Best "Cheap" AGP Card for HTPC?

[bmwme]

To do it all right I really need to spend the money...but if I don't HAVE the money then I can't. So I have to do this half-assed.

I have a dead Socket A Athlon based system with a decent (7800gs) AGP card, and a budding HTPC with an old 4400ti that can't display well on my 55" Sony HDTV (HDMI and DVI).

I don't supposed the 7800gs will be tons better will it? If not, what is a good cheap ~$50 video card that can display 2D? 3D is not nessisary.

Slightly OT: What is the best budget (<$100) pci-e vid card on the market today?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

There are Radeon 9600 Pro's on newegg for under $50 shipped, those should work.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

you should consider getting a fanless 8500 or 2400pro. you'll have options later on and they shouldnt cost more than 75 bucks.

 

[BlacKJesu5]

pmd

 

[s44]

2400pro

 

[Spike]

Would the 2400 pro beat out a 6800GT? What about his 7800GS? Just curious...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

For AGP the Radeon 9600 Pro's at newegg are gonna be the better option. For a $100 Pci-E X16 card check newegg.com , zipzoomfly.com and buy.com for X1950GT's or 7900GS's .

 

[heyheybooboo]

If I understand your question that 7800gs is way more than you need - should not be a problem and it's 2X a 9800pro in games.

An agp HD 2400 Pro for around $100 would give yah hdcp compliance, DX10 and vc1/h264 hardware decoding but in gaming reality is 1/3 of your DX9 7800gs.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Except for the fact the $100 budget is for the Pci-E X16 card and there is a $50 budget on the AGP card.

 

[WT]

ATI X1300 .... good card that I'm using in my HTPC and does a much better job at supporting my 16:9 plasma than the equivalent Nvidia card (never could get my 6800 to do 1440x900).