Graphics / Video Cards

[Speed Demon]

what are the best and worse ones to look out for when buying a desktop computer

 

i have seen most computers using ATI or NVIDIA

 

plus, INTEL and AMD do their own cards as well

 

also, does more dedicated memory equal better performance and does it matter what type of DDR memory is used

 

what others are solid performers as well nowadays, cheers

[liam1412]

Intel, AMD, Nvidia and ATI are the chip manufacturers and that covers all of them.

 

Under these are the card manufacturers (PNY, Sapphire, MSI) which will all feeature one of the above chipsets (well actually I think Intel only do onboard, and AMD I beleive are now related to ATI)

 

Really you are looking between ATI, and NVidia. WHich one you go for out of these will be argued about till the sun goes down. Like PS3 vs 360 there are purists/fanboys of each and those who just get what is good for the money at the time.

 

Without having some idea of budget it is hard to advise, BUT if you are doing Video editing it is something that shouldn't be scrimped on.

 

Maybe as a good mid range look at something like this

 

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=graphics+card&hl=en&prmd=imvnsr&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=923&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1378903618540646140

[walkerx]

for what you want to use it for then you just need a bog standard gfx card, even an onboard one these days will do

 

it would probably be best to create a single post asking for someone to spec up a pc based on how much your willing to spend and what you want to use it for

 

posting numerous different posts about which is best, should i get this pc, etc, etc will only give you confusing information

 

just get an entry-mid range computer that is all u need and shouldn't need to spend more than £350

[Speed Demon]

am not exactly sure on the budget now, but am hoping to buy something before Xmas

 

it will probably be something up to 500 quid but i ideally want to buy it from a shop, i get so paranoid about buying electronics online, like if they forget to post something on time or they send me damaged goods or even a totally different product than i ordered

 

as posted in previous thread, this is an ideal spec i am after, but if there are better and cheap options with maybe a monitor thrown in, then all the better, cheers

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02721790&cc=ad&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_r1002_usen#N35

[neeeeeeeeeek]

f you want something with a decent graphics card then order something from Overclockers.co.uk

 

If you buy something from a shop you will be wasting your money.

[walkerx]

am not exactly sure on the budget now, but am hoping to buy something before Xmas

 

it will probably be something up to 500 quid but i ideally want to buy it from a shop, i get so paranoid about buying electronics online, like if they forget to post something on time or they send me damaged goods or even a totally different product than i ordered

 

as posted in previous thread, this is an ideal spec i am after, but if there are better and cheap options with maybe a monitor thrown in, then all the better, cheers

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02721790&cc=ad&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_r1002_usen#N35

 

wouldn't buy that one as you'll have to upgrade the psu immediately - 300W psu for that system is well below par

 

have a look at overclockers.co.uk some good enough systems they have for under £350 one AMD and one Intel and that's with the added GFX instead of using the onboard one

[Speed Demon]

thing is with getting computers from those dedicated sites, they always ask you to customize them and i am often overwhelmed by the amounts of options available, they are not for beginners those sites

[neeeeeeeeeek]

Have you even looked? They offer a range of system for all uses and at different prices, you font need to do anything apart from click 'add to basket'

[Eric_Collins]

Have you even looked? They offer a range of system for all uses and at different prices, you font need to do anything apart from click 'add to basket'

 

They even do a refurb section to cut costs even further.

[Trickle]

what are the best and worse ones to look out for when buying a desktop computer

 

I would not recommend buying a gaming computer with a built in graphics card from a high street store. Nothing against the high street stores or pre-built machines in general, just 'gaming' PCs from the big brands. In fact with Intel's chip policy of stopping you overclocking most* of their chips this year buying a brand new computer vs building your own shifted the balance back somewhat more into line. That and the greater risks on downloading a cracked Windows OS [Windows 8 release candidate is not quite out yet].

 

So branded gaming PCs are bad then? How?

Yes they are terribad. They have better quality motherboards, PSUs and cases over standard consumer/office machines partially explaining their huge price tags. But the sole overriding flaw is the underpowered graphics cards. £1000 machines with weedy £<100 graphics cards. Or simply put, you can spend £1000 and end up with something not much more powerful than a 6 year old £200 Xbox.

 

You are simply better off buying a £500 office machine and adding a £125+ card yourself. The problem with home user/office PCs in shops is that its tricky to extract from the store staff what power supply they come with and what expansion sockets (i.e. graphics card socket) the machine has. <£300 base units or attractive slimline machines just dont have the sockets/space/power supply connectors for it.

 

If you are not willing to research a few of the details surrounding fitting your own graphics card to a machine I would recommend buying one from a dedicated PC games machine making e-tailer such as OCUK. The problem here is that they look naff compared with a branded computer. But if its sitting under your desk who cares?

 

 

*K series beyond scope of post.