Hardware Articles

Video Card Performance: 2GB vs 4GB Memory

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Similar video cards are often available in versions with more than one memory size. The GeForce GTX 680 is an example, and comes in both 2GB and 4GB variants. With computer components more is often better, but does doubling the memory on a video card like this actually help with game performance – and if so under what circumstances? Although single monitor resolutions only go so high, multi-monitor configurations via NVIDIA Surround or AMD Eyefinity allow for much higher resolutions where larger amounts of video memory may improve performance.

How to Set Up Multiple Monitors

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When it comes to setting up a new computer, something we get asked about here at Puget Systems on a regular basis is the use of multiple monitors. The use of dual monitors seems to be the most common goal customers have, but many want three or even more – and so we are often asked if that requires two video cards, how easy it is to set up, and even how to use multiple screens effectively. This article aims to answer some of those basic questions and act as a central resource for folks who are considering a new computer or want to upgrade their existing system.

Gigabyte 6750/6770 Silent Cell Video Cards

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At Puget Systems, we pride ourselves in building some of the quietest PCs in the industry. At the same time, we build high-performance computers, and designing a computer to be both can be a delicate balance. Passively cooled video cards are essential to an ultra-quiet computer like our Serenity PC. The Gigabyte Silent-Cell video cards appear to be a perfect fit, but as we’ll find in this article, appearances can be deceiving.

Technology Primer – ATI Radeon HD 6000-series

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ATI has just launched their next-generation graphics card line, starting the process that will see the venerable Radeon HD 5000 cards replaced by 6000 models over the coming months. The first such cards, released today, are the 6850 and 6870 – known also by their codename ‘Barts’. In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes them different, and how their performance compares with the competitive offerings from NVIDIA.

New Video Cards From nVidia and ATI

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When you’re building a custom computer system for gaming, you have to know your facts. One fact we have for certain is that the video card arena is very messy right now. With a whole new line of video cards from both nVidia and ATI, we now have to take a close look to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. In this article, we will look at the GeForceFX 5200/5600/5800/5900 line, and the new Radeon 9200/9600/9800 line, and will see what other new technology is next!

nVidia GeForce4 – How Does it Compare?

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With the recent release of the GeForce4 video card line, we can’t help but feel overwhelmed. We are being introduced to yet another set of video cards, and must determine their value and strengths. What is the GeForce4, and how does it compare to the other leading technologies out there?

ATI Radeon 8500 vs. nVidia GeForce3 Ti500

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As part of the never-ending battle between ATI and NVIDIA, we take a look at the newest and fastest each has to offer. While the GeForce3 Ti500 claims to be the fastest video card there is, the Radeon 8500 claims to be the most advanced. Surprisingly, those descriptions are fairly accurate. So, which video card is right for you?