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Author Topic: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV  (Read 8875 times)

Brad Smith

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Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« on: August 25, 2010, 06:01:44 pm »

I want to upgrade my current Dell 1901FP monitor with the NEC MultiSync 3090-BD-SV recommended elsewhere on LL. I believe I will need to also upgrade my video card, which currently has only analog out, with one having DVI-I and/or DVI-D for maximum compatibility and performance. I am running Windows X64 on a Dell T3400 and would appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks.
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2010, 02:09:09 am »

Most any modern video card will support dual-link (what you need for a 30" monitor), even the $50 ATI 4350's..

Where the differences start to happen after that is in support for more than one monitor, and how much GPU power your applications will benefit from, vs. what you're willing to pay.   You didn't list your uses/needs other than the 30" monitor, so its hard to make recommendations past the first sentence.

Do you play games?  Do you render video and if so how often and how big are your typical files?   Will you want to eventually add a second or third monitor?  Will you want to take advantage of CS5's OpenGL acceleration?

There is a semi-correct urban myth floating around that for image work any video card will do, and you won't realize performance gains from more powerful cards.   Yes, any video card that supports your hardware will do, but there really are performance gains to be made through a more powerful video card.

So.. the more specific you can be.. the better.
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Brad Smith

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2010, 07:27:54 am »

Steve,
Thank you for your reply. I am not currently into video and don't ever expect to be into gaming. I mainly wanted the larger color gamut and the wider screen for my still photography work, where I do my editing in LR3 and PS-CS5.

Regarding the card, I decided to call Dell and get their recommendation directly. Like you implied, the card they recommended as compatible with my Dell system is relatively inexpensive--a GE Force 9500GT (~$70 from Dell), and I have decided to go with that. I know I could have saved a few $ and some tax at Amazon or somewhere else, but I had already sorted it out with Dell, and it was easier to just go with them.
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2010, 08:18:18 am »

It appears Dell was unloading old stock on you, this model came out in early 2008 and I think is discontinued... there's more to this than money.

During the last 2-3 years many advancements have come out.. from the lower 45 and 32nm scale, which greatly reduces power consumption (and as a byproduct heat), operating temps, and capabilities such as Directx11, OpenGL's latest version (used in CS4 and CS5), and much more.  For instance, at peak use the 9500GT uses 211 watts, supports 2 monitors, but only 1 LUT (so only one monitor can have a profile assigned to it), no native HDMI (there is a Svideo where you can connect to older style HDTV inputs which will require a separate audio cable (HDMI does not), and other such deficiencies when compared to a new modern card.   If your power supply isn't new or updated you could find yourself needing with errors or other issues under load (or even shutdowns) and the need to replace your power supply.

In comparison ATI's much newer 4670 is a much more powerful card, supports the latest OpenGL and Directx standards, has a native HDMI and the codecs necessary to run a great home theater, supports up to 2 monitors, supports 2 video card LUT's (necessary if you want more than one monitor to be correctly color profiled), and it does all this while only drawing a maximum of 75 watts (much less generated heat, smaller card) for about $90 if you shop around.  the 4650 or even the 4550 for as low as $50 are just as new with the same type of inputs/outputs.  The ATI cards can be purchased with 2 DVI, 1 DVI, 1 HDMI, or most combinations.. different manufacturers offer different port configs and cooler styles.  You can even get a 4670 passively cooled with no fan and no noise at all..

I think one of the best price/performance/feature boards out there at the moment is the ATI 5770 (about $139) and runs 3 monitors with 3 LUT's..  A video card LUT is necessary to assign a color profile to a monitor which doesn't have a hardware LUT.. if your monitor has hardware LUT's then you wouldn't worry about this.  Still, the raw performance of the 5770 will enhance most systems and once with a big slow RPM fan (HIS's Ice series for instance) run cool and make very little noise..

It's difficult to summarize video cards.. but from that I hope you got that the 9500xt is a much older design that uses 3x the power of a modern more powerful card, doesn't support HDMI, might require you to upgrade your power supply, will run much hotter and the cooler will be much noiser, and it will only support a single LUT which means while it will run two monitors, only one will have the correct color..

Shame on Dell..
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2010, 08:23:30 am »

Sorry.. just dawned on me the title of the thread.. your monitor will of course support hardware LUT's so the video card LUT's aren't important for this monitor.. still, that's just one item of many..
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Bill Koenig

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2010, 09:44:42 am »

I would wait for up coming NEC PA series 30 inch display that should be released later this year.
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JRSmit

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2010, 10:54:16 am »

I have recently chosen for the ATI firegl v3800. Primary reason is that ATI only for this range of cards really boasts the 10bit per channel front to back pipeline with the displayport connector. The Nec PA is a 10bit per channel (rgb) monitor. I just received my PA271W as well as SV2 plus nec sensor, aim is to get it completely set up and calibrated and profiled next week. The 10 bit/channel is not yet really supported by applications as photoshop or lightroom, but i anticipate it will in the hopefully near future. The V3800 is the entry model, the next in the line really supports 2 monitors, and is not much more expensive.
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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2010, 11:51:05 am »

"I have recently chosen for the ATI firegl v3800. Primary reason is that ATI only for this range of cards really boasts the 10bit per channel front to back pipeline with the displayport connector. The Nec PA is a 10bit per channel (rgb) monitor. I just received my PA271W as well as SV2 plus nec sensor, aim is to get it completely set up and calibrated and profiled next week. The 10 bit/channel is not yet really supported by applications as photoshop or lightroom, but i anticipate it will in the hopefully near future. The V3800 is the entry model, the next in the line really supports 2 monitors, and is not much more expensive."

I recently took delivery of two LCD2690uxi2's, SVII kit, hoods, and run them via a ATI 5970..  I could have waited the few months for the PA271w's.. and many won't understand why I didn't.. but the reality if it all.. is the LCD2690uxi2's, or the 30" model the OP is looking at, they're really good monitors with little to find wrong or wanting.  Also, the PA series is new and there 'could' be some bugs to work out. 

The 5970 is overkill, but with an Artic Cooler mounted it runs cool and silent and has tons of power in reserve for rendering which I hope to get into more over the next season.  Without the Artic Cooler I would have swayed more to what you have just to get away from the small fan/high noise theme.. and because a workstation card is probably more appropriate for my professional needs.   However, with the cooler mounted it's both quiet and cool and had more power on reserve than anything else out there.

10 bit.  This almost swayed me to the PA271W/fireGL combination.   Then CS5 came out and didn't support 10 bit.. so perhaps in 2 years soonest?  Maybe more like 4?  I'll probably replace my computer by them and possibly be ready to replace my monitors by then as well..

I suppose.. I'm just tired of buying hardware in the hope software support is just around the corner.  Remember x64?  And before that 16 bit aps?  They all took forever to mainstream.. and while x64 is what I run and is mostly supported.. there is still a long ways to go to call it complete.  Heck, 8/10 I run up CS5 it's in the x32 just so I can use my plug-in's not yet supported in x64.  10 bit video?  Maybe in 4-5 years..
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TimBarker

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2010, 06:33:03 pm »

The 5970 is overkill, but with an Artic Cooler mounted it runs cool and silent and has tons of power in reserve for rendering which I hope to get into more over the next season.  Without the Artic Cooler I would have swayed more to what you have just to get away from the small fan/high noise theme.. and because a workstation card is probably more appropriate for my professional needs.   However, with the cooler mounted it's both quiet and cool and had more power on reserve than anything else out there.
Did you put the cooler on and is it silent or just quiet, if the latter how quiet?

10 bit.  This almost swayed me to the PA271W/fireGL combination.   Then CS5 came out and didn't support 10 bit.. so perhaps in 2 years soonest?  Maybe more like 4?  I'll probably replace my computer by them and possibly be ready to replace my monitors by then as well..

Thought CS4 did support 10 bit, so why go back to only 8 bit?

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Tim Barker (aka MandoTiM in other forums),
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Uses Nikon D200 or Sony Ixus110is
with post-processing on an ASUS P6T and i7-920 with
6Gb RAM, 1.5Tb discs, NEC PA271, Gigabyte 9600, Canon 9000Pro,
using Win7-64, CS4 et al.

Steve Weldon

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2010, 12:22:31 am »

"Did you put the cooler on and is it silent or just quiet, if the latter how quiet?"

Yes, installed it myself.  Be very careful with this specific card (5970) when installing the Artic Cooler.  Only tighten down the x-plates 50% or less (of the available threads).  Many are bricking their cards.  I think silent is accurate.. you can't hear the fans at all up to 80%, at 100% you 'think' you can hear them.  My system is in a Lian li case with very quiet 140mm fans.. can't hear the video card at all.

"Thought CS4 did support 10 bit, so why go back to only 8 bit?"

I could be wrong on this.. but when I checked neither CS4 or CS5 supported 10 bit. 
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2010, 01:18:07 pm »

Interesting piece.. so CS5 IS supported.. but hit and miss.  And you've got to have all the right equipment enabled in all the right ways.

I suppose the question is.. is it worth it?  When you sit down in front of such a system, is there a small difference or a great difference?   Do your plug-ins support 10 bit or must they be enhanced some way?  (I'm still using x32 CS5 8/10 times over x64 because my plug-ins are 8bit, and I don't see a huge difference in x64).

Anyone here have or have seriously used a 10 bit setup?
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JKirbs

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10 bit misinformation cleared up
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2010, 08:28:30 am »



"10-Bit Color for Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 and Adobe® Photoshop® CS5
ATI FirePro™ professional graphics products have supported true 10-bit per component color support for several generations, providing 30-bit color output to the display.* The graphics drivers for ATI FirePro™ professional graphics offer Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 and Adobe® Photoshop® CS5 users the ability to render images with 10-bit per component color, helping to provide an exact representation of colors between Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 and Adobe® Photoshop® CS5 and their 10-bit displays. The User Guide outlines the specific steps to enable 10-bit color."

http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/tools/Pages/tools.aspx

FirePro 7800 is the sweet spot just below money no object, bulky double slot, cards. If you look at the specs it's a huge bump up from the 5800, for not much cost differential.

Amazes me how little attention the ATI support for 10 bit gets.

I always get confused as to how NEC distinguish or do not distinguish their SKUs, but check you get SpectraView and a dedicated puck in the package for an easier life.
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Brad Smith

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Re: Video card recommendations for NEC MultiSync 3090W-BK-SV
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2010, 01:38:56 pm »

I always get confused as to how NEC distinguish or do not distinguish their SKUs, but check you get SpectraView and a dedicated puck in the package for an easier life.

I did get the SpectraView disk and the puck for color calibration. I am still (eagerly) waiting for the video card from Dell so I can take this new monitor for a drive. My current analog card does not support the NEC 2560x1600 resolution.
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