$100 to spend...what should I buy

[msi1337]

okay.,.I have an Nf7-s v2, AMD Barton 2600+, 2x256mb pc3200, Seagate 80gb, plextor cdrw) which video card should I get (used is okay) for $100 or less?

I play games rarely, but the best I can get will be fine... I haven't kept up on video cards, so I don't really know whats out there...

 

[GeneralGrievous]

used 9500 pro or 9700.

 

[msi1337]

are those compatible with DX9?

and what about 9600 pro?

recommendations on Nvidia cards?

 

[orangat]

New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: orangat
New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

The FX5200 isn't his only nVidia choice.

You can find GeForce4 Ti4600's used for around $100 now, which would be great for you since you're a casual gamer and probably don't care about being able to run 4XAA and 8XAF in every game. Or like others have said... a 9500 Pro or 9700.

 

[msi1337]

which is better 9600NP or 9500pro?

 

[Jeff7181]

I'd rather have the 9500 Pro.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: msi1337
which is better 9600NP or 9500pro?

9500pro

 

[SneakyStuff]

look for a used 9500 pro, those perform on par with 5700 ultras :Q

 

[PrayForDeath]

Originally posted by: orangat
New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

The FX5200 is a waste of money, it performs like an old GF4 440 + DX9 support but it's not fast enough to run DX9 applications.
If you ask me, I would say you should search for 9500 Pro at ebay, you could find one at around 100$ and it's a great card.

 

[Corporate Thug]

9500 pro is the way to go

 

[msi1337]

thanks for everyones updates!! looks like it is gonna be a 9500 pro for me as soon as I get the funds together!

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: orangat
New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

forget those cards

a $62 Geforce 4 4200 on pricewatch.com, brand new, will destroy either

Try to find a 4200-4600 card, a new 9600Pro cheap, or any used faster card on discount.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Originally posted by: msi1337
thanks for everyones updates!! looks like it is gonna be a 9500 pro for me as soon as I get the funds together!

I have the 9500 Pro and I followed the instructions to flash the bios in order to unlock the overclocking on this card.

Worked like a charm and once overclocked to 315/297 it gets frame rates on average of 60fps in Far Cry with my P4 2.6Ghz OC'ed to 3.2Ghz.

Frame rates are on par with my 9800 Pro in my other machine running AthlonXP 2700+ OC'ed to 2300MHz, with my 9800 Pro running at 400/346.

 

[MechxWarrior]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: orangat
New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

forget those cards

a $62 Geforce 4 4200 on pricewatch.com, brand new, will destroy either

Try to find a 4200-4600 card, a new 9600Pro cheap, or any used faster card on discount.

Sorry. My 9600pro would hit 500core easy and annihilate my ti4600. Im a firm recommendor of the 9600pro if you can get a good one from ATi. Otherwise the 9500pro would be good.

 

[crazycarl]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark

Originally posted by: msi1337
thanks for everyones updates!! looks like it is gonna be a 9500 pro for me as soon as I get the funds together!

I have the 9500 Pro and I followed the instructions to flash the bios in order to unlock the overclocking on this card.

Worked like a charm and once overclocked to 315/297 it gets frame rates on average of 60fps in Far Cry with my P4 2.6Ghz OC'ed to 3.2Ghz.

Frame rates are on par with my 9800 Pro in my other machine running AthlonXP 2700+ OC'ed to 2300MHz, with my 9800 Pro running at 400/346.

is this the bios flash that turns it into a 9700 pro? or a diff. one? sorry i'm kinda clueless

 

[orangat]

I looked into soft/hard modding options and found out that they weren't exactly
as good as I thought.

Modding the 9500series->9700/9800SE->9800pro requires a better heatsink because unlocking
the extra 4 pipelines would mean that the core would run hotter (even if its not OC'ed) since
more parts are in use. I would think the RAM would run hotter as well since its going to be
pushed harder by the modded core.

The new cards I looked at seemed to have stock heatsinks and would require
purchase of better HS (since I don't have one). Less of a bargain and more risk after factoring these
in.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Go for a GeForce 4 Ti series (4200, 4400, etc) for less than $100 (which is the best card in that price range) or a Radeon 9500Pro/9600Pro if you can find one for $100.

 

[jhurst]

The only problem with the Ti4200 is that its not a true DX9 compatible card, whereas the 9500/9600 are.

 

[TStep]

Someone in the FSFT forum has a 9500pro for $110 canadian shipped. That's about $80-$85. A steal I think, but I just don't need it.

 

[pukemon]

Since you (original poster) said you don't play games that much, do you care about building a quiet system? if you want a near-silent system, consider the ATI Radeon 9600 (non-pro) as it doesn't have a fan, just a heatsink. It's probably one of the better performing lower end cards without a fan. Certainly better than an FX5200-anything.

 

[MichaelZ]

9500 Pro > 9600 Pro. i'd take a 9500 Pro anyday too.

if you want new, your choices are: regular 9600

 

[powerMarkymark]

Originally posted by: crazycarl

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark

Originally posted by: msi1337
thanks for everyones updates!! looks like it is gonna be a 9500 pro for me as soon as I get the funds together!

I have the 9500 Pro and I followed the instructions to flash the bios in order to unlock the overclocking on this card.

Worked like a charm and once overclocked to 315/297 it gets frame rates on average of 60fps in Far Cry with my P4 2.6Ghz OC'ed to 3.2Ghz.

Frame rates are on par with my 9800 Pro in my other machine running AthlonXP 2700+ OC'ed to 2300MHz, with my 9800 Pro running at 400/346.

is this the bios flash that turns it into a 9700 pro? or a diff. one? sorry i'm kinda clueless

The answer to your question is yes, but of course a true 9700 Pro is 256 bit and the modded 9500 Pro is and remains a 128 bit.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: MechxWarrior

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Originally posted by: orangat
New your choices are Nvidia FX5200 $70-82, Radeon 9600NP $96.

forget those cards

a $62 Geforce 4 4200 on pricewatch.com, brand new, will destroy either

Try to find a 4200-4600 card, a new 9600Pro cheap, or any used faster card on discount.

Sorry. My 9600pro would hit 500core easy and annihilate my ti4600. Im a firm recommendor of the 9600pro if you can get a good one from ATi. Otherwise the 9500pro would be good.

First of all, a 4200 costs $62 and you can easily overlcock it to 4600 speeds. If he wanted to spend more, like I said, i recommended the 9600pro used. Besides 4600 is at least as fast or faster in games unless you enable AA/AF so 9600Pro is only faster at those settings, but costs 2x as much new.

 

[Delorian]

Originally posted by: orangat
I looked into soft/hard modding options and found out that they weren't exactly
as good as I thought.

Modding the 9500series->9700/9800SE->9800pro requires a better heatsink because unlocking
the extra 4 pipelines would mean that the core would run hotter (even if its not OC'ed) since
more parts are in use. I would think the RAM would run hotter as well since its going to be
pushed harder by the modded core.

The new cards I looked at seemed to have stock heatsinks and would require
purchase of better HS (since I don't have one). Less of a bargain and more risk after factoring these
in.

My 9800 pro (SE) is no hotter w/softmod or w/out. I get a 15/20 OC either way (cheap fan limits me from more I'm sure). I don't think it makes a bit of difference as you're using the same core as the 9800 Pro which is run at 8 pipes 380/680 anyhow. RAM shouldn't run any hotter than spec either. Remember, this card really is a 9800 Pro (depends on the model/brand/speeds), just has some pipes disabled that possibly won't work. I think it's a helluva deal for a $150 9800 Pro!