Question on choice of v-card $50 or less

I have an older machine 2005 a cheaper machine but it runs to the rez I like and runs good. I currently have a Radeon x1550 256 MB it runs GW perfect for me, but it will not run other games. This is do to a pixel shader deal. (if you notice on new games requirements on many of them say excludes X1550) I would like to run Guild Wars and other games as well like bio shock and maybe oblivion. I have a factory installed 300 watt power supply, PCI express slot, and Windows Media Center XP.

Here are my options that I have found below $50 I don’t want to spend much since I will be saving for a new unit hopefully round the time GW2 comes out.

I am thinking of buying @ discount a

Vision Tek Radeon HD 3650 512 MB PCI Express 2 - 300 watt required

Should work backwards in my pci express slot “I hope” at slower speed but I just want to be able to play I am not too worried about max settings

Or a

Vision Tek Radeon x1300 Radeon 256 MB - 250 watt required.

I worry the X1300 would be a backward step

Your thoughts?

yep, the x1300 is basically a lower clocked version of the x1550. you'll lose performance that way. the HD 3650 is alright, but nothing exceptional. for the same price, you can probably get a geforce 9500GT, which is probably the strongest card in that price category.

btw, PCI-e 2.0 and PCI-e 1.0/1.1 are compatible with each other. you can plug a PCI-e 2.0 card into a PCI-e 1.1 slot and vice versa. there actually isn't much difference between the two.

Stay away from 8600GTs, they are about 50$ now, but just stay away. They are fail cards after 6 months to a year, owned a few of them with problems.

Anyway, what moriz said is pretty much it. A 3650 or 9500GT should run Oblivion pretty well, I know that 8600GT's ran it well at lower resolutions.

8400GS, Budget card of all budget cards. Works good, I own a passive cooled one in my Media Center. 0 problems on a HD TV.

Thanks guys/gals I have a bid in on the 3650. Hopefully with luck I will get it for the 40 range if not Newegg shopping I go