[superstar]

I have the following system:

HP VECTRA VL400
PENTIUM 3 (800MHZ)
512MB RAM
90GB
DVD-RAM +/-/R/RW

Below I have a list of video cards that I have found off the best pc store in my city. They offer the best prices for any pc hardware in my area. Do not focus much on the pricing as it may be different from my city to yours, but this store is a best seller in my town.

All I want is the best video card out of all of the ones I've listed. They are all between $40-$60, but do remember that I am mainly trying to spend below $50. I don't really want one that is over $50, as I am on a budget. But I still listed the ones over $50 just to hear what you all have to say about them, maybe there is a huge difference in spending ten extra dollars.

I want the best card out of all of them for my video game habit. I know I have an old system and this is why I am not spending much. So don't worry I just want the best thing I can get for this pc. This is my hard earned cash that I've earned breaking my back part time at a construction site. I'm actually on leave following an accident at work that hurt my back. I am going to be home for some time and I love video games, and I want to play something with the best card out of this list. I do not have a vid card in my system at all, it's just integrated graphics right now.

Last thing... I don't know what the difference between AGP, PCI, & PCI EXPRESS is... But you guys can let me know just in case so I can be positive that I have a slot for it on my mobo. I'm pretty sure if you go to HP's website and look at my mobo you can tell me. As I do not know what the difference between AGP, PCI, & PCI EXPRESS is, I don't know if one is faster or slower...

Oh and on a side note: I do not want to buy any one from my list, or any better one you all know off any site unless it is significantly cheaper and unless they except pay pal and UNLESS it is under $30 with shipping!!! But I rather stress that I want to just get one from my list and have it brand new, with a warranty that the store in my city provides me.

HERE IS MY LIST OF CARDS... THE ONLY ONES I WILL BUY!!! PLEASE TELL ME WHICH ONE IS THE BEST!!!

AGP CARDS:

Asus V9520-X/TD nVidia GeForce FX 5200(250MHz) 128MB(400MHz) 64 Bit DDR DVI-D Composite Output 2x/4x/8x AGP Graphics Card
$44.99
http://www.canadacom...764&cid=999.821


Gigabyte GeForce FX 5200 128Mb 64bit AGP 8X D-Sub/DVI/TV-Out
$49.99
http://www.canadacom...042&cid=999.821


Gigabyte Radeon 9250 128MB 64-bit AGP 8X w/ TV-Out
$40.99
http://www.canadacom...380&cid=999.821


PowerColor ATI Radeon 9250 128MB 64 Bit DDR DVI/CRT/TV-Out 8X AGP Video Card (R92L-LC3 )
$43.99
http://www.canadacom...186&cid=999.821


Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 128MB 128 Bit DDR AGP 8X Video Card
$49.00
http://www.canadacom...009&cid=999.821


Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 128MB 64 Bit DDR AGP 8X Video Card
$44.99
http://www.canadacom...416&cid=999.821


PCI CARDS:

PowerColor ATI Radeon 7000 64 MB DDR DVI/CRT/TV-Out PCI Video Card (RV6P-NB3)
$54.99
http://www.canadacom...897&cid=999.876


PCI EXPRESS CARDS:

Asus EN6200TC 256/TD GeForce 6200 64MB Support 256MB w/ TurboCache Technology
$54.99
http://www.canadacom...619&cid=999.243


PowerColor ATI Radeon X300 SE HyperMemory 256MB Low Profile PCI-Express Video Card (R37L-SC3D)
$64.00
http://www.canadacom...718&cid=999.243


Sapphire ATI Radeon X300SE 128MB DDR TV-Out PCI-Express Video Card (Lite Retail)
$59.99
http://www.canadacom...651&cid=999.243


Sapphire ATI Radeon X300 SE HyperMemory 256MB PCI-Express Video Card
$63.99
http://www.canadacom...997&cid=999.243


Asus Extreme AX300SE-X/TD ATI Radeon X300 SE(325MHz) 128MBDDR(400MHz) DVI-D/Composite Tv-Out 16 lanes PCI-Express Graphics Card
$62.00
http://www.canadacom...029&cid=999.243

LAST BUT NOT LEAST A USED CARD A FRIEND WANTS TO SELL ME:

MSI Geforce 4 TI 4800 SE
$50.00
http://www.msicomput...E-VTD&class=vga
or
http://www.msicomput...SE-TD&class=vga




I hope you all get to tell me which one is the best. You all see the last one? My friend claims it is worth $60-$70 and is better than any of the brand new ones above it. He only wants $50 for it... He said he's had it for about 3 years and that it is twice as better than any of the cards above... Let me know ya'll! I WANT THE BEST CARD OUT OF ALL OF THESE. I need the best so I can play 3d games since my integrated video only lets me play 2d games. Not to mention I'm buying a nice flat lcd widescreen in a few months. As for my the mobo, ram, and processor in my pc... That's going to be upgraded in 2-3 years so I can buy the best. hopefully one of these would be good on my new mobo with new ram, and processor in 2-3 years.

PLEASE EVERYONE COME AND POST YOUR OPINION!

Edited by superstar, 24 May 2006 - 10:49 PM.

[Advertisements]

Most people's opinion will be:

Wait a month or two for DirectX 10 to be released and buy a DX10 video card. You can dish out all the money you want right now, but in a couple months, you'll be outdated. So hold off on the video card, but maybe buy a another 512 stick of RAM to boost it up to a reasonable level of 1 gig.

Second, you have 3 different types of video card connections (AGP, PCI, and PCI-E). Which does your motherboard support? They can only support 1 of those.

[BlackPandemic]

Most people's opinion will be:

Wait a month or two for DirectX 10 to be released and buy a DX10 video card. You can dish out all the money you want right now, but in a couple months, you'll be outdated. So hold off on the video card, but maybe buy a another 512 stick of RAM to boost it up to a reasonable level of 1 gig.

Second, you have 3 different types of video card connections (AGP, PCI, and PCI-E). Which does your motherboard support? They can only support 1 of those.

[superstar]

Wait a month or two for DirectX 10 to be released and buy a DX10 video card

Is that going to be better than any card I have listed? & how much will it supposed to cost because my budjet is under $50?

Second, you have 3 different types of video card connections (AGP, PCI, and PCI-E). Which does your motherboard support? They can only support 1 of those.

I'm certain that it can take AGP since my friend put in a AGP card in my system before just to show me that the graphics work nice in my system. Believe it or not even though I have a p3 this runs fine.

As for the DX10 vid card commin out... like I said you sure that it will be cheap? under $50 as my budget requires? These are a couple of quotes I got off the IGN site on the card... If you want to see what else they say about it click the url: http://boards.ign.co...3/116896747/p1/

Of course it'll be better than DX9. The point is, it'll take some time. DX10 cards won't start rocking from day 1. And the first batch of DX10 cards may offer little in DX10 games. Don't forget the first days of Shader Model 3.0. We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, DX10 isnt going to become a standard for some time. DX9 still hasnt ben used to its full potential. I wouldnt expect DX10 getting big for 2-3 years.

EVERYONE PLEASE STILL POST YOUR OPINION ON THE VID CARDS I HAVE LISTED UP TOP ON THE FIRST POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE IS THE BEST OUT OF THEM ALL!

Edited by superstar, 17 May 2006 - 10:19 AM.

[anoobrew]

Wow....dont waste ur $$ on a vid card.....u cant even play anything with those stats....save up so u can buy a computer

[jrm20]

A pentium 3 pc does not support Pci Express at all.....

Its time to save up and get a new pc..

[superstar]

My friend put in an old Nvidia Geforce 2 AGP video card in my system and it ran fine. The 3d games I tried ran perfectly. I know that card he tried is very old. But I still just need one from the list I posted. All of the vid cards I posted are cheap. It's no problem for me to dish out $40-$50 for a card just to play games for now until I get a better system. Because I won't be upgrading my system for a year or more. Pleas I know it's hard for you all to get on my terms, but I am not worried about todays gamming. I just want to play some of the old nice looking 3d games. I mean games from 2-3 years ago is'nt that far back. I'll still play them. I am a gammimg fanatic. From Nintendo to Nintendo 64, up to the new pc games they have now. I just want the best vid card on the list. Believe me if the old geforce2 card he put in worked fine, than one of these newer brand new ones will work even better. Please still tell me if the last listed card which is one another friend of mine wants to sell to me is better than everyother one I have listed as he claims it is.

SO PLEASE FOR GOODNESS SAKES JUST TELL ME WHICH ONE IS THE BEST ON THE LIST! OR IF THE DX10 VID CARD THAT IS COMMIN OUT IS GONNA BE BETTER THAN THE ONES I HAVE LISTED AND WILL SELL FOR UNDER $50-$60 THAN I WILL BUY THAT!

REMEMBER IF I BUY THE CARD AND IT DOESNT DO ANYTHING FOR ME I CAN STILL TAKE IT BACK! THE STORE I WILL BUY THE ONE YOU ALL TELL ME IS THE BEST HAS A 7 DAY RETURN POLICY. MEANING I CAN RETURN IT FOR NO REASON!! SO IF I DON'T LIKE IT AND IT IS CRAP I WILL TAKE IT BACK!

PLEASE JUST HELP ME! TELL ME WHICH ONE IS THE BEST ONE EVERYONE! EVERYONE PLEASE POST YOUR OPINION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by superstar, 17 May 2006 - 12:10 PM.

[SRX660]

I would go for the Nvidia FX5200 but then i am partial to nvidia cards. One problem you have is your computer will only run 4X speeds with AGP. The first card is the most likely to me. I would not run a PCI card because you do have AGP and agp is 4 times faster than PCI on your computer. You can not run PCI-e since your motherboard does not support it. It would have a PCI-e slot if it did. The Ti-4800 card is not as good as the FX5200.

By the way superstar, since i have been with you for most of the way on this computer build of yours, i just have to say that you have almost bought yourself a new computer with what you have invested in this one. I know this is a good learning experience for you but it has cost you. Now, instead of trying to improve this computer, please think about building a new computer with all new parts. You will not believe the difference a new fast computer will be. Most of the parts you have bought can be transferred to the new computer.

SRX660

[BlackPandemic]

I would also like to add that you need to chill a little. In each post you caps lock a lot of make it big and bold. We will get to you, we will offer our opinions, but (although I might, cuz I have nothing else to do ) not everyone is here just reading the posts and refreshing. Now that my rant is done:

If you wait then your budget will not be $50 right? If you have any sort of income, saving your money is a goldmine for computers. I didn't spend nearly anything (except an occasional food sorts at work) with my debit card for nearly 5 months to get my new computer. Patience is a virtue, especially in computers.

And you may also calm yo'self because we have posted our opinons that you need to save and get a new computer later, not instant Video Card gratification. If you do not want to take this advice, then do what you will, but I'm seeing a trend that we think it's best you save up for a new system.

[superstar]

Thx everyone but I can't upgrade my pc for a while... Recently I've had some medical problems I've had to pay for and that is turning my pockets upside down for the moment.

I have decided to just buy the one SRX600 claimed was the best out of the list which is:

Asus V9520-X/TD nVidia GeForce FX 5200(250MHz) 128MB(400MHz) 64 Bit DDR DVI-D Composite Output 2x/4x/8x AGP Graphics Card
$44.99
http://www.canadacom...764&cid=999.821

or

Gigabyte GeForce FX 5200 128Mb 64bit AGP 8X D-Sub/DVI/TV-Out
$49.99
http://www.canadacom...042&cid=999.821

I dunno which one of the two is the better one he mentioned. As far as upgrading my pc, I will do all of that in due time. I need to pay off medical bills for the moment, and you all know how that can get! But when I do upgrade I will put in anywhere from $500-$1000 dollars for a new mobo, ram, processor, and possibly a new hard drive. Everything else in my system is still salvagable. And this is why I just needed the best vid card out of the list I made.

Eventually the pc I have now will only be used to play old 3d games, and to go on the internet and download stuff. My new pc/upgrade won't consist of gamming for now because it will consist of building a great audio editing and video editing machine. Soley because my main position of work is "AUDIO ENGINEERING". The reason I ask for the best vid card on the list is just to play some games. I don't really care much for the games they have today or extreme pc gamming machines. I'm just in it for the simple stuff on this pc I have. When I upgrade I will consider getting I dunno... Maybe a $300-$400 vid card. But for now for this old system I will just go with the best from the list I made. Because I forgot to mention, the last thing I would ever get for this pc is a vid card. I would never buy anything else for this pc. I've bought enough for it in the past, so the final thing I could ever put in this thing would be a vid card. So for those of you who are still thinking I am trying to add more to this thing your wrong. The new pc will come when I tear out the mobo, ram, processor, and replace them!

Anyone is still welcome to post your opinion.

Edited by superstar, 18 May 2006 - 12:11 AM.

[BlackPandemic]

That info may have helped early and prevented the "wait to upgrade" responses

If you're just gonna buy a cheapo card to run crap like CS:S or something similair, go cheap if you're going to buy an editing monster later on...just my opinion.

(Fanboy alert: What happened to your ATI choices? )

[Anton1382]

Just remeber. DX10 will only work if you have Windows Vista installed on your pc. So, a DX10 video card+Windows Vista=$Big Price$

Edited by Anton1382, 20 May 2006 - 01:22 AM.

[superstar]

I am considering buying the "Sapphire Radeon 9550 256MB AGP8X V+D+T (RL)" video card from this store:

http://www.pccom.ca/videocard.html

I dunno if this is the same card but look here too (I am not buying from here though):

http://www.canadacom...209&cid=999.821

If you than lastly go to the Saphire site you will see it is a different color:

http://www.sapphiret...ery.php?gpid=56

I hope the one on the first url is the same as the second url, I really want it in red. Don't ask me why... You can just see everything in my case. It would look great!

Is this the same card or am I buying a fake?

Why are cards with the same model make and name different colors?

Is the card better than this "Sapphire ATI Radeon 9250 128MB 128 Bit DDR AGP 8X Video Card"?
http://www.canadacom...009&cid=999.821

One thing you have to notice is if you go to this saphire site link on the 9550 256MB card, check the overview or specs on it. Notice how it only mentions on saphires site about a 128mb card... Hmmm something is fishy... [bleep] I hope it's not a fake, my money will go down the drain...

http://www.sapphiret...ons.php?gpid=56

Edited by superstar, 20 May 2006 - 01:37 AM.

[BlackPandemic]

If you're going cheap just get a Powercolor ATI Radeon 9600 or something around that.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814102670

Not only is this cheaper but it is a little bit better than the 9250 you have picked out.

[superstar]

I bought the "Sapphire Radeon 9550 256MB 128 Bit AGP8X V+D+T (RL)".

THREAD CLOSED!!!

Thanks for the help everyone.

[troppo]

i no you said thread closed but i though i would just give you some input i have the radeon 9550 aswell i think the card is fine for everyday stuff. look it cant run all the games on high settings but it does ok i run bf2 on around medium-high settings and it's fine exept that its 800X600 res which sucks but they are cheap cards but they will do the job.

look my bottom line is dont expect mirecals but the card is fine for everyday gaming NOt hardcore gaming.

hope the card does what you want goodluck,
troppo