Compaq Presario CQ5300F Desktop-Graphics Card Help

[lisa91266]

I want to add a video card to my computer. I know I am very limited because it only has a 250 P.S. My goal is to use 3 monitors. I am not a gamer, but I trade & watch the stock market for extended periods of time. I also listen to podcasts and steam videos as well. Does have anyone have any suggestions for me? (besides upgrading my PS, or buying a new computer.

Is it better to purchase a graphics card with "fan" or "heatsink" listed as the cooling type? I could really use some help with this.

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium and have maxed out memory to 4GB according to my motherboard.

These are a few of the cards I was looking at:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8670937&sku=OSU-102109069

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121778

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3199442&CatId=7387

Thank you.

 

[Jake Fister]

Since you're not gaming or anything the hardware on your list there all looks ok, but I would get something with a fan for sure supporting all those screens. Probably want at least 1-2GB Memory as well. Never really tried to figure out a graphics card for this sort of application before haha so I'm a little out of my water but I would go with the last card on your list since it explicitly says it can support 3 monitors. The first just says "multiple" which is a little vague (it might support 3, I don't know, it just doesn't say) The middle card, I would say has a high risk for overheating running 3 monitors off of it unless you have really REALLY good airflow in that area.

In short, my first option would be the MSI HD7770