huneycutt
10-21-03, 05:19 AM
Computers are my hobby and I build my own so I'm computer savvy but video card ignorant.
Have a 2500 Barton OC'd 2.0GHz, 512 MB's RAM and EPOX 8RGA+ with on board video, no heavy gaming or video app's. Have a PNY 64MB card about two years old and when I use it can't tell a difference in the pictures with or without the PNY, think I paid $30. on close out at Staples.
I'm a senior and we enjoy taking family pictures (saved as .jpg files) with our digital camera and over the years we accumilated quite a few. I use MGI Photosuite for editing the photos and they look very good, nice green grass and pretty colors in the flowers, blue lake water and natural looking flesh tones. I occasionaly run Flight Simulator 2001 and the picture looks good enough for me.
All things considered, what would I stand to gain by investing in a $250. video card because I'm not interested in 3D or gaming special effects? With a better video card, would the .jpg pictures we now have show up "prettier" on the desktop and would the resolution and colors be better? Using a 21" KDS Visual Sensations CRT top-end monitor.
I'd appreciate your advice and comments because I'd hate to go spend money on a video card and gain nothing in picture quality.
If you DO think it would be to my advantage please recommend a good, economical card. I buy everything from newegg so I'm sure they would have what I need.
All us computer savvy folks know when building or buying (Yuck!) a computer our first question is; "What do you intend to use the computer for?" How many times people ask me which computer they should buy and when I ask the above question I hear, "Well, what difference does it make, aren't all computers the same?" I think, "Oh Boy! I got myself a live one here."
My philosophy is, you can't blame someone for what they don't know, so I start with the basics of why some computers cost more and for the average home user an entry-level eMachine will do the job in fine fashion. I'm dead set against retail store bought so I point them toward our local computer that builds a darn good computer at a reasonable price. I don't build computers for folks because I don't have time and I have a business to run.
With all that in mind, I'm 'fessing up and telling you I'm video card ignorant, so please be so kind as to educate me. Thanx and have a wonderful day. OldBird
Have a 2500 Barton OC'd 2.0GHz, 512 MB's RAM and EPOX 8RGA+ with on board video, no heavy gaming or video app's. Have a PNY 64MB card about two years old and when I use it can't tell a difference in the pictures with or without the PNY, think I paid $30. on close out at Staples.
I'm a senior and we enjoy taking family pictures (saved as .jpg files) with our digital camera and over the years we accumilated quite a few. I use MGI Photosuite for editing the photos and they look very good, nice green grass and pretty colors in the flowers, blue lake water and natural looking flesh tones. I occasionaly run Flight Simulator 2001 and the picture looks good enough for me.
All things considered, what would I stand to gain by investing in a $250. video card because I'm not interested in 3D or gaming special effects? With a better video card, would the .jpg pictures we now have show up "prettier" on the desktop and would the resolution and colors be better? Using a 21" KDS Visual Sensations CRT top-end monitor.
I'd appreciate your advice and comments because I'd hate to go spend money on a video card and gain nothing in picture quality.
If you DO think it would be to my advantage please recommend a good, economical card. I buy everything from newegg so I'm sure they would have what I need.
All us computer savvy folks know when building or buying (Yuck!) a computer our first question is; "What do you intend to use the computer for?" How many times people ask me which computer they should buy and when I ask the above question I hear, "Well, what difference does it make, aren't all computers the same?" I think, "Oh Boy! I got myself a live one here."
My philosophy is, you can't blame someone for what they don't know, so I start with the basics of why some computers cost more and for the average home user an entry-level eMachine will do the job in fine fashion. I'm dead set against retail store bought so I point them toward our local computer that builds a darn good computer at a reasonable price. I don't build computers for folks because I don't have time and I have a business to run.
With all that in mind, I'm 'fessing up and telling you I'm video card ignorant, so please be so kind as to educate me. Thanx and have a wonderful day. OldBird