Can a NVidia 8300 GS (128Mb) be used on a 50" LCD TV?

[TommyHolly]

Hey guys,
My buddy wants to buy a PC from the Dell Outlet using my discount. The PCs we are looking at already come with a Nvidia 8300 GS (128Mb) graphics card installed. Instead of buying a monitor or LCD screen, he wants to use it on his 50" LCD TV. Here are my questions:

1. Can the Nvidia 8300 GS (128Mb) display onto a large TV like that using the (S-Video), (PC input) or whatever port it has? (Note: My friend's 50" Sony LCD is brand new, cost around $4,000 and has every kind of input you can imagine behind it.)

2. If that video card can't do the job, I assume he could just go out and buy one that does and is more powerfull? What would you guys reccomend that will fit into a Inspiron Desktop 530 Mini-tower: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6550 (4MB L2 Cache,2.33GHz,1333 FSB) with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (Note: This is not the "slim" case of the 530s model which requires a special small sized version GPU. I'm assuming that a 530 "mini tower" can fit a normal sized GPU inside??)

 

[Niku-Sama]

if your just displaying up on a big LCD it shouldnt really have any problems. its probally at most a 1080p resolution.

i wouldnt expect any games out of it though

 

[TommyHolly]

Cool thanks! But if he wanted, we could probably just go out and buy a nicer video card right? (Those slim cards are hard to find... I am thinking this mini-tower will fit a normal sized video card so all we have to do is just go out and buy a nice 8800 GS if he wante more?)

 

[Niku-Sama]

beats me, probally could find something else though

 

[Evilsizer]

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspndt_530?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
if thats the desktop, from what i can find it uses full height video cards. the only problem might be the psu. as pointed it if its just for websurfing or music playback, some dvd movies it will be fine at 1080p. if he plans to game on that screen at 1080p he is going to need a stronger card. i would start in the area of a 9600GT or 8800GTS 640bit card as it does better at higher res's then the 256-bit. also may want to consider the 3870 card or just going with a 9800GX2 or 3870X2 if he reallys needs something better.

 

[jason4207]

Get yourself a DVI-HDMI cable for the connection.

 

[LilBuddy]

It will work but don't count on playing something like Crysis at that high of a resolution on that tv.

 

[TommyHolly]

I told my buddy last night, "OK you have a pretty good PC on the way. If you plan on playing the latest games though you will have to buy a $200 video card or 2 of them."

He has never had a PC EVER! LOL. Hard to imagine huh? He has used one of my PCs or his mom's ancient crappy ones that still use Windows 98. As long as he can display this on his LCD widescreen TV to view e-mail and broswe the net without any problems, he'll be fine for now.

I may install "Return to castle Wolfenstien: Enemy Territory" for him to see how that runs? I told him the bigger the screen, the nicer the graphics card you will need and you plan on using this on a 50" screen when most people use this on a 21" LCD. I'll write back in a few weeks and tell you how it goes.

 

[jason4207]

Bigger means nothing...it's pixel count that's important.

Most 22" monitors are 1680x1050. That's 1,764,000 pixels.

The 50" in question is 1920x1080. That's 2,073,600 pixels.

Most 24" monitors are 1920x1200. That's 2,304,000 pixels.

Most 30" monitors are 2560x1600. That's 4,096,000 oixels.

If you run the gfx card at the native resolution of the monitor/TV (which is highly advisable) then you can see that bigger doesn't necessarily mean it will require a beefier gfx card. That 8300 should be able to run your desktop at 1920x1080, but don't expect to play any games at that rez.

I'd recommend the 8800GTS-512 if you plan on doing any gaming on that big screen. It should fit right into your $200 budget...after rebate. You won't need 2 cards, but 2 will definitely improve your framerates in certain titles. I wouldn't recommend SLI to your friend, though, since he is pretty new to PC's.

 

[benscoobert]

I had an 8400gs on my 1080p
it struggled with hd playback at times and ran very hot
replaced with 8800gts 320 and no trouble now

tell your friend a steal at the moment is the 8800gt 512

 

[ratbuddy]

I didn't see him mention 1080p, it could be a 1366x768 TV

Either way, the 8300GS will work, but don't count on playing anything newer than Quake 2 at decent frames..

 

[jason4207]

(Note: My friend's 50" Sony LCD is brand new, cost around $4,000 and has every kind of input you can imagine behind it.)

I didn't see him mention 1080p, it could be a 1366x768 TV

I'd assume a brand-new 50" TV that costs $4,000 is 1080p. If not he really got ripped-off!

 

[ratbuddy]

I'd assume a brand-new 50" TV that costs $4,000 is 1080p. If not he really got ripped-off!

It's possible.. The guy spent 4 grand on a TV and wants a Dell Outlet machine with a 8300GS.. He needs to get those priorities straight!!

 

[benscoobert]

it wants to be at that price
my 42" lg was 700 gbp 3 months ago

wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't though, I've seen tvs with 1080p input stickers on which are clearly not full hd to someone who has read up before buying
but sadly people do buy without reading up 1st

 

[TommyHolly]

OK Jason reccomends the 8800GTS 512MB, and Ben has a 8800 GTS 320...which I assume is 320 MB? Someone else in another thread said I should tell my buddy to buy a 9600 GT (no size in MB mentioned)...

This is probably a whole 'nother thread but which card would be the most powerfull? My buddy is loaded, (but very cheap) so his range is around $200-250. Thinking about playing even more faster game in the next year or so without getting into SLI, which of those 3 cards would be the best? 8800 GTS 320, 8800 GTS 512, 9600 GT

 

[ratbuddy]

Without a doubt, the GTS-512 for $200 or less even. GTS-320 is oldtech and won't work that well at 1080p. 9600GT is a great card for the money, but with a screen that big he needs a little more oomph.

 

[jason4207]

The 8800GTS-320 is older technology...I'd avoid it as a new purchase.

The 8800GTS-512 and 9600GT-512 are both new cards, but the 8800GTS-512 is a good bit better.

8800GTS-512 > 8800GT-512 > 9600GT-512

These are the 3 you should consider, and w/ a $200-250 budget I'd go w/ the 8800GTS-512.

edit: 2 slow!

 

[Douken]

^+1

Is he buying a new PSU for that? Cause he will need one...

I would recommend the PSU I have, it's like $80 or so (26A @ +12v). (see sig)

PS: My mini tower can fit an 8800GT

 

[Evilsizer]

while they talk about tech the only thing it is a chip/mem width change. the size has nothing to do with the video card. its the resolution he will be running, if he is running aa/af the 8800GTS 640mb. has a wider memory width then the 8800GT/GTS 512mb, the difference is that both with out aa/af preform the same. the 9600GT is a good card for those with out much $$ to spend. as your talking 9600GT =$145,8800GT/GTS 512mb=$200-225. people dont list the memory for the 9600GT since it only comes with 512mb 256bit vs others. since with the 8800GTS you either get a 256bit/512mb or the 320bit/640mb or 320mb/320bit cards. the 8800GT only comes with 256bit 256mb/512mb cards.

8800GTS's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130317
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130337

now just depending on how much he is willing to spend. i would say look at 9800GTX or a 9800GX2. if he doesnt mind ATI the 3870X2 is a good deal vs where it was at when released. there are options the problem is not knowing the price that person is willing to pay.

ati 3870X2 (not much more then the 9800GTX)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102723
9800GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339
9800GX2 (basicly 2 8800GTS 512mb/256bit cards already in SLI)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338


sorry but i read it a few times and prolly blind but i didnt see a price listed for a GPU. no with the GPU's i listed last the guy is prolly going to need a new psu in that dell rig. if he doesnt want to go that far stick with the 8800GTS 320bit or the 256bit cards.

 

[jason4207]

My buddy is loaded, (but very cheap) so his range is around $200-250.

Yes, you're blind Evil!