What's important when selecting a Graphic Card?

[DravenCross]

Looking for some info for one that is new in trying to upgrade my system. What are the important things to look for when selecting a graphic's card. My motherboard will only allow a PCI Express Card. So whats important to look for for most important to whatever? Memory clock speed, Core clock, RAMDAC what is important. Looking for 256MB only no less no more. As I stated I have really for idea whats important but for just some info on my PC for you if it helps:

Processor speed 3 Ghz 800 Mhz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache Hyper-Threading Tech.
1GB Ram maybe 2 soon
200 GB SATA 7200 RPM HD with 8MB Cache
Windows XP Pro

Not sure what else you might need to know but just ask and I'll see if I can give you the extra info you need. Thanks for any help I can get from anyone. One more thing not looking to speed over $220 or so on this Graphic's Card so mainly lookin for info on what is important and what to look for but suggestions are always welcome. Thanks again.

 

[GavinO]

Well, if you're locked into a 256MB PCI-Express card for around $200, you have somewhat limited options. The Radeon X700 Pro has a 256MB version for under $200, if you shop around you may even be able to pick up an X800 part if you shop around. On the nVidia side of the spectrum, it would appear you need to go with a GeForce 6800 part to get into the 256MB range; a quick perusal of Pricewatch shows me you'd be hard-pressed to get one of those beasts for under $250-275.

As for making an actual assesment of a card based on the specifications, GPU architectures vary so widely that clock speed is largely only useful between cards using the same core (each vendor has 2 or 3 cores out there at the moment). RAMDAC speed isn't terribly useful above a certain point; check the resolution/refresh rate tables to ensure the card can get to your preferred resolution with a comfortable refresh rate. As for memory speeds, type of memory is a more useful metric (because newer technologies transfer more data per clock). High end cards on both sides are running GDDR3 these days.

I suppose what this boils down to is, I would look at what sort of pricing you have on various cards, and then consider whatever reviews you can find. Maximum PC reviews are decently useful here, as they use the same baseline system and benchmarks for a year at a time, so you can actually compare numbers for a 6 month old card to the latest stuff.

 

[phreakwars]

Also, have you tried such resources as http://www.anandtech.com/ ?

Or http://www.tomshardware.com both sites are excellent when it comes to comparing options.

I think its important you decide you level of use out of a graphics card, then concider you budget. You'll end up with a better card in the end.

I could give my own recommendations but first I would need to know your level of PC use, and gameplay, and which types of games, and most important, your current MB/CPU/MEMORY configuration.

If done right, you may not need to spend a larger amount then you think in the end.
.

 

[DravenCross]

Well for gameplay looking at games like Everquest 2 or World of Warcraft. PC use well it does the basic things except not to watch DVD's though it can. We hope to burn home movies of the family on it soon and also get a nice Digital Camera to use with it. The rest of the info you asked for could you explain more on what you need. Sorry not very smart when it comes to this PC my kids know more than I do. Thanks for the replies to my post. If a 128 card will be just as good or better in the long run for me let me know as well. Checked the links you left and I see that some of the 128 cards sit right up there with the 256 in the stats they showed.