video card upgrade help
 

i need some suggestions on what video card i should get. keep in mind im a poor bastard

http://www.newegg.com <-- shopping
http://www.hothardware.com <-- benchmarks

What's your budget?

http://www.hardforum.com

or quicker link

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=845296

I'm bored so here we go....

I'm assuming AGP...

Under $50 (not even worth getting unless you currently have a TNT2 or integrated video, don't waste your money)
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-156-012&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon 9200[/url:d53c4]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-210&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce FX5200[/url:d53c4]

Under $100 (better value, still not really worth getting in most cases)
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-305&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon 9600[/url:d53c4]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-408&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon 9600 Pro[/url:d53c4]*
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-110&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6200[/url:d53c4]

Under $200
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-362&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon 9800 Pro[/url:d53c4]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-113&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6600[/url:d53c4]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-220&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6600GT[/url:d53c4]**

Under $300
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-202&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6800[/url:d53c4]

Under $400
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-521&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon X800XL[/url:d53c4]**
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-203&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6800GT[/url:d53c4]*
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-364&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon X800 Pro[/url:d53c4]

$400 and up
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-196&depa=1:d53c4]GeForce 6800 Ultra[/url:d53c4]*
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-507&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon X800XT[/url:d53c4]*
[url=http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-502&depa=1:d53c4]Radeon X850XTPE[/url:d53c4]




* best value in each price range
** best value in any price range

lol the 9200 scored lower then my g3 ti 200 64mb lol..(my 128mb version died, had to replace on warrenty.. they gave me a 64mb) I can score around 8089 with a good oc in 2001 lol.

Not surprising, with the exception of the 6200, all low end card are terrible even when compared to cards that are a several generations old.

The core clocks in higer,... but the memory is 100mhz slower...

Radeon 9600 pro = beer:

[quote="Short Hand":376ab]lol the 9200 scored lower then my g3 ti 200 64mb lol..(my 128mb version died, had to replace on warrenty.. they gave me a 64mb) I can score around 8089 with a good oc in 2001 lol.[/quote:376ab]

Ive no clue wtf i score in 3dmark 2001, think i installed it once and it refused to run cuss:

[quote=geRV]Ive no clue wtf i score in 3dmark 2001, think i installed it once and it refused to run cuss:[/quote:b0c6e]

I ran it back like 2 3 years ago when I first got this computer, considering this comp has 1800 + Athlon (pally core), 512mb pc 133 ram and a 5400 rpm hd.....with 1mb cache..... Ya that is pretty danm sad. new "low end" generation cards need a real rethinking.

[quote="Short Hand":c238e]The core clocks in higer,... but the memory is 100mhz slower...

Radeon 9600 pro = beer:[/quote:c238e]

nein, 9600 is a shitty card.

my 9200 did great for me when I had it. I could run Americas Army, Call of Duty, and pretty much every DirectX 8.0 game perfectly on high settings, but I wouldn't recommend buying that now. Radeon X series or Nvidia 600 series are the only cards I would even fool with buying. There's no point of buying a video card unless it's a good one, because you won't be satisfied with it. That is, unless you really do have a very bad card as it is. You could go with a 9800, but I wouldn't go any lower than that. If the rest of your computer is pretty solid, make sure you buy a card that supports DirectX 9.0 and at least some level of shader effects.

You can find some incredible deals on http://www.pricewatch.com and http://www.newegg.com , NewEgg especially.

I have a PCI slot, so I'm ALWAYS behind the current tech, as what every finds brand spanking new, I dont get 'till 7 months later, but that doesnt bother me much, because what I'd wish people would realize is that we're still PLAYING THE SAME GAMES, folks. Its not as if Im stuck back in time, I just happen to not have the latest and greatest.

I once had a TNT2, O.K. card, could run MOHAA and other old games like that fairly well, but nothing to really glamorize over. I then bought a Radeon 9000 a year later, awesome card, awesome card. I still wish ATI would make cards for PCI, though it seems only nVIDIA thats doing so, because there was no confusing software, drivers were not released every couple of hours, and none of the games I ever owned lagged or stuttered. I was able to play Call of Duty and both Splinter Cell's on it, max settings for Splinter Cell, and medium for CoD, and it still looked pretty damn good.

Year later I bought a GeForce FX 5200, and its a great card, sure, I still have it in my PC, and Im able to play Doom 3 at High settings, along with CoD, so thats obviously really good. Not a BIG improvement over my 9000, but I was able to play at higher resolutions, and at higher settings, which was all I cared for, as I dont keep track of FPS's and how many germ sized dots can be displayed on the screen at once.

Answer this, please
-Since I probably for no reason at all be flamed for making my own topic, I am now considering buying a GeForce FX 5700. I have found two cards, one just ten bucks more than the other one, but with one more feature the other one doesnt. I'm just kind of curious, does that extra $10 bucks TRULY make a difference, or can I save it and still get the same card. And how about name brands? Which one makes the better card?

Heres the links:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 041&depa=1
and
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 166&depa=1

Never heard of either brand. And if you're bored, could you maybe refer me to better cards (PCI, not Express) if they're out there? Danke.

i have narrowed my choices to these cards , just based on price and i need to upgrade from my old 128mb card

GeForce FX 5200 256MB
GeForce FX 5600 256MB

which one of you can help me make the final choice ?