Which video card for a Dell Precision T7500 workstation?
Based on input I received in the CPU zone I plan to purchase a 64-bit Dell Precision T7500 Workstation. This is primarily to accommodate video (and audio) processing and working with large Excel spreadsheets. The video and audio is for videos such as narrated PowerPoint presentations or talking heads giving a talk about something. It is not fast-paced action. The spreadsheets can be 50MB files with 50,000+ rows and 40 columns. I am not a gamer.
I use a single Dell 2709W 27" digital LCD monitor. (It's excellent, although it does double duty as a space heater.) It has both DVI and DisplayPort inputs.
I am asking for your help in deciding which video card to purchase with the T7500 given the nature of my applications. Below is the list of options from dell.com including the incremental price for each. Their default is the 256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295.
Which would you recommend for my situation? Why? Thanks you!
4.0GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 5800, DUAL MON, 1DP & 2DVI [add $3,600]
1.5GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 4800, DUAL MON, 2DP & 1DVI [add $1,419]
1.0GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 3800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $900]
768MB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 1800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $490]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 580, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $120]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 420, Quad Monitor, 4DP [add $410]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 420, Quad Monitor, 4DP, 4DVI [add $410]
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295, DUAL MON, 2 DP [Included in Price]
1.0GB ATI FirePro" V8700, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $1,239]
512MB ATI FirePro" V5700, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $490]
256MB ATI FirePro" V3750, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $100]
I use a single Dell 2709W 27" digital LCD monitor. (It's excellent, although it does double duty as a space heater.) It has both DVI and DisplayPort inputs.
I am asking for your help in deciding which video card to purchase with the T7500 given the nature of my applications. Below is the list of options from dell.com including the incremental price for each. Their default is the 256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295.
Which would you recommend for my situation? Why? Thanks you!
4.0GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 5800, DUAL MON, 1DP & 2DVI [add $3,600]
1.5GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 4800, DUAL MON, 2DP & 1DVI [add $1,419]
1.0GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 3800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $900]
768MB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 1800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $490]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 580, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $120]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 420, Quad Monitor, 4DP [add $410]
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 420, Quad Monitor, 4DP, 4DVI [add $410]
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295, DUAL MON, 2 DP [Included in Price]
1.0GB ATI FirePro" V8700, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $1,239]
512MB ATI FirePro" V5700, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $490]
256MB ATI FirePro" V3750, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI [add $100]
SOLUTION
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Cuteadder
the basic cheapest one is still overkill for Excel, just go for the cheap option...
As I noted in your question r.e. which CPU to buy, the base Quadro card in the Precision has plenty of performance for your applications. You may, however, want to upgrade to the FX580 ... it has superb performance for the price, and the $120 upgrade fee isn't too bad (you can buy the card by itself for $185). Read the reviews on the FX580 here before you decide: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133273&Tpk=FX%20580
If you want a higher-end card, I'd just wait until you use the system a bit before changing. With the more expensive cards, the cost of the cards is very close to what Dell charges for the upgrades, so there's no advantage to doing so now. For example, an NVS 420 upgrade costs $410, here's the card for $419.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133259
If you want a higher-end card, I'd just wait until you use the system a bit before changing. With the more expensive cards, the cost of the cards is very close to what Dell charges for the upgrades, so there's no advantage to doing so now. For example, an NVS 420 upgrade costs $410, here's the card for $419.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133259
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295, DUAL MON, 2 DP [Included in Price]
This is good enough. Actually Intel Graphics would be even better - extended battery life.
PowerPoint does not consume so much resources, it runs fine with Intel 855GM, and Windows 2k.
If you see any signs of lag, you can always bring down the resolution.
This is good enough. Actually Intel Graphics would be even better - extended battery life.
PowerPoint does not consume so much resources, it runs fine with Intel 855GM, and Windows 2k.
If you see any signs of lag, you can always bring down the resolution.
ASKER
I appreciate the points about the basic ard being sufficient, which is somewhat as I expected. garycase makes some excellent and very practical points, as usual!, about some very cost-effective "insurance". The review on newegg looks excellent and the FX580 looks like a greatchoice. I'm surprised by the low 40W power dissipation on that card.
The FX580 might help with CorelDRAW. And, who knows if in my slow business times I might actually play an RPG game.
The notes about battery life and lowering resolution don't seem to apply to this desktop workstation and 27" (1920x1200) LCD monitor.
At the moment, the FX580 is what I have in mind. I'll leave this open until Tuesday to see if more thoughts come in.
The FX580 might help with CorelDRAW. And, who knows if in my slow business times I might actually play an RPG game.
The notes about battery life and lowering resolution don't seem to apply to this desktop workstation and 27" (1920x1200) LCD monitor.
At the moment, the FX580 is what I have in mind. I'll leave this open until Tuesday to see if more thoughts come in.
Agree the FX580 is a good choice -- that's certainly what I'd get with that system (as I implied earlier). Although the base card is almost certainly "good enough", the FX580 is, as you called it, very cost-effective "insurance" ==> I very seriously doubt you'll ever upgrade the video card beyond that :-)
If you had the option to not get a card, I would go for that and buy the card separately. The video cards bundled with the workstations are geared towards 3D modeling and OpenGL, which means if you're not using them for that, you're paying a hefty price tag for something you're not going to use. $125 will go a long way towards a very competent gaming card these days - a Radeon 4850 or Geforce 9800 GT, for example. The FX580 is a good CAD card, but it doesn't perform well with games, compared to other cards in its price range. Just another consideration, if you're interested in getting the most for your money, but I realize Dell may not offer that option and give you credit.
ASKER
Callandor is raising an interesting issue. I share your view that Dell is unlikely to allow the order with no card. They might, though, substitute a different card than is listed. (I usually order by phone and a live agent.)
I must plead ignorance to the distinctions between optimization for OpenGL and 3D modeling versus gaming (and I presume DirectX?). Can you explain a bit about that, or point me to a reference about the distinctions and relative merits?
I must plead ignorance to the distinctions between optimization for OpenGL and 3D modeling versus gaming (and I presume DirectX?). Can you explain a bit about that, or point me to a reference about the distinctions and relative merits?
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