Best PCI card for an aging system?

[DKlein]

Someone wants to know what's a good PCI card to get with this setup:
2.2GHz P4
256MB RAM
PCI only motherboard
Intel Extreme 3D Graphics

So what's the best card, under $100 that isn't going to end up being bottlenecked by either the CPU or the bus?

 

[TStep]

Seems like an ATI 9100, if you can find them. I've seen them on Ebay for $60+ dollars. Read here as to what performance to expect.

 

[Marsumane]

Originally posted by: TStep
Seems like an ATI 9100, if you can find them. I've seen them on Ebay for $60+ dollars. Read here as to what performance to expect.

This or maybe even something a little higher if u can find it. Stay away from the 9200se (if u find one in pci form). Also the 8500 is basically the same card as the 9100 so that would def work well.

 

[Jeff7181]

Looks like your choice is between a Radeon 9100 and FX5600. Both will probably be bottlenecked by the bus. You might consider something passively cooled... no noise is a bonus... I know for sure you can find a GF4MX and FX5200 with passive cooling... not sure which Radeons are passively cooled. I'd tend to go with an nVidia card for this person simply because it doesn't appear to me that they have the knowledge to troubleshoot problems with drivers or compatability if they can't research what PCI card to get on their own... and even though ATI's drivers have improved, I still think nVidia is more "plug and play" but there are many who wouldn't agree, or would disagree.

 

[DarkKnight]

radeon 9100 is the best pci card