I need a new video card, it used to seem like one of the better aspects of my system, but now it's lagging far behind, and I finally am starting to fall below the minimum requirements for a lot of games (thankfully not including GW). So here are my basic system specs, to start off:
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.00 GHz
1.5 GB PC2700 DDR RAM
Windows XP
ATi Radeon 9200 AGP (0x5961)
DirectX 9.0c
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS
Anyway, the 9200 lasted me a few years, and I'm looking for another one that will do the same, the cheaper the better of course. I just don't really know anything about video cards, so I really just need information or advice. Just tell me if there's any more system info I could give that would be useful.
Thanks
Video Card Choice...
ubrikkean
imsystem
what games you mean like cod2 quake4 bf2 games like that
you say you want one that will last you a few years will you need one that has full pixel shader 3 support cheapest would be an nvidia 6800 but in a year it will be minimum req on new games maybey an x1600 from ati
one thing for sure you get what you pay for and if you dont spend 150+ your not gonna be satisfied in a year or so
myself i have an x850xt its great there isnt a game out i cant run on full specs bt it does not support pixel shader 3 so i dont have full hdr support
you say you want one that will last you a few years will you need one that has full pixel shader 3 support cheapest would be an nvidia 6800 but in a year it will be minimum req on new games maybey an x1600 from ati
one thing for sure you get what you pay for and if you dont spend 150+ your not gonna be satisfied in a year or so
myself i have an x850xt its great there isnt a game out i cant run on full specs bt it does not support pixel shader 3 so i dont have full hdr support
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Originally Posted by ubrikkean
I need a new video card, it used to seem like one of the better aspects of my system, but now it's lagging far behind, and I finally am starting to fall below the minimum requirements for a lot of games (thankfully not including GW). So here are my basic system specs, to start off:
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.00 GHz 1.5 GB PC2700 DDR RAM Windows XP ATi Radeon 9200 AGP (0x5961) DirectX 9.0c Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS Anyway, the 9200 lasted me a few years, and I'm looking for another one that will do the same, the cheaper the better of course. I just don't really know anything about video cards, so I really just need information or advice. Just tell me if there's any more system info I could give that would be useful. Thanks |
ubrikkean
Actually BF2 and CoD2 work with minimal lag if I use minimum settings, I really don't care that much about the quality, I just want to be able to run games, for example Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has no chance of working with my card. And Path of Neo isn't supposed to work but it barely does. If the nVidia 6800 is comparable to what the 9200 was a few years ago, then I'll take a look at it.
EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814140067
Might this be a good option?
EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814140067
Might this be a good option?
B Ephekt
If you need something cheap go for a 6600GT or 6800/6800GS/6800GT.
Knowing what resolution you run games at would help tremendously though. For example, the 6600GT will probably have trouble with 1680x1050 or 1600x1200, so if you have a large monitor I'd go for a 6800GT/GS.
Knowing what resolution you run games at would help tremendously though. For example, the 6600GT will probably have trouble with 1680x1050 or 1600x1200, so if you have a large monitor I'd go for a 6800GT/GS.
xerverkillah
if you plan on sticking with agp for as long as you can then I would got for a 7800gs.
ubrikkean
Sticking with AGP would be nice, since I don't want to buy another computer 
. And my usual game resolution is 1024x768, or 800x600 windowed for a few.
. And my usual game resolution is 1024x768, or 800x600 windowed for a few.
twangansta
Then the 6600gt is probably the cheapest card that can run most games now smoothly. I've seen the agp version of the card as low as $100 which is great. If not you can try for an agp version of the 6800GS which is around 150-170 dollars and has pretty great performance.
ubrikkean
Okay, thanks a lot guys!
One last question, does the brand make a difference or is the GPU the important thing?
One last question, does the brand make a difference or is the GPU the important thing?
twangansta
Brand is your own personal preference. I've never had ATI, but I wouldn't mind it if it allowed me to play my games smoothly and do everyday things without any problems.
GPU is what matters, it's price and performance.
GPU is what matters, it's price and performance.
xerverkillah
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Originally Posted by ubrikkean
Okay, thanks a lot guys!
One last question, does the brand make a difference or is the GPU the important thing? |
I generally dont go for unknown/less popular manufacturers because from personal exp they dont seem to last. I had a crappy 5700fx from Paradise or something and 2 month later the fan started making noises and eventually broke down. Card was a stock frequencies the whole time.
If your going to go for a nVidia card I suggest Asus, BFG, XFX, eVGA, MSI or Leadtek
ubrikkean
Brand, manufacturer, same difference, eh?
Ok, I'll make sure it's one of those brands... and what might be a good manufacturer for an ATi card?
Ok, I'll make sure it's one of those brands... and what might be a good manufacturer for an ATi card?
Str0b0
Sapphire is nice. I got a VisionTek and it's not bad for a cheap card. I've never had any problems out of it. I'd recommend it as a budget alternative to a more expensive card. With a little tweaking you can goose it up to compete with the really expensive high end cards without compromising it. MSI is also a good manufacturer with reasonably priced Radeon cards with all the goodies. However if you have the cash I say go all out and get something with a fat nasty Radeon 9800 Pro set.
xerverkillah
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Originally Posted by ubrikkean
Brand, manufacturer, same difference, eh?
Ok, I'll make sure it's one of those brands... and what might be a good manufacturer for an ATi card? |
u have 2 brands. nVida & ATI. and you have many manufacturers that make 1 or both of the brand cards.
Im not a big fan of ATI (had bad exp with a 9600se.) but i guess
Powercolor, HIS, Asus would be good for ATI cards
ubrikkean
Ah, yes, but on Newegg.com, it is quite the opposite 
. You see, there they have "brand" as what we are referring to as the manufacturer, and nVidia and ATi are the "GPU designers". And naturally, being as clueless as about this stuff as I am, Newegg is a chief information source.
Anyway, seriously, I personally am fine with either company, I've heard both the bad and the good of each, so I'll take a look at some ATi cards as well. The x1600 was mentioned earlier as something fairly expensive, but I looked up some prices and they got as low as $130 or so... I'll check out the 9800 Pro as well, and see if I can't find a low price on one. EDIT: Hrm, I was just thinking, isn't the 9800 pro kind of an old card? Plus isn't it a minimum system req. for a fair few games?
. You see, there they have "brand" as what we are referring to as the manufacturer, and nVidia and ATi are the "GPU designers". And naturally, being as clueless as about this stuff as I am, Newegg is a chief information source.Anyway, seriously, I personally am fine with either company, I've heard both the bad and the good of each, so I'll take a look at some ATi cards as well. The x1600 was mentioned earlier as something fairly expensive, but I looked up some prices and they got as low as $130 or so... I'll check out the 9800 Pro as well, and see if I can't find a low price on one. EDIT: Hrm, I was just thinking, isn't the 9800 pro kind of an old card? Plus isn't it a minimum system req. for a fair few games?
kvndoom
I have a 6800GS, which cost $200US. It's more or less equal to the now-defunct 6800GT. The AGP version has unlockable pipes and shaders, so my 12x5 became a 16x6 with a quick tweak and reboot from RivaTuner. You probably won't notice that extra rendering power in GW, but it can help in some games, or even at higher resolutions. For $200, you won't get a better AGP card.
As far as Nvidia goes, the only step up from the 6800GS is the 7800GS, which is holding around $300US right now. I doubt we'll ever see a better AGP card, because manufacturers just aren't willing to make that many.
I don't keep up with ATI products that much, so I'm not sure what they have available for high-end AGP, but I don't think I've heard of an ATI GPU that can trump the 7800GS.
As far as Nvidia goes, the only step up from the 6800GS is the 7800GS, which is holding around $300US right now. I doubt we'll ever see a better AGP card, because manufacturers just aren't willing to make that many.
I don't keep up with ATI products that much, so I'm not sure what they have available for high-end AGP, but I don't think I've heard of an ATI GPU that can trump the 7800GS.
xerverkillah
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Originally Posted by ubrikkean
Ah, yes, but on Newegg.com, it is quite the opposite
. You see, there they have "brand" as what we are referring to as the manufacturer, and nVidia and ATi are the "GPU designers". And naturally, being as clueless as about this stuff as I am, Newegg is a chief information source.few games? |
anyways if u ant to go ATI i suggest atleast a x800. If you want to stick with agp you want a higher end card that will last you longer.
unless ofcourse u plan to go to pcix
ubrikkean
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Originally Posted by xerverkillah
I see, I dont shop at newegg so my bad.
anyways if u ant to go ATI i suggest atleast a x800. If you want to stick with agp you want a higher end card that will last you longer. unless ofcourse u plan to go to pcix |
... zonkers I totally invented that brand thing.Is there a way to make my computer compatible with that without... er... buying a new one?
Anyway, the 7800 series seems a little expensive, so I think I'll stick with either the 6800 or 6600 series, or ATi.
xerverkillah
unfortunately no. Im still on agp too but i wont upgrade until the 8 series & vista comes out.
If you go the 6800gs if im not mistaken you can unlock that card
(from 12 to 16 pipelines).
If you go the 6800gs if im not mistaken you can unlock that card
(from 12 to 16 pipelines).
Loviatar
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Originally Posted by ubrikkean
Anyway, the 7800 series seems a little expensive, so I think I'll stick with either the 6800 or 6600 series, or ATi.
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leadtek is a good company with a 3 year warranty.
been happy with my 6600 GT for a year now
Old Dood
Yes Loviatar that is a good card. (where you been Mister anyways...?)
From what I have been reading the 7600 is the replacement for the 6600GT.
From what I have been reading the 7600 is the replacement for the 6600GT.
Loviatar
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Originally Posted by Old Dood
Yes Loviatar that is a good card. (where you been Mister anyways...?)
. |
patting cat repotting orchids reading books and GW with a little faction here, a little faction there and so forth
ubrikkean
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Originally Posted by xerverkillah
unfortunately no. Im still on agp too but i wont upgrade until the 8 series & vista comes out.
If you go the 6800gs if im not mistaken you can unlock that card (from 12 to 16 pipelines). |
And the only Leadtek AGP 6600GT card from Newegg is priced $50 more than its equivalent from other manufacturers.
xerverkillah
the 6800gt has 16 pixel pipelines and the 6800gs has 12.
ive read that you can unlock the 6800gs agp version from 12 to 16 pipes.
explaining it as simple as i can.
basically more pipelines = better performance
ive read that you can unlock the 6800gs agp version from 12 to 16 pipes.
explaining it as simple as i can.
basically more pipelines = better performance
ubrikkean
Quote:
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Originally Posted by xerverkillah
the 6800gt has 16 pixel pipelines and the 6800gs has 12.
ive read that you can unlock the 6800gs agp version from 12 to 16 pipes. explaining it as simple as i can. basically more pipelines = better performance |
Thanks, I get that part, its just I have no idea how this "unlocking" thing works, and if it's something I could do myself easily. Is "unlocking" a software or hardware change?
xerverkillah
its fairly simple. you just download a program caled RivaTuner @ http://guru3d.com
check out this link for instructions
http://firingsquad.com/hardware/gefo...king/page3.asp
check out this link for instructions
http://firingsquad.com/hardware/gefo...king/page3.asp