AGP card for an older P4 system that supports Vista

[kevinali]

I have the option of getting the following AGP cards for a second computer

1. MSI 5900 XT 128

2. Radeon 9550 256

They are going into an older P4 (3 Ghz) with 2 GB RAM (DDR 400) and dual 160 GB Maxtors on an MSI NEO 875 MB

The computer will be uses as a second computer for mostly Office 2007 and internet stuff and the odd ripping of DVDs (when the primary computer is occupied)

The is NO games on this machine, i am interested in Vista Business Aero support as well as future driver releases that supports Vista.

I know that nVidia has discontinued vista support for the FX series as they are not supported the current vista drivers

Which should i get

Thanks in advanced


Kevin

 

[happy medium]

#2

 

[DaveSimmons]

Could you get something slower but more modern like an nvidia 6200 or 6600 instead, or are those the only possible choices?

 

[kevinali]

The local computer store has these in the "clearance" bin for 50 cdn and for this older pc its as much as i would spend

kevin

 

[secretanchitman]

i'd say the ati because of the driver support. i dunno if the newest nvidia drivers suppor the FX cards. though the 5900 cards are definitely better than the ati card you can pick from.

 

[cheesygoldfish]

MSI 5900 XT 128!!

 

[rtree]

Assuming the memory bus is 128-bit and not 64, the extra 128MB VRAM on the 9550 will help when multiple Aero windows are open.

Plus the 9550 uses less power than the 5900XT.

Is the 9550 passively cooled? Less noise is better for an office machine.

 

[kevinali]

Thanks all,

I am lean on the 5900 XT modded with the Zalman Vf-700 for quiet operations

As only one or two windows are open at any given time on this pc, the 128 should do aero fine, assuming i leave the card with the built in vista drivers

Thanks again

Kevin