Archive for the ‘Video Cards’ Category
What Do You Think of the ASUS Geforce GT 240 Graphics Card?
This Geforce graphics card by Asus currently has one of the fastest processing rates amongst videos cards today. This graphics cards memory chips is capable of transferring data at a rate that is five times faster than DDR3 chips. This gives this graphics card a filtrate of 8GB per second. With these features, you can expect to enjoy crystal clear displays and full motion animation on your monitor. This card also supports HDMI technology.
Because of the processing capabilities of this graphics card, you can expect full 25 frames per second animation, even as the screen becomes clotted with more objects. This video card is ideal for computer gamers and animators.
With the graphics processing, filtrate and the CPU power of your system, you can expect an added level of realism to your gaming experience. This card is also ideal for MMORPG games as it quite easily handles large maps with lots of objects on the screen at once. Any sort of slow down that you may have experienced on previous cards will be eliminated by this cards graphics processing capabilities.
This video card also supports SLI technology, allowing you to purchase another three of these graphics cards and link them together via a SLI connector. You can expect at least a 50% speed increase when you use this option. This is because you’ll have double, triple or quadruple the processing capabilities working on the same image at any one time.
The ASUS Geforce video card is a real player in today’s market. If you’re a gaming enthusiast or a computer animator, then you should consider purchasing this video card.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 275 Review
Consider a Red Sox-Yankees match up in the playoffs and you pretty much capture the spirit of what took place on April 2 when rivals Nvidia and AMD / ATI both launched mid-priced, performance video cards on the same day. Although each team sent their sluggers in to swing for the bleachers, Nvidia edged out the competition with its GeForce GTX 275 when measured against ATI’s Radeon HD 4890.
Nvidia aimed the newest addition to the growing GeForce family at the sweet spot between the GTX 260 and the GTX 285, but buyers get some serious value in the deal. The GTX 275 is based on NVIDIA’s 55nm GT200b GPU, essentially the same one used in both the dual-core GTX 295 and the GTX 285. Hosting a massive 1.4 billion transistors, the GPU has been tweaked for the GTX 275 and serves up a graphics clock spinning at 633 MHz and a processor clock tripping the radar at 1404 MHz. Translation: the GTX 275 is sporting some serious muscle often found on more expensive hardware.
Add to this the fact that the GTX 275 uses the same dual-link DVI outputs and HDTV output as the 285, the 275 also marks the launch of Nvidia’s version of Ambient Occlusion (AO) – a new feature of the Release 185 graphics drivers. Ambient occlusion adds additional realism by mimicking the way light radiates in real life, factoring in how objects relate to each other. AO demands a high processor load – performance can plummet by as much as 20% – but the effect can be dramatic, particularly in games deploying low light or indoor situations.
Roll in Nvidia’s usual suite of proprietary technologies such as GEForce 3D Vision, PhysX, and CUDA and add compatibility with Microsoft’s DirectX 10. Since it hardly breaks the the bank at around $250, the GeForce GTX 275 is a great addition to Nvidia’s fleet of mid-priced graphics cards.
Want to find out more? See Nvidia’s site for more details.
Nuts and Bolts:
- Core clock: 633 MHz
- Frequency of unified processors: 1404 MHz
- Unified processors: 240
- Memory type: GDDR3
- Memory: 896 MB
- 2 x DVI-I Dual Link
- Max. 2560×1600 digital video output
- Double SLI connector
- PCI Express 2.0
- Power consumption: up to 219 W (two 6-pin connectors)
Budget Friendly Family Computer – Dell Inspiron 518
Dells extensive desktop family now includes the new Inspiron 518. Backed by the Dell name, quality, and power, this mini tower desktop provides high performance for any type of user. With a shiny black casing and beautiful chrome accents, this desktop can make any office or room look a bit more exotic. The Inspirons budget, along with functionality, is geared a bit more towards families and students than those techy individuals out there.
The bare-bone system starts are $329. (Bare-bone, in this sense, means the minimal technical specifications discussed in a bit.) Additional features can be added through Dells interactive build process. The Inspiron 518 may not be the cheapest desktop on the market, but is decently priced when you consider the performance and functionality that it offers.
Under the hood you will find a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 256 ATI Radeon HD 3450, and a 320GB 5,400rpm hard drive. The Inspiron 518 also has gigabit Ethernet for fast connection speeds, dual-layer DVD burner, and operates on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (32-bit).
Notice that there is no option for the installation of the 64-bit version of Windows Vista. Unfortunately, the Inspiron 518 is not flexible in this sense, as it only supports a 32-bit operating system. 64-bit operating systems require more memory, which this system does not have. If you are planning to upgrade to Windows 7, you will first have to upgrade the memory, and any other necessary hardware, to get the desktop up to speed to handle a 64-bit OS.
The overall design, of the Insprion 518, is quite sleek and easy on the eyes. Dell did not stop with the overall appearance; they actually added a tray, to the top of the mini tower, for easy storage of small plug-n-play devices. Additionally, there were two USB 2.0 ports added, near the tray, to allow users to conveniently charge and connect with these devices.
Dell provides consumers with friendly interfaces and easy navigation. To increase the user experience, they have now added what is called the Dell Dock. Similar to Vistas sidebar, you can customize this dock to hold icons for your favorite applications and files. This gives you easy one-click access to those things you use most. You can customize where the dock appears, on your desktop, along with the option to completely shut it off.
The Dell Inspiron 518 does not offer consumers the option to add a Blu-ray optical drive. Depending what you had in mind for the desktop, this may not be a hindrance at all. The graphics card, which comes with the system, is a bit on the low end as well. Unlike other Dell machines, there is no option to upgrade this feature upon customizing your build. The graphics card that comes with the Inspiron 518 is decent, but is not a high-end card for gaming.
The Inspiron 518 is a budget friendly computer. Combine this with its high performance and the number of features it offers, and you’ve got yourself an amazing everyday computer. Whether you are looking for a computer for a student or an entire family, the Inspiron 518 is a good fit.
HP Pavilion Elite HPE – 180t Coupons Help Make This HP Desktop a Wonderful, Affordable Deal
There are many HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t coupons available, some of which are even stackable, to help you save on this impressive PC. There are also free upgrade options available if you order online. This desktop has a starting price of $1,099.99, which can go either up or down depending on the specifications you choose. You can also take advantage of all the online offers to bring the price down a great deal.
Is this computer worth buying? Well, it has pretty much everything you could ask for in a desktop, including:
· Memory: 8 GB (up to 24 GB) DDR3-1066M Hz SDRAM
· Hard drive: 640 GB (up to 2 TB) 7200 rpm SATA
· Processor: Intel Core i7-930 quad-core (2.8 GHz)
· Graphics: your choice of ATI Radeon HD or GeForce GTX
· Optical drive: LightScribe 16X OR Blu-ray burner & player
· OS: Genuine Windows 7 (64-bit)
All of these can be upgraded if you want more. Also, there is currently a special HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t discount available for you to upgrade to a 750 GB for free! This is definitely a deal you want to check into while it’s still available. You will find a variety of options whenever you customize your computer.
This desktop PC can be used for just about anything: communication, business, chatting with friends and family, gaming, etc. It’s designed to deliver excellent performance. It’s especially designed for multimedia. With surround sound, THX, Blu-ray options, good graphics card, MediaSmart software, etc, you can turn the HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t into an entertainment hub! The display will especially look great on an LCD monitor, so if you don’t have one, you may want to consider adding one to your order.
In addition to the main specs, this computer also comes with plenty of accessories, including 7.1 audio, 15-in-1 card reader, multimedia keyboard, HDMI, networking options, USB ports, and so forth. You can also add on extra hardware such as speaker, TV tuner, secondary optical drive, and a monitor. Indeed, you can easily turn this desktop PC into your dream computer.
Overall, most HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t reviews are positive. Consumers really seem to like this PC, especially considering it can be purchased at a very affordable price. There are tons of HP coupons available, and you can find them with a simple search. Just make sure you use one that have not yet expired. Your best bet is to look for stackable discounts so that you can save as much money as possible. So yes, to answer the aforementioned question: buying this computer is definitely worth the investment!
Top 5 Performance Video Cards
This is a short list of the meanest, fastest and most powerful 3D video cards on the market today. If you own one of them, well – lucky you!
XFX GeForce 7800 GTX
The XFX GeForce 7800 GTX video card comes with a PCI Express interface, 256MB DDR3 video memory and supports a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Though its price is a bit steep, its one of the fastest video cards on the market right now.
Powercolor Radeon X800 GT
A leading manufacturer of video cards, Powercolor has come up with the Powercolor Radeon X800 GT card. It is PCI Express based, runs on 256MB of DDR3 memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Cheaper than many of the cards in this list, but still gives extremely good 3D performance. Great value for money.
BFG GeForce 7800 GTX
Another PCI Express graphics card, the BFG GeForce 7800 GTX runs on 256MB of DDR3 video memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. BFG produces quality video cards and the GeForce 7800 GTX is no exception. Its price may scare off the casual user though.
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
The ATI Radeon 9800 Pro is still one of the hottest selling high-end video cards in the market. The Radeon 9800 Pro graphics processor scores very high on most benchmark tests. With an AGP 8X interface, 128 MB of DDR video memory and a maximum screen resolution of 2048 x 1536, this card is highly recommended.
Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum
Built on the Radeon X850 XT graphics processor, the Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum is a PCI Express card that runs on 256MB of DDR3 memory and a maximum resolution of 2048 X 1536. Highly recommended for spectacular 3D performance, and gives the GeForce video cards a run for their money.
Conclusion
Buying a good performance video card will reap many benefits – you’ll be able to play the latest 3D games in full screen glory, as well as edit video and graphics with ease.
However, please take note that having a good video card does not necessarily translate to great video performance. Factors like your CPU, motherboard and system RAM will come into play. For example, having a BFG GeForce 7800 GTX installed in a old AMD Duron or Intel Pentium Celeron system will definitely not give you the desired video performance you seek.
Now go do some research and buy that dream video card!
What Is the Difference Between NVidia and ATi Radeon Graphics Cards?
Well, if you are a gamer, you will surely know a thing or two about graphics quality. The best graphics cards produce best quality of image. Similarly, GPUs of not so good quality can distort the images to an unimaginable level. So, it is worthwhile comparing different products when it comes to graphics cards. nVidia and ATi Radeon are two such GPUs that have been in the market for quite sometime now. So, how do they compare against each other? Let’s see the view point…
From a bird’s eye point of view, there hardly exists much difference between nVidia and ATi Radeon graphics cards. The technical competence of both these products can meet the requirements of even a hardcore techie. All said and done, there are few minor differences that exist between these two iconic products. For instance, the latest version of graphics cards, i.e. dual 3D-card was introduced by nVidia and is yet to be associated with ATi. ATi Radeon GPUs are not sophisticated enough to match the brilliance of 3D effects that one can associate with nVidia graphics cards. So, if you are a hardcore gamer and like 3D effects coming out of it, nVidia GPUs offer you with a choice. However if you are an average user ATi Radeon GPUs should suffice.
If you have invested a lot in the recently launched Windows 7 package that come with DirectX 11 then you will be glad to know that both nVidia and ATi Radeon will complement your existing infrastructure. Both these GPUs will provide users with quick frame speeds, multi-screen gaming qualities and high quality graphics to go along with all other features. Interestingly, both these types of graphics cards are reasonably priced and will offer you a good value for your money. So, even if you are limited on your budget these are the GPUs for you.
nVidia graphics cards are a wonderful addition to your computer as it is known to increase the flexibility of the machine considerably. The advance version of these cards features television software, TV cable input and a Dual monitor. On the other hand, ATi Radeon GPUs come with a one slot cooler to provide their own cooling solutions. Most of these cards are manufactured with 40nm technology. This is mainly responsible for decreasing the heat generated while in operation and increase in energy efficiency.
The most recent versions of nVidia graphics cards allows you to connect a computer video card with to a cable television feed and can then transfer the output signal to a monitor. This is really beneficial if your TV needs an AV cable signal or a VGA. These are some of the features that are not visible in ATi Radeon GPUs. As such, ATi GPUs are not suitable for high-end gaming solutions. But if you are content in playing lower-end or mid level games and are also limited in your budget, ATi GPUs will perform in a much similar way to nVidia graphics cards.





