Video card comparison

[Eli_1]

I'm still building that gaming computer I started a few weeks ago, and I'm looking for video cards now.

I just got 140 dollars for my birthday two days ago, so that's my current budget. What are your thoughts on video cards that cost less than 140 dollars, and which would you recommend?


Edit: My board supports AGP 8x / Pro

[quasi-modo]

get a higher end ati card, but make sure it does not have an se in the name... se stands for sucky edition, they have bad ram.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-102-268&DEPA=1 is a good deal but its a bit over your range
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-125-128&depa=1 is decent, its an nvidea 5900. I am sort of an nvidea man myself, a recent convert, I used to be more of a fan of ati, but I have seen some nasty atif artifacts recently. Nvidea is moving towards dx9 so it will be interesting to see what they do on future cards, its going to be all about the pci express though in comeing months.

This is probably your best bet, a 9600xt, thats a fairly decent card and its right around your price range. If you want nvidea the 5700 is in your price range, but I do not think I would go near that. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-242&depa=1

[cefx-]

For $140 bucks, you should get the 9600 Pro.

That's a great card, pretty sure it's DirectX 9 compatible also.

[j0k3r]

9600 should be able to handle anything you throw at it, until next year. I would go with the 9700 or 9800 if you plan on playing Doom3 or other intensive graphic games. The 9600 should be able to run UT2K4 without any problem, so depending on what you want to do, get a higher end card.

If you're planning to play an MMORPG/MMOFPS then 1gig of ram is what I'd recommend, spend a little less on the video card and more on the ram.

[Eli_1]

Warcraft III, Halo, and Counter-Strike is what I'm aiming for, right now.  

[cefx-]

And Halo 2 I hope.

[j0k3r]

Warcraft III, Halo, and Counter-Strike is what I'm aiming for, right now.  

The 9600 is overkill in that case. Plan ahead though, there is no point in getting a video card that you'll need to replace next year.

[Eli_1]

And Halo 2 I hope.

You bet your ass Halo 2...

[quasi-modo]

I can run halo just fine on a ti4200, and that crappy nvidea dx9. That 9600xt I linked should easily rape that game in frame rates. Personally I want to get a 9800pro, or all in wonder, when I get a little more cash in the old bank account I plan on buying a sata hard drive, then it will be saving for a new video card.

[Eli_1]

I'm a little skeptical about the ATI cards because I hear of people have so many problems with them, and how they all like their GeForce cards so much better.

[quasi-modo]

ATI has much better support of DX9, right now, so it is going to get a better frame rate. But it is my opinion that nvidea cards artifact less and render more smoothly. Both are good, you will be able to game just fine from a high end nvidea card or a high end ati card. Personally I would go with the ATI card, rather then the Geforce4 FX line, but because I hate the driver for that line.  But ATI can be a driver whore from what I hear, I do not use them, but I hear you have to download several things, and you have to update the drivers frequently... thats just what a friend said, I am not sure about that. An ATI users thoughts on this please???

[ChR0NiC]

i stink

[quasi-modo]

hey! Where did I say that? I would make a typo like that... but I cant find that. I think you took it out of context anyway... was I saying "I stink after I do yard work" or something?

[ChR0NiC]

hey! Where did I say that? I would make a typo like that... but I cant find that. I think you took it out of context anyway... was I saying "I stink after I do yard work" or something?

yes

[quasi-modo]

oh... ok.