Graphics Card Choice

[leeward]

I'd be grateful for some graphic card advice.

I'm currently in the process of sorting out a new pc build. It will have to last me for at least 3 years. It will be used for gaming. Mainly CODMW series, BF3 and other FPS games. It is also used for on-line racing using iRacing.

Current system uses a HD 5700 series though a TripleHead2Go into 3 x VGA only monitors. Max res of each monitor is 1280 x 1024, so in 3 screen mode 3840 x 1024. I do not have the budget to change the 3 monitors.

System plan at moment is as follows:

MSI P67A-GD53(B3)
i5-2500K
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced
Antec TruePower New 650W
Fractel Design Define R3
2 x 4 GB PC3 1600Mhz Memory

I'm having difficulty deciding which graphics card.

So requirements are as follows:

Budget: around £250
Must be able to support 3 x VGA monitors @ 3840 x 1024
Hopefully some future proofing as one day (lottery win) I'll replace the monitors.

I'm guessing that Eyefinity would be the way to go as it only requires a single card although I realise that adaptors (DP to VGA) will be needed.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers Lee

 

[varkanoid]

what bout this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-148-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

or wait to see what the 7000 series brings in January.

 

[leeward]

Thanks for the suggestion. I see that it says that it has 2 x DVI-I connectors. Does that mean I could use 2 x DVI-I to VGA passive adapters and 1 x minDP to VGA active adapter for my 3 screen set up?

 

[Surveyor]

Thanks for the suggestion. I see that it says that it has 2 x DVI-I connectors. Does that mean I could use 2 x DVI-I to VGA passive adapters and 1 x minDP to VGA active adapter for my 3 screen set up?

Nope.

Despite what it says on the OcUK website I'm almost certain the card will have 1 DVI-I connector and 1 DVI-D connector.

Only the DVI-I connector provides an analogue signal and so it's the only one you could run a VGA monitor from.

For the other 2 monitors you'd need miniDP to VGA adapters and I believe these would have to be active (powered) adapters.

 

[leeward]

i thought it was unusual to have 2 x DVI-I

 

[Surveyor]

i thought it was unusual to have 2 x DVI-I

I don't think there are any AMD 6xxx series cards with 2 x DVI-I.

Nvidia cards tend to have 2 x DVI-I, but less other connections, and you can only run 2 screens from a single GPU Nvidia card.

 

[leeward]

Yes, that's why I though that Eyefinity would be best as it allows a single card solution. Setting up as follows:

1 x DVI-I to VGA
2 x miniDP to VGA active