OCing.
So that is about 300 bucks or so, leaving you with around 200 for a Vid card and PSU.
A video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150479
That is more of a budget card to say the least. You could spend about 50 more and grab a HD5770. I have two of them, they run the game great...I don't *think* the CPU should bottleneck it.

And PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

And I think that's just under or around 500 bucks, without a new case and/or Windows 7.

[Koendog]

Thanks for the info Spikes....yeah by complete upgrade I mean everything. If I just upgrade my rig as it stands, would it just be a new GPU and a bigger power supply?

On the GPU, do I use the HDMI port for one monitor and the DVI port for another monitor to run both monitors?

[Spikes]

Thanks for the info Spikes....yeah by complete upgrade I mean everything. If I just upgrade my rig as it stands, would it just be a new GPU and a bigger power supply?

On the GPU, do I use the HDMI port for one monitor and the DVI port for another monitor to run both monitors?

Oops...
Forgot about the dual monitor you wanted. I don't have any experience with dual monitors...you might need someone else to confirm you can use the different ports.

As for upgrading - yes that should be all you would need. The ram is quite low (most computers have 4-6gb nowadays, but you should be able to get off with 1gb...I am not sure if the amt of ram affects the dual monitor setup either.

This card, the 4850, is older than it's 4870/90 brethren, but has two DVI ports.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125238

Also cheaper, the thing that just popped into my head would be length...how much room is there from the back of the case to the front of the case (or however much room there is to stash a video card). Assuming the mobo is LGA775 (since it's a bit newer) you may want to think about getting a cheap case as well, if the money is there.

Aw hell, I don't mean to be making you fork out money...just analyzing all the possibilities!

[Koendog]

Also cheaper, the thing that just popped into my head would be length...how much room is there from the back of the case to the front of the case (or however much room there is to stash a video card). Assuming the mobo is LGA775 (since it's a bit newer) you may want to think about getting a cheap case as well, if the money is there.

I'll have to look and see how much room is in my case...at work right now. I didn't even think about space requirements for the GPU. It's a prettty good size case, above average I'd say. I'm wondering if I'll need two GPU's to run two monitors?    Then space will be a concern...

[Spikes]

I'll have to look and see how much room is in my case...at work right now. I didn't even think about space requirements for the GPU. It's a prettty good size case, above average I'd say. I'm wondering if I'll need two GPU's to run two monitors?    Then space will be a concern...

Copy that. Thing is I know nothing about dual monitors...for all I know, the dual monitors could be for two separate screens (as in 1 in game 1 in browser) or two for in game...how do you want to setup the monitors? I'd assume that is why you'd want two...seems redundant to game on two since there would be a big line down the middle of the screen.

You shouldn't need two gpus for the dual monitor, especially if it's a separate monitor for outside game. (I'd always like to do that, I can run 4 monitors with two 5770s, but don't have the money or need for more monitors, heheh)

If I get the dimensions of the case or space, we can go from there. If a new case is needed, I can easily help you find one that isn't too expensive...there are lots of cheapos out there, but a few are cheap and good.

[Koendog]

...how do you want to setup the monitors?

I want one for the game, and then an extra for the moving map GPS/E6B, etc.    I think that will work, will work good for FSX too, I hope. 

I found Dell's detail page on my rig:
http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfb/desktops/dimen_5150/pd.aspx?refid=dimen_5150&cs=28&s=dfb

It shows this for memory...
-512 MB shared single channel DDR2-533MHz SDRAM standard, upgradable to 4GB of shared dual channel DDR2-533MHz SDRAM
-4 DIMM slots

Does this mean my mobo is DDR2 and I'll have to get a DDR2 GPU? Or am I getting things mixed up here?


Here are the "slots" available...
2 PCI slots
1 PCIe x 1 slot
1 PCIe x 16 (graphics) slot

Here are the dimensions of the case:
Dimensions (H x W x D): 16.3" x 7.4" x 18.0"

What kind of power supply do you have?

Has a 305W max continuous power supply.

[Spikes]

Yeah the PSU is typical Dell junk.

I think skuzzy will have to come in and confirm the use of the map on the other screen. Might be draggable, not sure.

Ram goes with Ram, the GPU is separate. So yes you can mix DDR2 RAM with a video cards DDR3. The 533mhz isn't very appealing to say the least, though.
For 25 bucks you can grab another stick of ram to make it two gbs (I assume it currently is 2x 512mb sticks) so there is room for two more...not sure if it's very smart to mix the kinds of rams, but I think it's fine as long as they are the same type/model.

The 4850 would take full speed adv. of the x16 as well, which is good. Most 4850s are about 9.75 inches if I recall, so it should fit in the case fine.

Anyways, I am off for the night, I'll check back here in the AM!

[1701E]

I want one for the game, and then an extra for the moving map GPS/E6B, etc.    I think that will work, will work good for FSX too, I hope. 

I found Dell's detail page on my rig:
http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfb/desktops/dimen_5150/pd.aspx?refid=dimen_5150&cs=28&s=dfb

It shows this for memory...
-512 MB shared single channel DDR2-533MHz SDRAM standard, upgradable to 4GB of shared dual channel DDR2-533MHz SDRAM
-4 DIMM slots

Does this mean my mobo is DDR2 and I'll have to get a DDR2 GPU? Or am I getting things mixed up here?

1) The game can't have game on one monitor and E6B on another, it will stretch the entire game onto both or only to one...no mixing and matching....FSX can though I believe.  With 2 you'll have the gunsight split between the two...no way around that, sorry.

2) DDR2 and GDDR2 aren't related.  DDR2 (System ram plugged into the motherboard) isn't tied to the GDDR2/3/4/5 (Graphics DDR, built into video card) so you can use DDR2 with GDDR5.  However your DDR2-533MHz is slower then the standard DDR2 of 800/1066 so it may be worth a new motherboard...all up to you.