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Re: Graphics cards and Monitors for the shack/ DXLab

 

I'm continuing to try to define the graphics card requirements?for ham radio work specifically like the DXLab suite, N1MM, WSJT-X and such.? I am wondering whether a 2D system like AutoCAD might reflect the basic requirements. I plan to use the information below to understand mid level graphics cards through the G2D performance charts on the Video Benchmark site:



For 2026, AutoCAD (Computer Aided Design) recognizes a Basic system as 2 GB GPU with 29 GB/S Bandwidth and Direct X 11 compliance.? A recommended system is 8 GB GPU with 1066 GB/s bandwidth and Direct X 12 compliant.


I've been exploring my Dell 8950.? If you type "dxdiag" into the search bar of the Win 11 Start page, you will get a DirectX Diagnostic tool that shows some of your graphics card's capabilities.? My Intel UHD Graphics 730 "basic" card has Direct X 12, and has a 4GB?total memory..

I needed more information to understand whether this GPU meets the AutoCAD recommendations.? I downloaded a free tool called GPU-Z.? ?It shows me that I have Direct X 12 (2_1), a 128 bit bandwidth?and 140.5 GB/s bandwidth.? I did a Google search to find GPU-Z.


That tells me that my low end GPU meets the Basic requirements for AutoCAD and more, but not the full recommended requirements.? This set of tools could be used to help understand what your system has available.

I don't know if the AutoCAD requirements are relevant to ham radio needs, but it is the best that I have so far.? CAD is heavily 2D and very little?3D.? AutoCAD's minimum resolution requirement is 1080p but higher resolution is desired.? There are additional requirements depending on the variation of AutoCAD.

73
Rich, NU6T


On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 11:13?PM Dave AA6YQ via <aa6yq=[email protected]> wrote:
+ AA6YQ comments below

An important distinction is that most of the features of these performance graphics cards are not going to be used at all with typical ham applications.? Almost nothing in the ham application use 3D graphics.? Instead, it's the 2D rendering performance that is key but it's not talked about at all in most card reviews.? This is especially important because there is a complete and total mess in the higher end graphics market now which may confused and scare away hams from picking up a very fine graphics card that would meet their needs.

Fortunately there is a web page that will help guide relative speeds of graphic cards, both old and newer ones.?



Take note at the G2D column, and sort from highest to lowest.? Then just go down that list and check whatever graphic card you have an interest in.

Notice that the fastest card on the list is about 1000 in the 2D speed.? The card I have in my main PC (GTX 1060) scores 770 - a card that must be at least 5 years old.? It runs a trio of UHD monitors here in the shack.? And you can get a similar one for under $100 on ebay.

I'm not advocating this card, rather mentioning that whatever card you are thinking of buying can be judged on it's speed by consulting this list.? And anything that's on the top half (500 or more) will most certainly be completely fine for ham applications.

+ It would be nice to have a "Selecting a Video Card" article in the DXLab Wiki to go with the "Selecting a Monitor" article developed by Dave W6DE:



+ The above guidance regarding 2-dimensional rendering performance would certainly be included in "Selecting a Video Card", but there are additional considerations:

- resolution

- refresh rate

- power consumption

- physical size

- monitor connectivity (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.)

- motherboard compatibility

+ Would someone like to take a crack at this?

? ? ? ?73,

? ? ? ? ? ? ?Dave, AA6YQ









--
Richard Hill
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