Video Card?

[FirstNissan]

I build my 1st computer 3 months ago, prior to that it was always readymade Dell desktops. Ive been wondering if a video card would be worth my time. I use my copmuter for general office work, browsing the net, and I stream a lot of Netflix shows/movies. Would a graphics card be worth my time? My budget is sub-$100. Thanks!

My specs:
Intel Core i3
8Gb Ram
128GB SSD
400W power supply

 

[Quattro Pete]

Not really.

 

[Texan4Life]

I assume it has onboard graphics right now... do you know what motherboard you have or what graphics chip it uses?

For the specs you listed, the i3 seems a little slow.

What resolution do you like to use?

 

[bepperb]

The better processors have a better video card built onto them. I'd be tempted to sell the i3 on ebay and see what you can upgrade to on your current motherboard.

Then again, if the most demanding thing you do is netflix then no, you won't see much benefit. I have an I3 in my htpc and it's overkill.

Is there anything in particular you're trying to gain? For what it sounds like you use the pc for you'd be best of spending that money on a larger SSD which would speed up everything (the bigger the SSD the more channels of memory and a corresponding improvement in performance until the chipset is saturated, usually above 128mb).

 

[johnachak]

If you have a PCI Express 16 slot, you can get a good card for ~$70-90. I always put a separate card in any machine I build. With the current day complex graphics (yes, Netflix and digital photography) it will run faster with the graphics load off the CPU and main memory. Run it without, then with, you will be surprised at the difference, especially with a 512k-1gb card. It leaves more cpu to handle the sound and streaming. Good luck and congratulations. I have been building my own since ~1992. I have to say, I bought the last one since we just moved, were living out of boxes and homework was in the process when the old power supply quit and fried the chip. I bought a new HP and it took a lot of looking to find a machine with a PCIExp. 16 slot with 300+ Watts.

 

[FirstNissan]

Im not sure about the motheroboard, was a recommendation from someone at Microcenter. I do know that I have a PCI E 16 slot, so ill look for those.

Any brands to look at/stay away from?
Thanks

 

[PandaBear]

$100 isn't going to get you any good card over your existing integrated one.

and CPU price has nothing to do with integrated graphics performance. Intel graphics is junk compare to AMD for game even if their CPU is better than AMD. If you are doing only office work and video streaming, no need for a dedicated card.