Category Archives: Video Card Reviews

Gigabyte Geforce RTX 2070 Windforce 8GB Graphics Card

<![CDATA[

When it comes to video cards there is a lot of information to understand. The question is not only what does that term mean but what does it do? That is why this will easy to read and informative. The video card that I am talking about costs just a hair less than my $500 budget,  just $499.99 on newegg. That may seem like a large amount of money to a child or a young adult out living by themselves, but that is just part of building computers. Building computers can be built cheap, but not if you want to have a computer to play the latest game at top quality. Don’t stop here and think ” well this guy must have a huge amount of money to work with”. As much as I would love to yes to that, I won’t lie I have to budget just as much as the next person. For this project I had a few hundred dollars to work with, and this is the card that I found, The Gigabyte Geforce RTX 2070 Windforce. Now I know some might say that it is a bit extreme for many games which is true, but doesn’t mean I don’t want to limit myself by wimping out ,and getting a card that is not as good just to save a few dollars. 

Now not to confuse people I am going to try and make the description of the card specifications easy to understand by not throwing out a bunch of confusing terms that some may not know (like those who are reading this just to learn somethings to look for when buying a graphics card or cards for family members like a teenage son or daughter that is a gamer). First is the core clock speed, or how fast the GPU (Graphics Processing unit ) goes. The GPU for those that do not know or do not understand this is like the CPU, it is the brain of the video card the fast it is the better it handles loads of information in big games that have some really high quality graphics. Cards GPU speeds are measured in Hertz, cards now days are upwards of 1400 MHz, but this card comes in at 1620 MHz which to say is not bad for those playing games with high quality graphics. It also has 2304 CUDA cores which is like MHz, the higher the better. 

Along with a good GPU it also has multiple monitor or T.V. ports, while most know what HDMI or USB ports are but, gamers also use what are called “Display ports”. They are like HDMI ports (they look different though) but, they are a little less known if you don’t already own a monitor or T.V. that has a port, connecting wire and something that uses said connecting wire. This card is equipped with one version 2.0 HDMI port, three Display ports, and one USB type C port (looks like a plug in for charging a phone). 

Now the memory, also known as VRAM or video RAM. Its just like RAM except on a video card for processing through video. The faster the memory goes, the more information per cycle (bits), and more VRAM all helps with better performance of your graphics card. This card has a memory speed of 14000 MHz (which is plenty), 256 bits (which also is helps with memory per cycle), and 8 GB of VRAM ( more means generally better processing of information). Finally the newer that version of memory the better, this card comes with GDDR6 which is the latest and greatest. 

The connector for the card itself is a version 3.0 x16 slot which is commonly found on gaming motherboards. If you buy this product please check with you motherboard manufacturer that it will fit in your computer.  Also with this computer is the three cooling fans (this is why its called Windforce). Plus it also uses Directx 12 and OpenGL 4.5 which are programms that help with 3D graphics. This card supports up to 4 monitors at one time for a multi moniter view.

Finally SLI and what it is and does. SLI is NVidia’s version of a connector for two graphics cards. A lot of gamers use this to run more monitors with better graphics. Many will use this to combine two graphics cards to work like one better to a point. Here is the one thing card does not do is support SLI. this means that even if you wanted to you cannot connect two of these cards together.

That is all that I have to say about this card. I hope for those who are looking for a good card find what they are looking for. If  what I told you helps great, if not, well im not sure what to tell you other than to wish you luck or find someone to help you to understand the information above. If you’re trying to find a Graphics card for your family member of friend I would suggest talking to a friend you trust that happens to be a computer repairs person. If you don’t happen to have a friend that knows anything about computers, read a couple more blogs or watch a few educational youtube videos on computer hardware. So good luck and have a nice day.

Be Aware: This is part of a school project.

Citations      – “Robot?” Are You a Human?, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814932091.

]]>

Overkill… But with RGB! (A review on the ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 2080)

<![CDATA[

When deciding to buy a graphics card one of the most important questions to ask yourself is, “what am I using it for”. If your answer is as simple as chrome browsing and productivity work then most integrated graphics chips will do you just fine. If you find integrated graphics just is not cutting it for you then even a low end card should work just fine. But for the other people out their in the world with an unlimited money source and love for gaming, the great people at ASUS make cards just for you and others alike. Which also happens to come with RGB… Because who doesn’t like colorful lights?

The ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 2080 is everything you need in a GPU and more. Alot more. If you are in need of a “no compromise” video card then you have came to the right place. With the newer generation of Nvidia cards that include top of the line ray tracing technology (which I will not get into today but if you would like to read up on it then click the following link https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/266600-nvidias-rtx-promises-real-time-ray-tracing) the 2080 will most likely suit all of your needs and more without any hesitation or need to overclock.

Not only does it support the latest API’s such as OpenGL 4.5 and DirectX 12 it also has the newest form of video memory in GDDR6. And if you really wanted to, it does support NVlink (SLI) so that you can hook two of these up at the same time. Your mileage may vary on the software support though. Moving forward it does have a whopping 8GB of GDDR6. The 256-bit memory bus is big enough to push all of it through plus some. But memory and API support is just one part of the equation. And on the other side of the equation, it surely does not disappoint. Here is a list of the other important specifications:

  • Core clock: 1515 MHz
  • OC Mode: 1890 MHz 
  • Gaming Mode: 1860 MHz
  • Cuda Cores: 2944
  • Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
  • Ports include: 2x HDMI 2.0B / 2x Display Port 1.4 / 1x USB Type-C 
  • 3x fans (pictured above)
  • 2x 8 pin power connectors
  • Supports SLI
  • Supports up to 8K in resolution
  • Takes up 2.7 slots

Overall if you really need the whole entirety of raw power this gives out then go for it. Did I mention this runs over $800 (Around $870)? Yeah, so really this is a perfect card for future proofing especially due to the fact that game support and other program support for ray tracing technology is not mainstream yet. Lackluster support for the new technology is due to the fact of it being new to consumers. Ray tracing itself has been around for awhile now and is the technology used in most Pixar films. But surely as it comes around in most triple-A titles you can ensure you will be future proofed for years to come and can play any triple-A title today at 4k, 90 MHz or even better. In conclusion, as long as you have the money and monitor/PC to go along with it then I definitely recommend this GPU.

Also… RGB! (With aura compatibility).

If my word is not enough you can also check out more reviews via the Newegg page (which includes the price): 
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126249&Description=RTX%202080&cm_re=RTX_2080-_-14-126-249-_-Product

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.

Works Cited:

“Asus ROG STRIX.” RTX 2080, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126249&Description=RTX%2B2080&cm_re=RTX_2080-_-14-126-249-_-Product.

Smith, Ryan. “NVIDIA Announces the GeForce RTX 20 Series: RTX 2080 Ti & 2080 on Sept. 20th, RTX 2070 in October.” RSS, AnandTech, 20 Aug. 2018, www.anandtech.com/show/13249/nvidia-announces-geforce-rtx-20-series-rtx-2080-ti-2080-2070.

]]>

Reliable Graphics card for 659.99

<![CDATA[With the market of graphics cards growing immensely and can be a hard choice on that perfect graphics card for the best quality. with a budget of $659.99 for a quality graphics card that can provide the gaming you need for your PC.
The MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING  graphics card is a excellent place to start with the budget chosen. The GTX 970 porvides more than what is paid for. With the programs that comes with the graphics card, and the extrodinary specifications that gives clear and smooth gaming frames, Guaranteed.

To eliminate some confusion for the specs, the GTX 970 is provided a Easy setup program to adjust settings of the graphics with ease. With a button push away to overclock or change gamma and saturation setting with more setting to customize your visual experience. The GTX 970 comes in three graphics processsing setting which changes the GPU speeds. It comes in: Silent mode, Gaming Mode, and Overclocked mode.
Interface -PCI Express 3.0 x16
Core Clock
1140 MHz (OC Mode)
1114 MHz (Gaming Mode)
1051 MHz (Silent Mode)
Boost Clock
1279 MHz (OC Mode)
1253 MHz (Gaming Mode)
1178 MHz (Silent Mode)
CUDA Cores – 1664
Effective Memory Clock – 7010 MHz
Memory Size – 4GB
Memory Interface – 256-Bit
Memory Type – GDDR5
The 970 GTX runs on Quad SLI Capabilities,  and has two cooling fans installed into the graphics card, the program with the purchase of the graphics card which can change the speed of the coiling dependent of the output of the graphics card.
 
 ]]>

The Best Graphics Card For You!!

<![CDATA[If you're looking for a great video card, while trying to save money, then this card is the one for you! The MSI GeForce GT 730 is the best graphics card for your games, while also keeping the price low!

SPECS!
This video card has a GeForce GT 730 GPU and has a core clock speed of 700MHz. The memory clock speed of 1000MHz with a memory size of 4GB and will work with DDR3 memory. The card will also consume 49 watts of power. The Interface is a PCI Express 2.0 x 16. The card supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL v4.4 . It has 1 x HDMI, 1 x D-SUB, and 1 x DL-DVI-I ports on the back. The maximum resolution is 2560 x 1600 and it also comes with a fan as a cooling system.
The price of the card is only $79.99, and for the price, this video card would be a great choice for gamer’s who want to start out, but not spend a fortune on a high end video card.
Works Cited:
“DisplayPort to D-Sub: The Full Range of LCD Monitor Video Input Interfaces | EIZO.” DisplayPort to D-Sub: The Full Range of LCD Monitor Video Input Interfaces | EIZO. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
Klein, Matt. “What Is Direct X 12 and Why Is It Important?” How-To Geek. How-To Geek, 30 June 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
“MSI GeForce GT 730 DirectX 12 N730-4GD3V2 4GB 128-Bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 X16 HDCP Ready ATX Video Card.” Newegg.com- Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, HDTVs, Digital Cameras and More! N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
“OpenGL.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Mar. 2017. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
 ]]>

The BEST Radeon Video Card for Under $250

<![CDATA[

SAPPHIRE NITRO Radeon R9 Fury

 
The Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 Fury utilizes a 1050MHz Radeon R9 Fury GPU, which runs 4GB of 4096-Bit HBM (High Bandwidth Ram). The performance of this memory surpasses GDDR5 in bandwidth with more than 3x the performance per watt of GDDR5, requiring only 375 watts overall. Its revolutionary stacked configuration has 94% less PCB surface area than GDDR5.
This video card comes with 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, and 1x Dual-Link DVI-D. It also uses the PCIe 3.0 x16 slot to connect your motherboard.
This video card boasts three fans, ensuring your video card stays cool during use. These fans utilize two-ball bearings designed to keep the fans quiet, make them last longer, and keep out dust. These fans also have a high-efficiency blade design.
The video card also supports Intelligent Fan Control, which takes things like environment temperature and GPU workload into consideration, to ensure the fans are working efficient as well as keeping them as quiet as possible.
This video card is VR ready and can support multiple monitors. With multiple monitors, gaming becomes more immersive and your work becomes more productive (up to an average of 42% according to one study). This video card also supports CrossFire which allows two or more discreet graphics cards to work together to give you the ultimate gaming experience.
The Radeon R9 Fury supports OpenGL® 4.5 and DirectX®12 while also having Shader Model 5.0, ensuring it will be compatible with the newest games.
The Sapphire Nitro Radeon R9 Fury currently costs $329.99 on Newegg, but including a sale and $20 rebate card, it comes to $249.99.
 
 ]]>

GeForce GTX 660

<![CDATA[

The graphics produced are very well and precise compared to most GPU’s.  If you buy this from the company’s website you will get it for only $229. If you were to go to any other website the price would vary. If you have a son or daughter that loves to play games then this would be good for them. This video card is actually very small if you are comparing it to its wonderful performance.

Specifications: 

Chip GK106
CUDA Cores 960
Base Clock 980
Boost Clock 1033
Memory Configuration 2 GB
Memory Speed 6.0 Gbps
Memory Bandwidth 144 GB/s
Power Connectors 6-pin
Outputs 1 x DL-DVI-I
1 x DL-DVI-D
1 x HDMI
Mini-DP
TDP 150 Watts
SLI Options 2-way
Price $229
Maximum GPU Temperature 97 C
Maximum Graphics Card Power 140 W
Minimum System Power Requirement 450 W
Supplementary Power Connectors 1 6-pin
Works Cited
GeForce. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/geforce-gtx-660-650-launch#1>.
Toms Hardware. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-660-geforce-gtx-650-benchmark,3297-2.html>.

]]>

GeForce GTX 980 Graphics Card

<![CDATA[

The GeForce GTX 980 is a high end video card made for gaming. It is one of the top rated video cards according to videobenchmark.net. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is made by Nvidia which is one of the leaders in graphics cards.
Here are some of the specifications of the card:
Core Clock Speed 1190 MHz
Memory Size 4GB
Memory Type GDDR5
Ports  1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x DVI
Max Resolution 4096×2160
SLI Support Quad SLI
Power Requirements Recommended 500W Minimum Power Supply
Interface PCI Express 3.0 x16
This card also features DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.4 which lets you render 2D and 3D graphics. The core clock speed is how fast the GPU operates so the higher the better. It features 4GB of memory on the graphics card so it can be faster and not have to transport data across the motherboard to the RAM. It has GDDR5 which is the newest and fastest memory available. SLI is how many other video cards it will work with, so in this case it can link 4 video cards together to produce a single picture. It uses two fans to cool it and requires a power supply with a minimum of 500 watts. The graphics card also requires two 8-pin power connector. It features 3 different clock speeds including OC (over clock) mode which is maximum performance, Gaming mode which is a balance between best speed and increased fan performance and silent mode which is best for the least amount of fan noise. It is priced on newegg.com for $479.99.

]]>

ASUS Radeon R9 390 Graphics Card

<![CDATA[ 

Radeon

Who is ASUS?

ASUS is a Taiwanese company named after the Greek creature, the Pegasus, a mythical winged horse, to symbolize both wisdom and knowledge. ASUS has made incredible technological advancements through an array of PC components, tablets, and ultrabooks, all developed with their over 11,000 employees. It is a trusted company who lives by it’s slogan “In Search of Incredible.”
Style Graphics Car

Card Background

The ASUS Radeon R9 390. It is AMD’s most recent line up of available graphics cards. Advanced Micro Devices or AMD is a semiconductor and microprocessor company, which is very well known and the leading competitor to Intel, and who runs the Radeon GPU models. The card I am looking at, the ASUS Radeon R9 390, is an exceptional choice for gaming with an average of 4 to 5 star reviews. Many times people get caught up in poor customer support, but in an article by www.laptopmag.com they ranked ASUS in the top 10 of tech support, finding that the company was extremely responsive and active with social media and their customer support services, than in past years. ASUS is doing all it can to better improve its company, and the service it gives to their customers.
protection

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

AMD Radeon R9 390

Bus Standard

PCI Express 3.0

Video Memory

GDDR5 8GB

Engine Clock

1050 MHz

Memory Clock

6000 MHz (GDDR5)

Memory Interface

512-bit

Resolution

Digital Max Resolution:4096×2160

Interface

DVI Output x1

HDMI Output x1

Display Port x3

Included HDCP Support

Power Consumption

Up to 300W additional 6+8 pin PCIe power required

Accessories

1 x Power Cable

1 x STRIX Laser Sticker

Software

ASUS GPU Tweak II and Drivers

Dimensions

11.8” x 5.42” x 1.57” Inch

30 x 13.77 x4 Centimeter

Interface Details:

This card includes some interesting digital ports and connections. Such as HDMI, Display port, and HDCP support. DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface and can be used to connect computer monitors. DisplayPort can connect computer monitors, and carry audio, USB, and other forms of data. DisplayPort is very similar to HDMI, or High Definition Multimedia Interface. It has become the main standard, and can connect an array of digital devices. It is very important to have a selection of digital connections, especially HDMI.
Along with the connections, there are some slightly hard to understand words in the specifications. The bus standard is the standard that at which data can be transferred and the connection it needs to do so. The video memory allows the graphics card to handle its own processes, and can use its own memory to handle complex graphics at a faster rate. The memory clock speed is the rate and speed at which the memory actually runs, while the memory interface is basically how much memory can go through, but isn’t as important as it used to be. When comparing the memory interface on Graphics Cards, I recommend a higher model, and increased number, for they are preferred for better performance. The card also includes a OpenGL of 4.4. This means that the standard application interface can be used to define 2-D and 3-D graphics, which works with the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to render images.
cool

Features:

The features on the ASUS Radeon R9 390 are very expansive and can be utilized very well. The fans on the Radeon are made with aero-space grade quality in mind,  making it a reliable choice with a silent Triple Wing-Blade 0dB Fan Design, which allows max air flow. Not only does this graphics card have fans, but has it’s own heat-sink capabilities as well. The DirectCU III with 10mm Heatpipe allows your GPU to have 40% less heat going to it for cooler gaming performance.  Not only does this card have incredible hardware, but software too. Introducing the GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster, you can overclock and monitor your card, in a visual and easy to use way. You can also use the gaming booster to help the game run, and even record and stream your game-play directly without any other software than what comes in the box.
way-1

Company Trust

The following video deeply describes ASUS Auto-Extreme Technology, which adds aero-space grade quality and reliability to their products.
https://youtu.be/4gRpuurPsuc
If interested in this graphics card, you can buy it here. Thank you for viewing and reading this article.

]]>

MSI GeForce GTX 750

<![CDATA[
Everyone likes cheap and efficient products, well that’s exactly what i have here. This is a great graphics card for a gamer on the rise! This MSI N750-1GD/OC G-SYNC is the graphic card for you. This card above was manufactured by MSI, a multi international company. MSI is a huge company with products ranging from graphics cards to laptops, to even all-in-one computer.
This graphics card has been greatly reviewed as to be one of the better choices out there. Coming from a company like MSI customers can trust and do trust their products will be a well-rounded choice for the  money spent. The way this card is being reviewed and for the price it is ultimately one of the best out there on the market.
Specifications:

  • GeForce GTX 750
  • 1059MHz Core Clock
  • 512 CUDA Cores
  • 1GB Memory
  • DirectX11.2
  • GDDR5

For more specs, go here.
This graphic card is just enough to handle a beginner gamer. At the price of $124.99 and ! year’s replacement plan for $14.00, your child can own this very efficient and trustworthy product from MSI.
 

Works cited

              “MSI N750-1GD G-SYNC Support GeForce GTX 750 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card.” Newegg.com
“MSI USA – Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and More.” MSI USA – Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and More.” us.msi.com
What is a CUDA Cores?” Tom’s Hardware. www.tomshardware.com]]>

GeForce GTX 580

<![CDATA[14-130-587-03
Do you have a child who loves playing games on their PC? A child who loves gaming so much that they want nothing but the best parts for their PC? Well you’ve come to the right place! Check out the Geforce GTX 580 Video Card. 
Specifications for GTX 580:

  • GPU: GeForce GTX 580 ( Fermi )
  • Outputs: 1 x mini HDMI and 2 x DVI ports
  • Memory Type: GDDR5
  • Memory Amount: 1536 MB
  • Interface: PCI Express 2.0 x 16
  • Cooling: Fan
  • SLI: Supported
  • DirectX: DirectX 11
  • OpenGL: OpenGL 4.1
  • Max. Resolution: 2560 x 1600

If you buy from NewEgg.com,  you can buy this video card for $224.99 . IF you were to experience any problems or complications with this video card it has a lifetime warranty through New Egg
14-130-587-08
If you would like to know more about this product here is the Manufactures Website: EVGA.com ]]>