> 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.

>> 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

> 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=N82E16814133007

>> (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