Graphics Card Advice

redhed17

redhed17

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Bit of a long one, but please bare with me. :)

I have a Iiyama PL2209HD monitor. I use the built in graphics off the motherboard, a Gigabyte Z97-D3H-CF. I connected the PC to the monitor via the DVI connection. I have a Playstation 4 connected via HDMI to the monitor, so that I can switch between the different connections on the monitor. I also have the HDMI from the motherboard going to a 4k TV via HDMI, though the output is usually 1080p. I can have the same screen cloned on both the monitor and the TV, or I can extend the desktop from one to the other. I can also output 4k to the TV via the HDMI. So far so good, and that was working. :)

I wanted a better monitor for image editing with Photoshop, and occasionally Lightroom, and settled for the Dell UP2716D after advice in another thread I posted. The new monitor has 1x DP, 1x mDP, and 2x HDMI connections. So no DVI connection. :rolleyes: So my previous set up is no longer possible as far as connections go. :( I think it is time for a graphics card, as some 4k videos seem a bit jerky on the TV too.

I'd like advice on a graphics card that can connect to the Dell monitor at 2560 x 1440, and can output to the TV at 4k (3840 x 2160/60p 10bit). That doesn't have to be at the same time, as I can knock it down to 1080 for general use, and when I want to clone or extend the desktop on Monitor and TV. I don't know whether that would be HDMI to the monitor and TV, so two HDMI's on the graphics card, or DP to the monitor and HDMI to the TV. I have no idea about graphics cards as I have always used the onboard graphics over the years. When I try and look for graphics cards it all seems to be about gaming, which I have no interest in on PC, as I have the PS4 for games. In the manual for the motherboard it says
"1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
  1. (The PCIEX16 slot conforms to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
    * For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
  2. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
    * The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with all PCI Express x1 slots. All PCI Express x1 slots will become unavailable when a PCIe x4 expansion card is installed.
    * When installing a x8 or above card in the PCIEX4 slot, make sure to set PCIE Slot Configuration in BIOS Setup to x4. (Refer to Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Peripherals," for more information.)
  3. 2 x PCI Express x1 slots
    (The PCIEX4 and the PCI Express x1 slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
  4. 3 x PCI slots"
I'm assuming the first option, "PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)" is where the graphics card will go on the motherboard as recommended.

So does anyone have suggestions for a good, cheap graphics card that can get me what I am after?

All opinions welcome, as I will read up on whatever people suggest to try and get the best option.
 
DP to the monitor and HDMI to the TV would be the easier route as one of each on a graphics card is more common than two HDMI, certainly at the lower end of the scale. I initially thought a GT 1030 card would do as I have one with 1 DP & 1 HDMI but it seems all the current cards have 1 HDMI & 1 DVI. The next card up the scale would be the RX550 such as this one or this alternative as they have one of all three interfaces and the HDMI is 2.0b which I believe is what you need for 4K. The RX550 doesn't get much love as it's not good for gaming but it's ideal for a media PC.

Yes, you're right about where the card would plug in to the motherboard.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply and give some recommendations Snapsh0t. :) I shall read up about them a bit more.

Anyone else got any other recommendations, or experience of the ones already recommended? :)
 
I don't know specific models as not been in the PC game for a while but the above advice is sound, personally I would buy the cheapest thing that meets the specs you require. Clearly having got away with inbuilt graphics you don't need anything powerful.
 
It's a bit like mobile phones killing off compact cameras as on-board graphics have improved and there aren't any new low-end cards these days. The GT1030 is the lowest spec current-ish technology card available and would have been perfectly good enough if it was still available with the two ports the OP needs. As it isn't he's pushed to the RX550 for around £100.
 
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I ran 4K on my GTX1050Ti without any problems, it's also powerful enough to cope with anything I throw at it on the computer - although not always on highest settings. DP and HDMI ports, some even have three HDMI ports plus a DP one.

But, if money isn't a decided factor I'd probably go for at least the GTX1060Ti just in case you want to dabble in VR in the future (if not already) as this is the min. card recommendation. It's also a far bit more powerful than the 1050Ti.
 
I'm a big fan of the GTX1050Ti and GTX1060 - I'm currently Folding on one of each - but I didn't think they met the OP's requirement of 'cheap' hence my recommendations for the tier below.
 
Oops, I missed the cheap bit. The 1050Ti is probably one of be best power for bucks cards I can think of. I can't remember the card I had before, a few versions behind I think and it couldn't deal with 4k properly. I think only 30Hz or something. Would need to look it up.

...

Forgot about the GTX970 which is just as good but far cheaper. Speaking of brands I've not had great luck with Palit so may be worth avoiding them. I think they are the budget side of brands.
 
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Yea as above, the 1050-ti is a good candidate but there are different brands and specs and you need to look at the small print of specs just to be sure
 
Thanks for the replies and recommendations. :)

The Radeon's seem to be the ones to get so far. I don't think I need the extra power (and expense ;)) for the things I do, Photoshop, Lightroom and watching movies from the GTX cards. I think the 4k feed to the TV would be the most taxing thing I do with the computer. That pushed the internal graphics occasionally, but mainly need the Display Port connection for the new monitor, and the HDMI connection for the TV.
 
gman said:
Oops, I missed the cheap bit. The 1050Ti is probably one of be best power for bucks cards I can think of. I can't remember the card I had before, a few versions behind I think and it couldn't deal with 4k properly. I think only 30Hz or something. Would need to look it up.

...

Forgot about the GTX970 which is just as good but far cheaper. Speaking of brands I've not had great luck with Palit so may be worth avoiding them. I think they are the budget side of brands.
Click to expand...
I've got no problem with Palit. My 1050Ti is one of its passive cards and it's been in this PC, folding from time-to-time, for a couple of years. Before that I had the passive GTX750Ti for two-and-a-half trouble-free years.
The GTX970 was fast in its day but much more power-hungry than the GTX10xx cards.
 
Snapsh0t said:
I've got no problem with Palit. My 1050Ti is one of its passive cards and it's been in this PC, folding from time-to-time, for a couple of years. Before that I had the passive GTX750Ti for two-and-a-half trouble-free years.
The GTX970 was fast in its day but much more power-hungry than the GTX10xx cards.
Click to expand...

Maybe I just got unlucky although it was two different spec GTX cards I tried, both Palit and one more powerful than the next. I was having a strange situation where the signal wouldn't get through to the monitor until I had tried multiple boots. When it had successfully booted, if I ever just turned the monitor off it would never acquire the signal again and I would have to go through the whole boot calamity again!

I've got a post on here long ago about it all and I don't think we ever found the solution. I changed brands and everything worked fine!
 
gman said:
Maybe I just got unlucky although it was two different spec GTX cards I tried, both Palit and one more powerful than the next. I was having a strange situation where the signal wouldn't get through to the monitor until I had tried multiple boots. When it had successfully booted, if I ever just turned the monitor off it would never acquire the signal again and I would have to go through the whole boot calamity again!

I've got a post on here long ago about it all and I don't think we ever found the solution. I changed brands and everything worked fine!
Click to expand...

I've had mixed results with Palit, they do do some very compact designs if space is an issue, but if I had a choice I'd steer clear next time

Zotac are the best from a budget perspective, and if you wanted to potentially overclock in the future I found their cards were brilliantly stable and efficiently cooled

ASUS ROG STRIX are imo the best cards though, massively over-engineered in terms of cooling etc, I was running 50% of the fan speeds than all the other brands I'd tried
 
mjScall said:
ASUS ROG STRIX are imo the best cards though, massively over-engineered in terms of cooling etc, I was running 50% of the fan speeds than all the other brands I'd tried
Click to expand...

Good to know thanks, I'm probably going to be upgrading my card soon so I'll bear this in mind.
 
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