Graphics card - dual monitor, budget or mid-range

Alastair

Alastair

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Thanks for reading..

I'm looking for recommendations for a graphics card to give dual monitor support. Ideally under £100, but I can be flexible on budget. It is primarily for image/video editting (Lightroom, Sony Vegas) but I do play the occasional game - but nothing very current (minimum spec required NVIDIA 9800 GTX or Radeon HD4850, something that could run Skyrim if I wanted it to would be nice).

System specs.. Dell Vostro 470MT, i5 2400..
 
The graphics card will not make a lot of difference for Lightroom or video editing (unless the video editing program says it can use the GPU, and even then it won't be a big difference) so choose something based on your gaming requirements.

I'd just look out for a special offer on a card that has 2 or more outputs and reasonable reviews rather than try to identify what card to buy from the off.

You might want to check your PC has extra power connector(s) available as most cards now have an additional power socket or two. You can get adaptors if you don't have the right plugs from the power supply but with an i5 I'd expect them to be there as it can't be that old.
 
neil_g said:
also most cards have a specific PSU output requirement, do you know what you dell is (supposed to be) putting out?
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Opened it up to be sure, 350W.. not a lot, I know. This isn't intended to be a serious gaming rig, and it sure beats my old laptop for the image processing I do..
 
neil_g said:
it does look (you may want to double check) like the vostro has a standard ATX form power supply so should be easily upgradable.
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Thanks Neil & Robert..

I need to have a rummage, I think I may have something better PSU-wise in a dead chassis I haven't fully stripped. Now I think about it, there may be an elderly graphics card in that chassis that might just do. If I can find it. That's a big "if" in our loft.
 
I'll point out also, that if you're computer has got a built in graphics card, then you should be able to use that for one monitor and the extra graphics card for the other.

ie. you don't necessarily need a card with multiple outputs.
 
jokeruk said:
I'll point out also, that if you're computer has got a built in graphics card, then you should be able to use that for one monitor and the extra graphics card for the other.

ie. you don't necessarily need a card with multiple outputs.
Click to expand...

Good point Leigh, the built-in graphics from the i5 are enough for regular applications.
 
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