Best Desktop graphics?

[UDawg]

If you are a fanboy don't post. I am looking for a cheap video card for my work PC. I want the best 2D graphics I can get for under $100.

My boss just bought me this http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=314174&pfp=SEARCH monitor but the onboard Intel graphics card that came with the HP Pavilion he got with the monitor is just killing my eyes. It is pathetically blurry. I want Comp USA to put it in so the warrenty is not void and plus I don't want to work on my work computer, they don't pay me to do that. :D So please be honest and don't post if you can't give any valuable input.

BTW even though that monitor is nice for my graphics program, it is way over-kill.

[Clay]

Matrox are hard to beat for 2D. I use Matrox cards at work.

UPDATE: The G450 and G550 both can be had for < $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=GO&Range=1&bop=and&description=matrox&order=PRICE

[UDawg]

Here is what I am worried about, if I install it my self I void the warrenty on the HP. Now if I have Comp USA install it the warrenty is not voided. Yes I know I am being picky here but it isn't my puter as you know and I just want someone else to do the work and be responsible for it. Seeing how my bosses are total ass clowns about control.
http://www.compusa.com/products/products.asp?N=200105+10&Ne=500000

[Clay]

Well, as long as one of those cards meets your resolution/refresh rate needs on that display I'd say you're fine with any of them listed at that price point.

[jAkUp]

Just get a 5200 :) It's definetely much more available

[SH64]

That video card in Clay's avatar should do just fine as well ...


:angel:

[OWA]

Matrox is considered the best in 2D but I'd think that any stand-alone graphics card would be fine. I'm a little surprised even the onboard video isn't good enough though. Are you sure that something else isn't wrong?

[UDawg]

I had the monitor hooked up to my old desktop and it seemed fine, except the fact that the old desktop was a 800mhz POS!. :D Seriously it looked fine on the old puter. The new one how ever is blurry. I am open to any possibility before I put in a after market product. Maybe I will play with the setting a bit this week and see how it goes.

This is the graphics chip. http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma900/

[jAkUp]

That video card in Clay's avatar should do just fine as well ...


:angel:

What? The video cards in my avatar aren't good enough? :(

[ENU291]

3 things are affecting you. The first is the low RAMDAC mhz of the onboard Intel video. The second is that you have to run that display at a very high resolution to get a very clear image (most likely 1900X1200). The last thing is that you are using a 15 pin DIN VGA connection for that LCD. To get the best possible image you should be using a digital (DVI) connection and run the LCD at it's native resolution. A video card with a DVI interface, at least 8MB of ram and a RAMDAC of at least 400MHZ should work great on that LCD.

[ynnek]

ramdac of that gma900's is 400 mhz though....

[UDawg]

I did get it to look good. I topped out the rez and did a few other adjustments. This is my first LCD and I didn't know what to expect. Thanks for the input guys. I learned some new things. :thumbsup:

[OWA]

If you're using WinXP, you may want to enable Clear Type if you haven't already. It takes a little while to get used to it but I think it makes text much easier to read on LCDs.

Anyway, glad you got it cleared up. Not running at the native res is a common issue. I'd say the majority of people at work (that have LCDs), are running them at a non-native res and think the blurriness is normal.

[Riptide]

Seconded on ClearType. It's awesome. Think of it as anti aliasing for your fonts. :)

[nIghtorius]

buy any card with a DVI output and a good LCD screen with DVI inputs. then you don't have to worry about 2D quality DSUB output :)

[Kojiro]

I saw a geforce MX 4000 at walmart for $34. Sure as hell better than the Intel extream crap. :D

[Ryeyoo]

I think most of the posts have been quite helpful, but the blurriness on your monitor shouldn't be there even with the integrated intel graphics adapter. Did you check to make sure hte lcd is at its native resolution? Also if it's an analogue connection to your graphics card make sure you tune the monitor a little, that can drastically improve the blurriness of the screen.