graphics card advice please

I’m running Photoshop CS3 Extended (a legal paid for version!) and was considering buying the FocalPoint plugin from OnOne software. I note that the software requires an Open GL graphics card (1.5 or greater). I tried the demo version but got the error message that it wouldn’t work with my graphics card. Updating the driver didn’t work. My computer (desktop) has an ASUS P4P800-MX motherboard with on board graphics (Intel 82865G graphics controller). The motherboard has a total of three 32 bit PCI 2.2 expansion slots which (according to my manual) support bus master PCI cards like SCSI or LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum throughput (whatever that means!) In addition, the same situation with the software exists on my one year old Toshiba Satellite laptop! which has Mobile 945GM Express chipset family.
I’m looking for advice as to a suitable graphics card for the PC (I can do without the software on my laptop if necessary…not sure if it’s possible anyway to upgrade a graphics card on a laptop). FocalPoint requirements state 125Mb minimum, 256MB preferred. I don’t use the computer to play games as most of my work is with Photoshop…I don’t really want to spend more than $AUD100 if possible.

considering buying the FocalPoint plugin from OnOne software.

I note
that the software requires an Open GL graphics card (1.5 or greater).

[m/b has only PCI slots]
I’m looking for advice as to a suitable graphics card for the PC

(I
can do without the software on my laptop if necessary…not sure if it’s possible anyway to upgrade a graphics card on a laptop).

Paul Burdett wrote:

I’m running Photoshop CS3 Extended (a legal paid for version!) and was considering buying the FocalPoint plugin from OnOne software. I note that the software requires an Open GL graphics card (1.5 or greater). I tried the
demo version but got the error message that it wouldn’t work with my graphics card. Updating the driver didn’t work. My computer (desktop) has an
ASUS P4P800-MX motherboard with on board graphics (Intel 82865G graphics controller). The motherboard has a total of three 32 bit PCI 2.2 expansion
slots which (according to my manual) support bus master PCI cards like SCSI
or LAN cards with 133MB/s maximum throughput (whatever that means!) In addition, the same situation with the software exists on my one year old
Toshiba Satellite laptop! which has Mobile 945GM Express chipset family.
I’m looking for advice as to a suitable graphics card for the PC (I can do
without the software on my laptop if necessary…not sure if it’s possible
anyway to upgrade a graphics card on a laptop). FocalPoint requirements state 125Mb minimum, 256MB preferred. I don’t use the computer to play games
as most of my work is with Photoshop…I don’t really want to spend more than $AUD100 if possible.

Sorry, not advise on the card, but a word of warning. Deactivate Photoshop before you install the upgrade card! There is a good chance that Photoshop will need to be activated again, because your computer is significantly changed because of the card.

—
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com

Paul Burdett wrote:

considering buying the FocalPoint plugin from OnOne software.

Does it really work any better than duplicating a layer, blurring it, and adding a mask?

I note
that the software requires an Open GL graphics card (1.5 or greater).

It /*what*/?(!) For /how much/(!) money?

[m/b has only PCI slots]
I’m looking for advice as to a suitable graphics card for the PC

PCI graphics cards look expensive to me compared to PCI-E. But something like this, maybe:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133 007

(I
can do without the software on my laptop if necessary…not sure if it’s possible anyway to upgrade a graphics card on a laptop).

Generally, no.

Andrew