best $75 or under video card for gaming?

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nikko

Senior member
Sep 12, 2000
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A buddy of mine wants to start sampling some 3D games but he's on a tight budget. What's the best bang for the buck video card he can get for $100 or less? I think he's prefer to spend $75 or less if possible. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
 
Lyfer

Lyfer

Diamond Member
May 28, 2003
5,842
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Originally posted by: MustISO
You could get a Ti4600 for under $95 used.
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$95 is not under $75.:D You CAN try to get one from the FS/FT for under $75. THe Ti4200 is a great card, I have one in my Dell Latitude labtop and it can run most games at 800x600 with no AA/AF smoothly along with a 1gb of RAM.


It gets rather HOT tho.:)
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
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Originally posted by: MustISO
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: MustISO
I would imagine an ATi 9600 or FX 5600/5700 would be the best options.
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you imagine wrong
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And why is that? If I'm incorrect I'd like to know why I'm wrong.
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you are wrong because those cards you mentioned are slower
 
M

MustISO

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,927
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But still under $100. Why have him upgrade and be unhappy and then have to upgrade again.
 
V

Vee

Senior member
Jun 18, 2004
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Originally posted by: MustISO
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=1933

9600 seems to be faster in these charts. Maybe I'm reading them wrong.
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Well, maybe so, since 9600 is not in the test. My bottom recommendation for a budget gamer would be the R9600pro at $120-$130, so I'm on your side ;) .
(Going under that, I'd primarily look at FX5200ultra. There's also the 5700LE, 5500 and standard 5200. They're all in the same general (low) *class* of performance, with similar value point. And without AA/AF they're all outclassed by GF4 Ti, but unlike Ti, they do support DX9.)

To estimate the 9600 performance you have to cut off about one fourth of 9600pro's bars. You would then see that Ti4200 is indeed faster.
But it's not just that, that have made for such enthusiastic followers to the GF4 Ti. Look at the charts with no AA/AF. You can always gain framerate, and improve gameplay, with a GF4 Ti by disabling AF. It also performs much better, on mature 3D engines than most of those tests show. Check out HomeWorld2 and NeverWinter Nights for a hint.

Personally, I'm such a fan of AA/AF, it really makes for much better looking 3D, I would be careful about recommending GF4 Ti, but it is a blistering fast DX8.1 card for the money.
 
G

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
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I'm a fan of AA/AF too, but we're looking at a $75 budget, which a 4x00 falls under and a 9600 doesn't. An extra $50 for better aa/af performance isn't a good idea or even really an option for the OP's friend, I'm thinking.
 
D

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
3,199
6
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I think that the arguement between the Ti4200 and the 9600 pro is useless when you can get a 9600XT refurb @ newegg for $103 (I would spend $106 for the BBAti version).

It is confusing with the two different price ranges, are we spending $75 or $100?
If $75, then I'd guess Ti4200, if $100 then 9600XT.

Hey $106 is only 6% over budget! I'd think he can live with that increase in price. With the 9600XT he'd be in better shape for future games and using some AA/AF (at lower resolutions).
 
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