2 Gig Graphics Card

[WyeDyed]

I'm building an i7 computer (8gig RAM, Win 8)
The customer doesn't play games, will mostly use it for downloading and watching films.
I wanted a silent 2 gig Graphics Card with a £60 - £80 budget.
Is there a big difference, performance wise, between Nvidia and AMD based cards? A big price difference.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Other recommendations are welcome.

[WyeDyed]

Sorry, bu99ered up the links there.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[WyeDyed]

And the AMD one... (it appears I can only have one link per post)
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[SlackAlice]

I've used both Nvidia and AMD based cards, mainly for gaming. I think Nvidia cards have the edge at the moment and they are certainly easier to upgrade the drivers. AMD seem to be a bit slow in this respect.

If you going the way of 'silent' cooling then make sure you've got the room for the large heatsink. Also if that's your intention with the CPU then that will have a large heatsink, room to fit may be a problem.

[WyeDyed]

Mmm, I went for silent on the grounds that it was basically going to be a media machine should be as quiet as possible but, with the heat-sink, I'll need to add an extra fan to the case to ensure air flow... or a smaller fan on the card...

I'll sleep on this and get back to you...

Plenty of room for a bulky card and leave room for a wireless card if needed.
If the Nvidia is easier to maintain, then I think that's the way to go. He isn't very interested in how it works, just, THAT it works :)

[SlackAlice]

I know it adds to the cost but have you considered water cooling for both CPU and Graphics card? A friend of mine has just built a monster of a gaming machine with water cooling all round and it's awesomely quiet.

[WyeDyed]

It's a thought but this project started with some "left over" parts from other builds - an i7 processor (don't ask), a socket 1155 motherboard and a slinky black case that was the wrong size for it's original motherboard.
The boss is only really interested interested in recouping the money from these, the rest is me making a reasonably priced "dream machine" for the landlord of my local. I'm building it in my own time and any money made beyond parts cost will be mine.

[ChuckFickens]

I'll give you a recommendation...

Why the hell are you looking at separate graphics cards at all.... for what you've said the customer wants then the built in graphics processor on the recent Intel chips will be more than enough.

As for people saying things like "water cooling"... you're having a F'ing laugh I take it!

[SlackAlice]

No, why?

Its been in use for many years now and is much more reliable than it used to be.

[ChuckFickens]

"The customer doesn't play games, will mostly use it for downloading and watching films. "

And you're suggesting water cooled!

They don't play games... they want to watch films... the intel 4000 or 5000 (or any inbetween) graphics chipsets are more than capable of doing what the OP asked.

I can't even see how the hell water cooling even came into this thread.

[SlackAlice]

He wanted silent as well?

[ChuckFickens]

Wyedyed..

Obviously.. you can listen to whoever's advice you want, but some people are suggesting you buy a ferrari to pop down the shop!

[ChuckFickens]

OK.... Silent...

Yep... the built onto the CPU graphics does that rather well!

[WyeDyed]

Slightly off topic; we had one of these through recently, with an SSD it would be completely silent. It dissipates heat with a copper tubing matrix and fins on the outside.
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/Hush-Technologies-Deutschland-GmbH-Firma-109180/News/L-und-uumlfterloses-ATX64-PC-System-von-Hush-373420/galerie/447522/#?a_id=373420&g_id=-1&i_id=447522

[WyeDyed]

Chuck - I was thinking that a meaty graphics card would improve the video capabilities of the machine.

[ChuckFickens]

For what you've said, they an I7 is excessive...

A lot of people get caught up in the "more is better" trap and don't take into account the use of the computer

You said "The customer doesn't play games, will mostly use it for downloading and watching films."

For that a core I3 and the built on intel graphics will do them fine.

[ChuckFickens]

The "video capabilities" of the latest intel chips is pretty good for non gamers.

[WyeDyed]

Chuck -The whole project started with a "leftover" 17 processor. The rest of the story is about me selling a tailored computer to someone with a bit of money to spend.

[ChuckFickens]

Sounds like you're selling them a solution that suits you then, rather than one that suits the customer!

[WyeDyed]

A little of both...

[ChuckFickens]

Well I suggest you sell the customer a I3 or i5 based system with onboard graphics, which will do what they need rather than over-selling a system...and put the incorrect purchase of an i7 down to experience.