Where Can You Find Cheap DVI Video Cards?

iansmith wonders: "I have a new Gateway computer hooked to a flat screen monitor. The problem is the video out is only VGA which does not look as sharp as a DVI output. To help with this, and also to let me run dual displays, I want to add a video card to the machine. In the past I would just grab a standard VGA card for $20, plug it in and go, not needing fancy 3D graphics. I do not want to spend $300 for a gaming video card... does anybody make a video card with DVI out that is not a souped up 3D powerhouse, with a price tag to match? Even worse, all new machines seem to be PCI-Express and so that makes it even less likely I'll find something affordable. I can't even use an old 3D card from home. What would you all suggest I do?"

BFG Turbo Cache PCI-E

[vwpau227]

I like the BFG GeForce 6200 Turbo Cache cards, for example the http://www.bfgtech.com/6200TC.html [bfgtech.com] -- I bought the 64MB Model recently for a customer and it was under CND$39. The car has both DVI and VGA Output.

Here

[wiz31337]

Newegg. [newegg.com]

Re:BFG Turbo Cache PCI-E

[Nos.]

Yes, but it only has a single DVI out. The submitter is looking for dual dvi. I did a quick search and came up with this: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page _id=5/popup6%5B%5D=10:594/popup2%5B%5D=1:596 [pricegrabber.com] There's a XFX GeForce for about $133, which isn't bad really, and that's not a bad card at all. I was playing CS:S with a 6800GT OC from BFG until just recently.

WTF?

[Anonymous Coward]

This is an Ask Slashdot?

1. Go to www.newegg.com
2. Click on Video Cards
3. Click on Advanced Search
4. Set DVI to "1"
5. Click. [newegg.com]
6. ???
7. Profit!

Your dream $20 video card is actually $25 or $30, depending on if you want AGP or PCI.

Only PCI-E?

[Ant P.]

That's a shame, I'd recommend my Radeon 9250 which was dirt cheap, fanless and even has a pretty clear VGA output, but it's AGP.

Improper LCD Calibration

[mewyn]

Sounds like you have a case of improper LCD calibration. The auto calibration often will not properly calibrate your display on a normal desktop screen. What you should do is bring up a full screen of alternating black and white pixels and then run the auto calibration. If you do that, you'll have a display just as sharp as DVI. I do this for my gaming machine, since I use the two inputs on my monitor as a poor-man's video switch. :)

Re:Improper LCD Calibration

[neves]

I always use lcdtest [brouhaha.com] in my linux box.