First my current computer specs:
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955
Motherboard: Crosshair III Formula
RAM: Corsair 4GB DDR3 RAM
Graphics: Radeon HD 4890 (2x)
I am upgrading my video cards and have narrowed my selection down to 4 cards
1. HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (2x)
2. HIS IceQ H697QM2G2M Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (1x)
3. GIGABYTE GV-R697UD-2GD Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (1x)
4. VisionTek 900353 Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (1x)
So (2x) being I buy two of them and set them up in crossfire. I will aslo most likely be getting 4 more GB of RAM with this purchase. Thoughts?|||Personally, I'd go with the GIGABYTE GV-R697UD-2GD Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card. I've known Gigabyte to make some pretty outstanding equipment that I've used in the past. Highly recommend you go with Gigabyte.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
What's the difference between a video card and a graphics card?
the Dell XPS 17 I've configured for gaming, has a 3gb graphics card, but other gaming computers have 1 and 2GB Video cards, whats the difference?
Which one is better for gaming?
can i put a video card in my Dell XPS 17 laptop?|||Same thing, different names, like notebook and laptop☺|||That is simply 2 ways to describe the same item. Graphics card = video card.
In the early days of home computers, some makers used a graphics card for rendering pictures and separate video cards for connecting the monitor to the computer. That changed long ago, with one card (or portion of the motherboard in some cases) handling both functions. Both names stayed in the industry and are used interchangeably.|||Both mean the same thing.I think in Dell XPS 17 3 gb graphics is the total memory i.e dedicated memory and shared memory.In gaming laptops 2GB graphics is the dedicated memory alone and shared memory adds to it separately.
In dells xps 17 I don't think you can change or add graphics card.
Which one is better for gaming?
can i put a video card in my Dell XPS 17 laptop?|||Same thing, different names, like notebook and laptop☺|||That is simply 2 ways to describe the same item. Graphics card = video card.
In the early days of home computers, some makers used a graphics card for rendering pictures and separate video cards for connecting the monitor to the computer. That changed long ago, with one card (or portion of the motherboard in some cases) handling both functions. Both names stayed in the industry and are used interchangeably.|||Both mean the same thing.I think in Dell XPS 17 3 gb graphics is the total memory i.e dedicated memory and shared memory.In gaming laptops 2GB graphics is the dedicated memory alone and shared memory adds to it separately.
In dells xps 17 I don't think you can change or add graphics card.
Getting my first iMac, are video cards and RAM easy to install in them?
I'm a graphics student looking to save money where I can. I want to purchase an iMac with a fast processor but I dont want to get "extras" that I can buy cheaper elsewhere and install myself. I noticed it would cost a student $158 for 2gb memory, when I know I can purchase 2gb of ram from crucial for $89! So.. that would be a waste of money. But I have never owned a Mac.. are video cards and ram easy to install in them?
Also, I'm sort of frustrated with the apple store because the only way I can get a 2.33 GHz processor is if I get a 24-inch display when I can just get a larger one later on. Also, it only even gives me the option to choose a vidoe card is if I choose the largest display. Is there a way or another place where I can truly customize my iMac to my liking?|||RAM is easy to install, all you do is unscrew a small panel on the bottom and pop it in. Also, be very careful about what type of RAM you get...iMacs are notoriously picky about compatibility with third party RAM.
Other than that, iMacs are not user serviceable. You cant swap optical drives, hard drives, graphics cards or anything else. RAM is pretty much the only thing you can install yourself, so just get all the options you want on it when you buy it, b/c you'll be stuck with whatever you buy. Its money well spent though, macs hold their value and are super reliable.
As far as processor goes, you really wont notice much difference between the 2.33 GHz and the next model down processor. I was using a 1.86 GHZ Core Duo 2 last year with 1GB RAM at my job and the thing flew.
If you're doing serious graphic work though, and you want a more customizable machine, maybe look at the Mac Pro? Apple sets the standards with options so pretty much no matter where you buy you'll have the same options. The Apple store will give you a bit more flexibility in choice.|||If you want a customizable system, get a Mac Pro. You don't get as many choices in the consumer space. As for an iMac... RAM isn't hard to upgrade. Video cards are another story. You could try Apple resellers to see if you can find more options, but I doubt it. What's wrong with 1GB of RAM? It works fine for me. It's not Windows Vista, you don't need 4GB of RAM just to run the operating system.
Also, I'm sort of frustrated with the apple store because the only way I can get a 2.33 GHz processor is if I get a 24-inch display when I can just get a larger one later on. Also, it only even gives me the option to choose a vidoe card is if I choose the largest display. Is there a way or another place where I can truly customize my iMac to my liking?|||RAM is easy to install, all you do is unscrew a small panel on the bottom and pop it in. Also, be very careful about what type of RAM you get...iMacs are notoriously picky about compatibility with third party RAM.
Other than that, iMacs are not user serviceable. You cant swap optical drives, hard drives, graphics cards or anything else. RAM is pretty much the only thing you can install yourself, so just get all the options you want on it when you buy it, b/c you'll be stuck with whatever you buy. Its money well spent though, macs hold their value and are super reliable.
As far as processor goes, you really wont notice much difference between the 2.33 GHz and the next model down processor. I was using a 1.86 GHZ Core Duo 2 last year with 1GB RAM at my job and the thing flew.
If you're doing serious graphic work though, and you want a more customizable machine, maybe look at the Mac Pro? Apple sets the standards with options so pretty much no matter where you buy you'll have the same options. The Apple store will give you a bit more flexibility in choice.|||If you want a customizable system, get a Mac Pro. You don't get as many choices in the consumer space. As for an iMac... RAM isn't hard to upgrade. Video cards are another story. You could try Apple resellers to see if you can find more options, but I doubt it. What's wrong with 1GB of RAM? It works fine for me. It's not Windows Vista, you don't need 4GB of RAM just to run the operating system.
Hello, i have a 128 MB video card built-in in my laptop and i have recently bought a new 2GB RAM?
is there any way to increase the capacity of the video card to play games more smoother..some guys said by entering the BIOS, well, is it true ? and how is that ?|||Well it may or may not be true some laptop graphics come set on the median level meaning it may be able to be set as high as 256 mb maybe not. Depends on the laptop model which as of now I am oblivious to.
As far as extra memory added to mobility chip sets the above poster is correct it will speed up nothing on your mobility graphics core clock. But you may get improved textures with the increase in buffer size and lower textures may run with less choppiness so it would increase performance on that aspect without a doubt on certain chipsets.
Again this is all hypothetical at best until I know the Model of the laptop in question...|||No. Not true. While you might be able to increase the amount of system RAM allocated to the video card if it's an integrated video card, it won't actually do anything for video performance. Integrated video cards are absolutely crap for games. If your video card is a dedicated video card, you wouldn't be able to use system RAM for the video card either.
In other words, you'd have to buy a completely new computer to have a better graphics card for games.|||I agree with the first answer, built in video cards are not good for games and there is not really anything you can do in the bios to improve that.
But you do not need to buy a complete new computer for improvements. You can simply buy a better video card, insert it and disable the onboard video card.
As far as extra memory added to mobility chip sets the above poster is correct it will speed up nothing on your mobility graphics core clock. But you may get improved textures with the increase in buffer size and lower textures may run with less choppiness so it would increase performance on that aspect without a doubt on certain chipsets.
Again this is all hypothetical at best until I know the Model of the laptop in question...|||No. Not true. While you might be able to increase the amount of system RAM allocated to the video card if it's an integrated video card, it won't actually do anything for video performance. Integrated video cards are absolutely crap for games. If your video card is a dedicated video card, you wouldn't be able to use system RAM for the video card either.
In other words, you'd have to buy a completely new computer to have a better graphics card for games.|||I agree with the first answer, built in video cards are not good for games and there is not really anything you can do in the bios to improve that.
But you do not need to buy a complete new computer for improvements. You can simply buy a better video card, insert it and disable the onboard video card.
2GB video card - Is it good?
I recently heard that the guy who fixes my computer was going to install me a "2GB video card". Now, I really don't know much about video cards.
Is a 2GB video card a good video card for gaming? Thanks in advance.|||Hmm, considering 1GB video cards just started coming out, I'd say he was BS'ing you. And I am beign serious when I say that. Find out from him the exact model of video card, as he has sold you something that will not live up to the line he fed you.
In any case, currently anything over 512Meg on a video card is overkill unless you are running a seriously large display, over 30 inches.|||Thera are many factors that determine a graphics card's overall performance. The amount of RAM....is your case 2GB is one of those factors. That being said....2GB is a LARGE amount of RAM for a video card. Check out the ATI HD4870 X2. These are very high-performance graphics cards.|||the ram on a graphics card isnt really important above 512MB unless you are running a game at really high resolutions. 2GB in my opinion is overkill. i would be more interested in what actual card he is putting in.|||2gb ??? i highly doubt hes putting a $400 part in your computer
2gb is very high end for video its up there with the most expensive and close to the top of the charts as the biggest cards.
Is a 2GB video card a good video card for gaming? Thanks in advance.|||Hmm, considering 1GB video cards just started coming out, I'd say he was BS'ing you. And I am beign serious when I say that. Find out from him the exact model of video card, as he has sold you something that will not live up to the line he fed you.
In any case, currently anything over 512Meg on a video card is overkill unless you are running a seriously large display, over 30 inches.|||Thera are many factors that determine a graphics card's overall performance. The amount of RAM....is your case 2GB is one of those factors. That being said....2GB is a LARGE amount of RAM for a video card. Check out the ATI HD4870 X2. These are very high-performance graphics cards.|||the ram on a graphics card isnt really important above 512MB unless you are running a game at really high resolutions. 2GB in my opinion is overkill. i would be more interested in what actual card he is putting in.|||2gb ??? i highly doubt hes putting a $400 part in your computer
2gb is very high end for video its up there with the most expensive and close to the top of the charts as the biggest cards.
Can I put 2, ATI Radion 9250, w/256MB PCI Video Cards in my comp, even if I wouldn't have anything hooked 2 it
Can I put 2, ATI Radion 9250, w/256MB PCI Video Cards in my comp, even if I wouldn't have anything hooked to it...?
Would I get the 512MB (1/2GB) Video RAM...?
Or would it not do anything...?|||yeah it will boot from the agp card first, and give you dual monitor abaility, but depends on your motherboard and windows on how to it handles the drivers for those graphic cards, and no it wil not give you a combined 512mb of graphical memory.
the other person who said about crossfire or xfire for ati cards its wrong since they didnt read the question correctly since you need pci-express cards for crossfire, not agp/pci|||thats called crossfire, you have to have a special motherboard for that, you can run them together but you have to set it up correctly|||You can put two in their, but there's no point. Unless you have them hooked up through SLI, in which case you'll get more than the combined memory: both cards will work in parallel, almost doubling your performance for video output.|||I've done similar things to this, so that I could run multiple desktops. I have 2 PCI video cards in a presentation computer so that I can hook up 4 monitors with unique video on each. It will not however allow the cards to work together on a single display. It will not increase your gaming performance at all, if that's what you are after.|||The card you listed only supports AGP or PCI (not PCI Express) connections and is not an ATI Crossfire supporting card. You could install multiple cards, but doing so will not enable them to work together as you are suggesting. You could use each to drive a separate display, but you wouldn't combine the processing power.
Would I get the 512MB (1/2GB) Video RAM...?
Or would it not do anything...?|||yeah it will boot from the agp card first, and give you dual monitor abaility, but depends on your motherboard and windows on how to it handles the drivers for those graphic cards, and no it wil not give you a combined 512mb of graphical memory.
the other person who said about crossfire or xfire for ati cards its wrong since they didnt read the question correctly since you need pci-express cards for crossfire, not agp/pci|||thats called crossfire, you have to have a special motherboard for that, you can run them together but you have to set it up correctly|||You can put two in their, but there's no point. Unless you have them hooked up through SLI, in which case you'll get more than the combined memory: both cards will work in parallel, almost doubling your performance for video output.|||I've done similar things to this, so that I could run multiple desktops. I have 2 PCI video cards in a presentation computer so that I can hook up 4 monitors with unique video on each. It will not however allow the cards to work together on a single display. It will not increase your gaming performance at all, if that's what you are after.|||The card you listed only supports AGP or PCI (not PCI Express) connections and is not an ATI Crossfire supporting card. You could install multiple cards, but doing so will not enable them to work together as you are suggesting. You could use each to drive a separate display, but you wouldn't combine the processing power.
Does a 128mb dedicated video card with a shared video card of up to 2gb is good for running games?
Hi
I have a toshiba satellite e105-s1402 it has a 128 mb dedicated video .........and it says it can go up to 2gb of shared video.
I tried to play some games but I cant, like assasins creed, and fallout 3.......... apparently something with the video card, can anyone help me or explain me why it is not working.....
I tried to use the BIOS to increment the shared video but apparently in this laptop I dont have that option
thank you|||Sometimes, the video memory isnt enough, its the actual core speed of the card that matters. Most cards that run those games run at 800 ghz. Also If you have an integrated memory card, which you probably do since its a laptop, most of them unless ati or nvidia, arent compatible with most games.|||It's just saying that your computer has 2GB of RAM, and that the videocard will occasionally use some of that. However, that is *no where near* the performance of dedicated graphics memory, so it shouldn't even count, and it angers me that manufacturers deceive people who may not know like this
I have a toshiba satellite e105-s1402 it has a 128 mb dedicated video .........and it says it can go up to 2gb of shared video.
I tried to play some games but I cant, like assasins creed, and fallout 3.......... apparently something with the video card, can anyone help me or explain me why it is not working.....
I tried to use the BIOS to increment the shared video but apparently in this laptop I dont have that option
thank you|||Sometimes, the video memory isnt enough, its the actual core speed of the card that matters. Most cards that run those games run at 800 ghz. Also If you have an integrated memory card, which you probably do since its a laptop, most of them unless ati or nvidia, arent compatible with most games.|||It's just saying that your computer has 2GB of RAM, and that the videocard will occasionally use some of that. However, that is *no where near* the performance of dedicated graphics memory, so it shouldn't even count, and it angers me that manufacturers deceive people who may not know like this
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