does graphics card matter?

[egproductions]

Are graphics cards at all important in rendering speeds or after effects work, i would think its all cpu based but i am not using my hardware accelerator anymore which would replace my graphics card settings in windows. Also do you think i would see a dramatic diffrence in performance if i got a 10,000RPM hd (7,200 at the moment) or went raid. For writing i would expect the hard drive has no problem keeping up with the cpu but what about for reading?

 

[DCERVENKA]

Unless you are doing 3D or need dual outputs then you can get away with a mid-range graphics card.

During rendering/preview AE if heavily dependant on RAM and CPU... so the more the better.

 

[Neil Rowe]

youl want a direct X and open GL compliant card with enough memory and speed to get the job done as far as graphic applications youll want it to run . wont affect renderong though.. you just want it to be compatible with your direct x and open GL programs like your editor or AE... aside from that .. doesn make a real differnce.. unless you want to go with a parhelia and do the triple head desktop thingy.. i cant live without it now.

 

[pookie_old]

A video card has absolutely no impact on rendering speed, as you already mentioned, it's all cpu and memory.