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Joined: Jul 2000
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Admittedly I have a legacy rig - a 2004 Dell desktop. 2.4 GHz with 2.5 GB RAM. Win XP/SP3.
The video card is on board - GEForce 128 MB.
Nowhere do I see a minimum requirement when it comes to video cards and PG Software.
I was also given a 256 MB DDR ATI Radeon 9600XT card.
Is it worth the effort to install the Radeon?
Will there be any benefits over my current card when it comes to the PG Software.
Would there be any benefits to doing video with the 256 card?
Any other considerations?
Thanks - Ian
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The answer will be - it depends!
It depends on what you do with your computer and the type of software you run. Any graphics intense software will thrive on a more powerful graphics card with plenty of RAM. Windows 7 Aero effects needs a powerful video card. Video editing software runs better with a good video card.
However, if all you ever run is music software, I wouldn't bother upgrading. Music software does not need the most powerful video card available.
All that being said if you have been given the 256Mb card then install it by all means. Just make sure you get the video driver CD with it as the newer ATI Radeon drivers do not always work with the older cards.
Kevin
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Believe it or not, there is one developer who is co-opting graphics processors to do audio DSP. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct09/articles/pcnotes_1009.htmI'm guessing you aren't needing to do this, so probably not worth the bother. What's interesting is that graphics processors are becoming as expensive or more expensive than CPU - thank the gaming industry for that. -Scott
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Ian, if you are asking just about PG Music software, I am reasonably certain you are better off with what you have.
The graphic requirements of BIAB, RB etc. are negligible. You've been around long enough to remember that one often-required tweak used to be to turn OFF video acceleration in the OS.
The new card will add noise to your rig (unless it has a large heat sink in place of a fan), draw more power, and introduce the possibility of an IRQ conflict.
______________________________
Scott, that's (literally) out-of-the-box thinking.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Kevin, Scott, Matt
Appreciate the input guys. Maybe I will save the 256 for the video computer.
Cheers - Ian
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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