Monitor/Video Card Recommendations

[icephoto]

Not sure if this is the right place for this discussion, so if it's not please let me know and I'll move it where it belongs...

All good things must come to an end, and that time is about here for my current monitor. It does a good job of color reproduction, most of the time. But the tell-tale signs of an impending failure (or at least failure of quality) are showing their ugly head.

In short, what I want to do is replace my current monitor setup with a new video card and a pair of 19" LCD's that I will use in tandem for photo editing and web site maintenance. I have neither the desire to play games beyond the installed Windows Vista time wasters nor do I have any desire to watch DVD's. I have a PS2 and a DVD player that will meet those tasks. They must work with my Spyder2Pro. Budget consideration is under $600 for the shooting match, but if that's unrealistic let me know.

Any thoughts?

Thanks - jim

[RHoldenSr]

I bought the EVGA Geforce 8600GTS video card when I buit my new machine.

I am running a dual monitor setup with my main monitor being a Westinghouse 22" widescreen I got as an Xmas gift The second monitor is a Samsung Syncmaster. Ahh how sweet it is with a dual setup.

I really like the westinghouse monitor, once I calibrated it, it was pretty nice. Closest I have ever come to seeing exactly what I print.


EVGA 512-P2-N775-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB

Originally Posted by icephoto

Not sure if this is the right place for this discussion, so if it's not please let me know and I'll move it where it belongs...

All good things must come to an end, and that time is about here for my current monitor. It does a good job of color reproduction, most of the time. But the tell-tale signs of an impending failure (or at least failure of quality) are showing their ugly head.

In short, what I want to do is replace my current monitor setup with a new video card and a pair of 19" LCD's that I will use in tandem for photo editing and web site maintenance. I have neither the desire to play games beyond the installed Windows Vista time wasters nor do I have any desire to watch DVD's. I have a PS2 and a DVD player that will meet those tasks. They must work with my Spyder2Pro. Budget consideration is under $600 for the shooting match, but if that's unrealistic let me know.

Any thoughts?

Thanks - jim

[Charles Putnam]

Since you're running Vista, I'd suggest staying away from an nVidia based card. It seems nVidia drivers have their issues (according to this site, responsible for 30% of Vista crashes - http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/27/n...rashes-in-20/).

I'm running an ATi 9550 256mb AGP in my system that runs great. As to a monitor, check CNET for their recommendations on widescreen HD monitors. Dell, Gateway, Samsung make some great monitors at a decent cost.