Hi
 
My new PC came with this Graphics Card - it was a non-expensive option as I was trying to make sure that my  main spending took place on sound and processing power.
 
The Radeon works perfectly with the setup I have - SONAR seems to like it just fine but I do notice a bit of mouse-to- screen lag if I try to run a game like Deus Ex (yes, I know I shouldn't be gaming on my DAW but I find it relaxing to take out a few distant enemies with my sniper rifle to calm me down when I'm in the middle of a big remix...)
 
The world of graphics cards got a lot more complex in the years since I bought my last PC and a lot of my googling led me along a few unnecessarily involved paths. So, in short, I just want to check:
 
Is the Radeon 6450 1GB a relatively low-spec card in the scheme of things?
If so, is there a recommended (sub-£100) alternative?
 
If not, no worries - I'll just have to aim the rifle a little more carefully
 
Thanks!

This video card is an "under $50" US card.  Thus I would suspect its not a "gaming" video card.  The Intel HD graphics built into the i7 4771 are probably better than the inexpensive video card.  I'm using the built in Intel graphics in my i7 3770 CPU and it is working very well (and eliminated the need for a video card).  I had been using a separate video card, an AMD Radeon HD7770 because of a motherboard problem with the built in DVI Video port.  I had the motherboard repaired under warranty and now back to using the Intel HD video. 
 
My Graphics scores in Win 7 (Windows assessment) are 6.6, which is probably more than your 6450 video card.
 
BTW, its not "ATI" anymore.  ATI was bought by AMD years ago and now is referred to as "AMD" Radeon, etc.

Frink
Hi
 
My new PC came with this Graphics Card - it was a non-expensive option as I was trying to make sure that my  main spending took place on sound and processing power.
 
The Radeon works perfectly with the setup I have - SONAR seems to like it just fine but I do notice a bit of mouse-to- screen lag if I try to run a game like Deus Ex (yes, I know I shouldn't be gaming on my DAW but I find it relaxing to take out a few distant enemies with my sniper rifle to calm me down when I'm in the middle of a big remix...)
 
The world of graphics cards got a lot more complex in the years since I bought my last PC and a lot of my googling led me along a few unnecessarily involved paths. So, in short, I just want to check:
 
Is the Radeon 6450 1GB a relatively low-spec card in the scheme of things?
If so, is there a recommended (sub-£100) alternative?
 
If not, no worries - I'll just have to aim the rifle a little more carefully
 
Thanks!

I actually built a DAW with gaming in mind and of course, the graphics card was one of the main components (considering how most games are graphic intensive). My HIS 7870 is a mid-range card can handle almost any game (at the highest resolution levels) that's thrown at it. I'm not a professional or full time gamer, but this thing is a beast for my needs. It handles Crysis3 with all the graphics maxed out quite easily.
 
I read a lot of reviews on this before deciding and I'm extremely happy with it (as a bonus, I think I got Crysis3, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry3 or at least two of them with this card). It does have a fan, but I can't hear it at all and I don't hear any fan noises in my recordings either.
 
A decent video card will make all the difference when gaming or watching movies in HD.....
 
Here's some reviews that might help: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-2.html
 
I've read some good things about Deus Ex, but don't have that (yet)
 
Good luck!!
 
Ps.
Do you have a Steam account?

Thanks guys - will follow up your advice.
 
And yes - I do have a steam account. I needed this to install Deus Ex!
 
 

Frink
Thanks guys - will follow up your advice.
 
And yes - I do have a steam account. I needed this to install Deus Ex!
 
 

Cool....post back with what you decide on getting. My Steam name is Meshodman. Although I've got about 30 games, I've been really hooked on Team Fortress2.......BTW, it also has a sniper for your distant take out relaxations.....as well many others.....:)) 

HD6450 is just a small bump up from the HD5450.
Nothing special... but it'll work fine for DAW purposes.
If it's passive cooled, it's not adding noise.
A fine inexpensive video option for a DAW.
 
Haswell's onboard HD4600 graphics are a little faster.
That said, if you use Titler Pro in Vegas Pro, it won't work with HD4600 graphics... but it does work with the HD5450.
 

fireberd
This video card is an "under $50" US card.  Thus I would suspect its not a "gaming" video card.  The Intel HD graphics built into the i7 4771 are probably better than the inexpensive video card.  I'm using the built in Intel graphics in my i7 3770 CPU and it is working very well (and eliminated the need for a video card).  I had been using a separate video card, an AMD Radeon HD7770 because of a motherboard problem with the built in DVI Video port.  I had the motherboard repaired under warranty and now back to using the Intel HD video. 
 
My Graphics scores in Win 7 (Windows assessment) are 6.6, which is probably more than your 6450 video card.
 
BTW, its not "ATI" anymore.  ATI was bought by AMD years ago and now is referred to as "AMD" Radeon, etc.

Why on earth would you use your integrated Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 , Yes it is HD but so is your ATI 7770, Not to mention your 7770 is in a completely different class, It is a pretty good gaming card, And with a 4th gen i7 pushing a 7770 should max out many games. I hate to say this but the guys ATI 6450 is actually better than your integrated graphics. I know Intel's integrated gpu's have improved, And are more than most people need, But only if you are not gaming, But your ATI 7770 can run any modern game out today. 
 
And to answer Frink's question, Your 6450 is slightly better than a integrated GPU, But if you are wanting to spend a hundred bucks you can get some decent gaming cards. The ATI 7750, ATI 7770 the GTX 650 , GTX 650 Ti , Also if you can go a bit further like a $130 you can get a ATI R7 260x 2GB It is the replacement of the ATI 7790 but with Higher clocks and a faster memory bandwidth, It is a really strong performer and pretty much all a gamer would need for the next 3 years. But with any of the listed cards you can't really go wrong. I have a 650 Ti and can max most games. The Nvidia cards are smoother and have less driver issues, But ATI or AMD has lower prices.