Getting a new monitor, may need new card...
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...because the monitor has a DVI input.
My PC does not. I'm stuck with an old computer with a FX5500 in it (its not that great but it works). Im thinking the Geforce 6200 would be better suited as it has a DVI port and I think its better than the 5500 I have.First off, I am stuck with PCI until I finally get enough money to buy a new computer. Christmas is not the time of year to try and save money as I have found out. This means that I can only buy an older model card instead of a new computer, and I am hoping you guys might be able to toss up a few suggestions on the best PCI card I can find.
Second, the reason why I say it only has a DVI port is because I am planning on using this monitor for my xbox also. As little as I actually get to play it, it isnt worth me having another TV for the thing. That would mean I have to use the only VGA port it has for my xbox 360. Not to mention I want to get one last upgrade out of my 6 year old computer.Most people tell me to not do this and that PCI sucks, yada yada yada. They say that PCI is too slow to work with and that they are impossible to find anyways. Truth is I dont agree. Im not trying to play games on this thing anyways. Do any of you have any ideas on where I can get a PCI (not PCI-E) video card that beats the Geforce 6200? I can buy this card for about 60-70 bucks brand new, but will spend more if I can find better.
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Hi Masta, I recently bought a new Dell 22" wide panel LCD. It works great with SU. I did buy a new video card before the monitor as I was sure my FX5200 would not run in wide view with my new monitor. I went with a GF 6600GT card. Seems to run SU just fine for most models. The good thing is the Dell 22" monitor has both DVI and VGA inputs on the back and can be swithced with the front panel button. I used this feature when I had my old PowerMac 6500 plugged into the VGA port and would just switch over the input and puch the PC's keyboard and mouse over and use the Mac's keyboard and mouse. I don't think the FX-5XXX series can do wide aspect viewing so be careful if you plan on getting one of those. The 6200 card is pretty low tech. I would wait and use this $$ on a new system instead of spending $$ on a PCI based system. I think you would be better off getting a new system with a built-in video card (anything other than Intel graphics) and then a better PCIe card down the road a bit. Good luck with whatever you decide
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See thats what everyone says... save the money and get a new system. But that wont be until next spring at the earliest, and im almost positive the 5500 wont run 1400x900 resolution. And I refuse to run anything less than native resolution on LCDs, it doesnt look right to me.
It does have two inputs, but the VGA will be used up by my xbox 360 since you cant output through DVI with it unless you use some pain in the rear work around. The card will only cost me like 60 dollars anyway, and then when new PC time rolls around I can put it in my Dell that I just got running for my uncle and his kids. So my question is will it be much better than the 5500, or is there another PCI card that is even better than that?Also I forgot to mention that the video card I have is starting to crap out on me, so its really either a new card or no computer at all when it goes. The onboard video, along with the onboard ethernet, doesnt work anymore. This computer is reeeaaaaallly old
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I'm actually amazed every time it turns on that it still works, and is still as responsive (almost) as it was when it was new.The other option would be to use a KVM switch, which costs almost as much as the video card would. That would allow me to connect two VGA sources to one input on my screen, but since the xbox doesnt use a keyboard or mouse I dont really need it.
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I have a dongle for my Mac that changes the DVI to VGA so that I can connect to older monitors and projectors - could there be a little gender bender cable out there that will do it for you?
Kelly
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You can go DVI to VGA just fine, but VGA to DVI requires the use of a VERY expensive converter, in the neighborhood of $200+ because you need to convert it from analog to digital. DVI already has proper pin-outs to convert to VGA, so all you need is the little adapter.
Like I said there are other workarounds that I have heard of that would work with my 360, but I am not certain they actually work. Plus I need a new video card anyways as mine is on its last legs. (Getting slight artifacts now and then, not related to heat)The card is nice and cheap though, and only needs to last me about 6 months then it will more than likely be used in another computer. If I didnt use SU so much (whether I am good with it or not) I would use the fx5200 that is in my dell. That card has a DVI output... but that thing is terrible even compared to my 5500.
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Thank you for the link, but what is on there is pretty much either what I have, or far older.
Im not sure about a few of the brands, and I dont know what the conversion rates are, but £1,464.99 for the one video card is out of my budget I'm sure.So far the best I can find is a Geforce 6200 card. And I already have a 5200, but the way my 5500 performs I sure dont want a downgrade. The search continues I suppose, but at the moment it looks like the 6200 is it.
That does remind me though, I should see what if my second dell here has anything good in it. I never really checked it out except to steal the RAM for the first dell.
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Well I think a 6200 is the best that you will find for a PCI based computer. The 6200 should be a little better than the 5500 but if you get a new monitor with both DVI and VGA inputs why even buy a new card unless it's just to get the wide-angle view. The 6200 seems to be a little better than your 5500 on GPUreview.com - http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=437&card2=439
not much but a little better. I say go for it and then save for your new system after Xmas. If you have a home for your 6200 later then that's OK.
Good luck -
I am getting the new card for a few reasons:
1: Mine is starting to have issues
2: I do not believe it can handle widescreen.
3: It doesnt have a DVI output.Now three wouldnt be a problem, except I am also going to be hooking up my Xbox 360 to the screen. The only way to do that without using some strange backwards method of running through some odd adapters that I dont fully trust to even work, is to use the VGA for my Xbox.
That means the only free port is the DVI, unless I spend almost as much money as the card costs and buy a KVM switch. And considering I only have one computer, keyboard, and mouse, (in this room anyways) I dont see that as being practical.On the other hand thank you SOOOOOOOO much for the comparison, I have been looking for that for a while now. And looking at the clock speeds on those cards doesnt have me thinking to low of the 6200. I have my 5500 overclocked to about 340 MHZ core clock speed (noticable difference), and I imagine I can go much higher on the 6200. I might be able to hit 400 with it still stable.
Thanks!
I think I am off to install XP pro on my other hard drive that I just found this morning...
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Well I have the monitor... And from what it seems, i can display 1440x900. At least the nvidea tools let me set it without any problem. SO I guess the 5500 series cards can handle widescreen? Oh well, im off to see if i can fix some issues with small text. Im not used to running 1440x900. It seems like it is tryign to display half pixels almost on some of the text... particularly in the address bar on FF. It makes parts of the letter appear in a bold white while other parts of the same letter seem faded out. Maybe I am not really at 1440x900? You woul think it would display fine, or is this an issue you guys have came across?
On the other hand SU is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better like this. I have all my toolbars on the right hand side like how I have photoshop set up:
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