Graphics Card to Drive NEC PA271w

[dmerger]

I’d appreciate advice regarding a graphics card to drive my NEC PA271w (with SpectraView) and Acer x223w.  My computer is an HP xw4400 with an Nvidia Quadro FX 560, with Vista 64 bit OS.

When I first got my NEC, I hooked it up and I thought that I could set its resolution to its native 2560 x 1440.  However, I disconnected my NEC and after a couple of months I hooked it up again, but this time as my secondary monitor.  Now, the Nvida control panel doesn’t permit the 2560 x 1440 resolution.  Maybe I’m mistaken about being able to use 2560 x 1440 previously because it appears that the specs for the Quadro FX 560 don’t support 2560 x 1440.  If so, I guess I need a new graphics card.

I don’t use my computer to play games or watch TV or movies.  I just need a graphics card for Photoshop that will run my dual monitors with the 2560 x 1440 native resolution for my NEC

[tived]

I would say almost any of the current nVidia/AMD with 1GB of video ram or more will do the job. just check the connections.

If you are using Photoshop CS5 and some other applications that can take advantage of the processing power in the GPU's then you will see greater benefit in a faster card, unlike the yester years where the graphics card didn't make that much difference they do now.

Henrik

[dmerger]

Here are the specs for my computer:

"6 slots: 1 PCI Express (x16) Graphics slot, 1 PCI Express (x16 mechanically, x4 electrically), 1 PCI Express (x1) and 3 full-length legacy PCI slots"

I assume I need a PCI Express x16 of some type to fit in the slot now occupied by my Nvidia Quatro FX 560?  I'm lost here.  For example, Newegg has PCI Express 2.1 x16, 2.0 x16 and x16.  Are all of them compatible with my computer? 

I'm currently using PS CS4.

[tived]

Hi dmerger

What mainboard do you have, that might help.

There is a huge amount of choice, and yes it can be a bit of a daunting task to pick one - what is your budget?

I personally have an ASUS GTX-460 1GB card which runs very nicely and support two large monitors


Henrik

[tived]

have a look at this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121391   $189 at newegg, its one generation behind, not too expensive, of course you can get better and faster then this.

it supports on both outputs 2560 x 1600


Henrik

[tived]

EVGA is good too and I just found the newer version for the same price as the asus here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660 $189 supports the same resolution

Obviously you can go with something like this a real monster with 3GB of video ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130655 but its also pricy $589

Henrik

[dmerger]

As far as I can determine, my motherboard is a Foxconn motherboard that has been customized to HP's specifications.  My processor is an Intel 2.13 GHz Core 2 Duo, with an Intel® 975X Express chipset and 8 GB of RAM. Power supply is 460 watts.

Price isn’t a big concern, but I don’t want to pay more than I need to get adequate performance.  I don’t need the latest, greatest card.  Since I don’t play games or video, I assume just a basic graphics card is all I need.  I’ve also read that PCI Express 2.0 x16 should be compatible with my older PCI Express x16 slot.  

Here is an EVGA card for $69. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130395  It has good reviews and appears to do all I’d need.  The $189 EVGA card linked above has some better specs, but would it make much difference just for Photoshop CS4?

[tived]

Hi Dean,

Basically, the difference is that the more expensive cards have faster memory and processors with more cores and it will make a difference. However, you can use the one you have in your bottom link too.

So, if you are likely to upgrade to CS5 or upgrade your computer later, where you take your new graphics card with you to the next then the faster once would be one to pick, but if you are not likely to make any other changes for some time, just choose the cheaper option.

I wasn't trying to say to you to choose the most expensive one, but only to illustrate the spectra of choice, as I do not know your workflow if you work on small or big files, do pano's etc...

I myself picked in the middle of the range, actually at the lower middle range with my own graphics card the ASUS GTX-460, mainly because I do, do a lot of pano work where I can take advantage of the better graphics card with looking at the previews, my prefered choice would have been a card with 2 or more gigabytes of video ram.

the bottomline here is to find know what is going to make the biggest difference in boosting improved speed and quality in your work within a given set of restrictions vs $$$


Henrik

[dmerger]

Thanks for the advice.  I ordered an EVGA GeForce GT 430.  http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=01G-P3-1431-KR

[tived]

Excellent, let me know how it performs when you get it.
Great price!

Henrik

[dmerger]

Works fine.  Installation was easy.  It recognized both my monitors and automatically set the respective native resolutions. 

I haven't used it much, but I noticed that when I open multiple photos in PS I no longer get a pop up message regarding too many opened photos for Open GL.  Other than that difference, and of course my ability to now use the 2560 x 1440 native resolution for my NEC, I haven't noticed any difference in performance with just one photo opened.  But, my old card worked fine in that circumstance, too. 

$55 looks like a real bargain.  The EVGA appears to perform as well as I could hope.

[tived]

Great news Dean,

Well, I think that the fact that you are not getting the error message with too many windows open is a great improvement. Overall it should like you had a good experience and when you upgrade to CS5+ you will have a smoother zooming experience ;-) as the PS will be able to take advantage of more features within your card.

as you say for money its a great upgrade!

:-)

Henrik

[dmerger]

Henrik, I've been encountering some very strange behavior.  You may find this thread interesting: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=54900.0