Video Card Upgrade Advice

[Nach]

My main machine features a GeForce 7600 GS which I'm looking to upgrade. My reasons for upgrade is that Nvidia is dropping driver support for it, part of it looks like it's a bit burnt, and I would like to use some of the new technology I'm missing out on like VDPAU and CUDA.

I want a modern Nvidia card which is more powerful than the one I have, with all the new tech. Something which I can depend on for many years to come, but isn't a major power drain. I don't need a wide card, power hungry card, or any of that.

I don't play games with 3D environments, and my heavy video card usage is large video playback, Command & Conquer series, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Project 64, Dolphin, ZiNc, ePSXe.

Which video card should I be getting? Bearing in mine one which should accomplish what I need, and save on my long term electric bill. I'm thinking it should probably be a GeForce GT 610 - 640, but I'm not entirely sure what to pick. Any advice?

I'd like one which has 2 DVI ports, which my current card also has.
The rest of my hardware is modern and top of the line, so no need to worry about other hardware requirements.

[Nach]

I got some help over IRC, and looks like I found a good card (GeForce GT 640 r2). I shouldn't be needing further assistance.

[adventure_of_link]

If you don't play games with 3D enviournments, what the hell are ya doing with Project 64 and ePSXe? Those are 3D console emulators...

Unless of course I missed something...

[Nach]

As one example, Mega Man X5.

[grinvader]

SHAKE SHAKE

[kode54]

Windows only. :[

[Gil_Hamilton]

My advice is to unplug the computer before you remove the old card.

[franpa]

My advice is to unplug the computer before you remove the old card.

Ground yourself and the computer before handling any electronics and also remember to plug a power cable in to the video card if the video card demands one.

[paulguy]

I always find it better to keep the computer plugged in, but the switch turned off. The case remains earth grounded in that case, and if there's any exposed metal, you can hold on to it and generally be safe touching stuff.

[Gil_Hamilton]

In any case, don't hot-swap it.

[kode54]

I once had to hot plug a video card while a system was running, because I had managed to flash its BIOS with null data somehow, and the only machine I had handy would disable its integrated video if it detected anything that looked like a video card plugged into one of the PCI slots. This included Voodoo and PowerVR cards, so using those with the onboard 2D graphics was impossible as well.

[franpa]

I always find it better to keep the computer plugged in, but the switch turned off. The case remains earth grounded in that case, and if there's any exposed metal, you can hold on to it and generally be safe touching stuff.

Yeah, that's what we do, as well as a anti-static wrist strap we clamp to the metal interior of the case. Question: Does it matter if the PSU switch is on or off? Or is it fine either way? (Power point remains off regardless of choice)

[Gil_Hamilton]

The power supply switch should, without question, be turned to OFF. Physically disconnecting the AC from the rest of the circuit is WAY safer than not disconnecting it.

At least ATX supplies don't run AC clear across the case like virtually all AT supplies did.

[paulguy]

He did say he switched off the power outlet. I imagine its fine if the power outlet is off. Not sure if that switches off the earth ground though.

[grinvader]

He did say he switched off the power outlet. I imagine its fine if the power outlet is off. Not sure if that switches off the earth ground though.

It doesn't. Ground is ground. The wire is literally linked to the ground, and switches merely control power going through the phase wire (if you don't suck at circuits. some retards put switches on the neutral side, which is a good way to get shocked by capacitor-like mechanism).
Switching ground off would rank pretty high on the retardscale, since you have to add extra parts to disable a natural security. Darwin awards material.

[paulguy]

I didn't want to say something like that if I wasn't absolutely sure, since it is a safety thing.