Help me find a suitable PC graphics video card

August 24, 2006 12:59 PM

I'm looking for a good quality PCI video card for my Dimension 1100. I need dual monitor support and video capture. Any recommendations? (price <$150).
posted by storybored to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Doubt you will find dual monitor AND video capture in one card.

You might as well find any cheapo card with dual outputs and another TV tuner card.
posted by mphuie at 1:35 PM on August 24, 2006

I don't think I've ever seen a dual monitor, VIVO (Video In/Video Out... ), PCI Video Card. I'm almost positive you won't find one with a TV Tuner.

I'd agree with mphuie and try to find a dual output PCI card and get either a USB Capture device, or a seperate card for Video Capture (if you get a seperate card, you could get a TV Tuner card, not just VI/VO).


The real problem is that they haven't really produced PCI cards for at least 5 years (they were after-thoughts, with a PCI->AGP Bridge). Now that AGP is on it's way out (the high-end cards are all PCI-express, no AGP), PCI is officially two generations old. This doesn't mean you won't find anything, but all of your options will be "Cheap as Possible", rather than "Chocked full of features".
posted by hatsix at 6:01 PM on August 24, 2006

if you can, see if you can find an old ATI all-in-wonder. they've been around forever and there might be a PCI version, though I've never seen one. easier to go how everyone else says and get something like a PCI radeon or geforce card and a seperate TV tuner (either PCI or USB, if you're out of PCI slots). PCI video cards will be using chips from a couple generations ago - as was mentioned, the world is moving to PCI Express and they're just not building regular PCI into many video chipsets anymore - so that'll keep the costs down on the video card at least.
posted by mrg at 10:05 PM on August 24, 2006

Thanks you guys, this is very helpful.
posted by storybored at 10:30 AM on August 25, 2006