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summerphotos
@optonline.net
|  Dedicated Video Card (Noise?)
I'm a beginner and am not building my own PC, due to not having the knowledge or skill. However, I'd like to purchase an OEM HP (or Dell) that is really quiet.
I don't play games, but my research tells me that a dedicated video card doesn't share computer RAM, and an integrated video card does share the main RAM from the computer. What's important to me is a very fast computer that's great on speed and performance, while being very quiet.
What are the pros and cons of a getting a dedicated memory card if I don't play games?
Also, of the following graphic card, which I'm assuming aren't very powerful (don't really need one since I don't play games), are any of these worth to get if I don't play games, and do any of these make computer noise?
512MB NVIDIA GeForce G210 [DVI, HDMI, VGA]
1GB ATI Radeon HD 4650 [DVI, HDMI, VGA]
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 [DVI, HDMI, VGA]
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 [2 DVI, HDMI and VGA adapters]
1GB ATI Radeon HD 4850 [2 DVI, HDMI and VGA adapters]
I should also note that I'd like to watch videos (ESPN.com, CNN.com, etc.) in as clear and good quality as possible. I do not know if a video card has anything to do with the quality of watching those online videos, though.
Thank you so much in advance for your assistance!! It's appreciated. | |
Selenia
I'm a PC running Linux, so sue me
join:2006-09-22
Pittsfield, MA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | If you don't play games or use 3D desktop apps, or the like, then a dedicated video card will do you virtually nill(and may add sound overhead if it has its own fan). Even a 10 year old 11MB shared on-board Intel video controller running under Linux can play Youtube and such just fine. As to a Dell, most are relatively loud due to cheap moving parts(my guess why)? Not sure about HP. I always build my own these days, or at least mod OEMs that end up being given to me(once every few years). I did find myself impressed at how quiet my Grandma's fairly recent emachine is. It has a Pentium D and an onboard Radeon XPress 200 gfx chip, so good enough for what she needs(or anyone but hardcore gamers).
I know that doesn't answer all your questions, but hopefully got some of them out of the way.
I just got her model for her emachine. It's T5212 if you wanted to check that out. It's now I'd say just over a year old now and still quiet. | |
srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA
·RCN CABLE
| said by Selenia  :As to a Dell, most are relatively loud due to cheap moving parts(my guess why)? Baloney.
I frequently work in offices full of Dells. They're not a bit noisier than machines from any other manufacturer, and the newer models, like the Vostro 220/420 emit lower noise levels than you find in a typical quiet office making them effectively inaudible. | |
srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA
·RCN CABLE
| reply to summerphotos
Oh, BTW, the latest generation of Intel onboard video, the x4500 isn't too shabby. As long as you're not expecting to play the latest generation games at high resolutions, it may well meet your needs.
If you still think that isn't quite enough horsepower, you can still find a few passively cooled GPUs in the Nvidia 8600 and 8800 series.
Personally, I *loathe* fans, especially the little crappy ones that the video card manufacturers use, or those 30mm or 40mm ones you find on things like northbridge heat sinks. They have tiny crappy little ball bearings in them that simply don't last. The only case fans I've found that are worth the room they take up are from Arctic Cooling. They run at low RPM with high-pitch blades and they use ceramic sleeve bearings that produce no noise at all. Despite what your intuition may suggest, you should avoid all ball bearings. They ALL make a racket and they wear rapidly. That's why you don't find them in disk drives any more -- noise and wear. | |
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