• Joined: August 22, 2011

Topic: Graphics card required?

I am buying a new desktop computer.  The ones I am looking at have an AMD processor.  I'll probably get the AMD Athlon II X2 (Dual processor).  It has "    ATI Radeon HD 3000 integrated graphics with up to 1696MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows 7" which as I understand isn't a separate video card.  What advantage is there to getting a separate video card?  And is it required for making stop frame animation movies?  I really don't know anything about graphics cards and have never bought one before.  My son is creating lego stop frame animation movies and I am trying to hook him up with a reburbished desktop for this.
Thanks.

  • Joined: August 22, 2011

Re: Graphics card required?

By the way here are the two computers I am considering:
http://www.ecost.com/p/HP-Desktop-Compu … dp.giecdac
http://www.ecost.com/p/HP-Desktop-Compu … dp.giecdjf

  • Location: The final garrison
  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: Graphics card required?

The only advantage is you'll be able to play higher-end games, a graphics card dosen't really have any effect on stop-motion capture, that's processor and ram which determine that.

A nice graphics card is a good addition to your setup, though.

  • Joined: August 22, 2011

Re: Graphics card required?

I don't play games.  It's just for creating stop frame animation movies.

  • Location: Somewhere only I know
  • Joined: April 7, 2011

Re: Graphics card required?

Yeah, if your just doing stopmotion then you should be okay. But at some point if he wants to do heavier stuff like Blender and other cg programs then you might want to upgrade. I'm not 100 percent sure on that though. Also, advanced special fx programs such Adobe After Effects, programs by the Foundry might need a new graphics card. But remember, I'm not 100 percent sure.

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