question about video card and motherboard compatibility

[Lunix89]

im thinking of either getting an fx 8350 with a radeon r9 270x and a asus m5a97 evo r2 motherboard

or

a intel i5 4670k with gtx 660 2b and a Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP motherboard.

firstly, for the Gtx 660, do i need to get a gigabyte gtx 660? because theres gigabyte ones, asus ones etc etc. how does this work?

also is a r9 270x compatible with the motherboard i want?

Thanks.

 

[Lunix89]

i also so see there are many variations of R9 270x (powercolor etc). how am i to know which one to get for my parts?

 

[Wolfshadw]

You can select any manufacturer. They are all compatible with each other. So ASUS motherboard and EVGA graphics card, for example, won't cause any issues.

-Wolf sends

 

[Lunix89]

so should i just make my choice based purely on what they look like? also why are some more expensive than others?

 

[noahhicks]

so should i just make my choice based purely on what they look like? also why are some more expensive than others?

The simple answer is to find the model you want (R9 270X) and pick the least expensive one. However, make sure the one you select has the output ports you want (DVI-D, HDMI, Display Port) and the RAM you want. Sometimes the same model number will have less RAM and be less expensive.

 

[Lunix89]

does this have a VGA input? https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r9270xdc2t2gd5

im not sure what dvi-d means is it the same as the blue VGA cable? the screen im using at the moment only has a VGA input

is it possible to get a vga and dvi-i cable at each end and would that work?

 

[noahhicks]

does this have a VGA input? https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r9270xdc2t2gd5

im not sure what dvi-d means is it the same as the blue VGA cable? the screen im using at the moment only has a VGA input.

No, and Yes...
VGA or D-Sub is an older connection that isn't digital, and looks a little fuzzy on newer HD monitors that still accept the input (I was very happy when I switched from VGA to DVI and everything got crisper).

You wont find a lot (any?) of newer cards that support VGA out. Some will come with a DVI to VGA adapter, this one seems to according to the manufacturer specs page. "D-Sub Output : Yes x 1 (via DVI to D-Sub adaptor x 1)"
http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/R9270XDC2T2GD5/#specifications

The current output ports on newer video cards are as follows.
1. HDMI (Digital Signal, can also carry audio)
2. DVI-A (Analog signal, cannot carry audio)
3. DVI-D (Digital signal, cannot carry audio)
4. DVI-I (Analog/Digital signal, cannot carry audio)
5. Display Port (Digital signal commonly used by Apple)

 

[Lunix89]

is connecting the card via HDMI a good way to do it?

 

[noahhicks]

is connecting the card via HDMI a good way to do it?

Yes