Question(s) regarding computer video...

[vakkotaur]

I've now stuffed the motherboard with the most CPU cores that it can handle with the X6 (though not the fastest CPU it could take - that's actually an X4 at the moment) and with all the RAM it can handle. The next upgrades are not urgent, or should not be. I have a choice of which way to go, but both are video

Comments

[vakkotaur]

Actually the primary driver here is Second Life, which does get benefit from an upgrade. The one I am using now was replaced (in the Mac) with an ATI 5770 and there was a noticeable improvement. But for the rest, you're right. I am not a gamer as such and most things don't get a lot of benefit from it - though going from the on-board video of the last system to a proper video card (AGP, that's how old things were) made *everything* seem a bit snappier.

I will say that having plenty of CPU to throw at SL helps, but the biggest benefit is from having the RAM. Hitting swap was the real performance killer.

[jmaynard]

Even Second Life, from what I've heard, is much more cpu-dependent once you have a "good enough" video card.
Very much not. That 3870 was in my Mac Pro for a while. When I replaced it with a 5770, SL got a lot faster.

[ext_701564]

What you have now is probably fine. Most people only upgrade graphic cards to play games, and Linux is pretty lacking when it comes to games. That video card should play 1080p video fine, so really no reason to bother.