budget AGP card for general and 3D

[mike3411]

Really need to upgrade the graphics card, what would be the best AGP card for under $50? I'm looking to buy it new and that doesnt have to include S&H. Would definitely like 256mb vram but manufacturer should be high quality.

Right now im considering:

MSI NX6200-TD256H GeForce 6200LE 256MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$45 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127290

or

XFX GeForce 6200 256MB AGP 8x Video Card ( DVI VGA TV-Out )
http://www.buy.com/prod/xfx-ge...loc/101/202138367.html

PNY VCG62256APB GeForce 6200 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$59 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814133151

or for ATI:

DIAMOND X1050AGP256SB Radeon X1050 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$59 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814103033

Connect3D Radeon X1300 Video Card
$62 at http://www.pricegrabber.com/us...7630965&lot_id=3031835

Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[thegorx]

you might want to try finding something used
stay away from budget 64-bit interface cards, they're not much better than onboard video

there are a lot of different cards check toms for some idea of benchmarks check newegg to see if they are budget 64-bit interface cards. basically they will be on the end of any test they're included in.

http://www.tomshardware.com/site/vgacharts/

maybe a RADEON X800 for $50 used ??

 

[mike3411]

yeah thanks ive been looking through the TH charts, but most of the stuff i'm looking at is way on the low end so it is kind of hard to compare

found the x1300 - ATI RADEON X1300 Pro - Graphics adapter - Radeon X1300 Pro - AGP 8x - 256 MB DDR II - DVI (Refurbished) for $70 which is a bit over budget but possible

x800 is available around $100, really don't want to bother with ebay or anything, refurb would be fine though

which do you mean by budget 64-bit interface cards? what would be best card that is available for around $50?

this is my new frontrunner:
PNY Verto GeForce 6600 AGP 8X DDR 256MB HDTV/DVI-Out
for $60
but this model isn't on the TH chart, would it be better or worse than the X1300 Pro?

 

[imported_Kiwi]

A $50 video card gets you up to 2004, maybe. $90 is about the minimum with which to play games from 2006.

A vanilla 6600 is just barely in its "600 performance" class. Apparently you don't know that the last three numbers, starting with the ATI X000 cards and the Geforce 6xxx cards, reveal the performance level. Your 6200 is/was pretty bad. A 1300 Pro is a very slight improvement over a 6200, and a 7300 GS is about the same as an X1300. All of them are intended to be used for business graphics, with Powerpoint presentations, and charting of spreadsheets.

The 7300 GT is a borderline card, as good or better than the Vanilla 6600. For 3D games released in 2005, the Vanilla 6600 was too slow, but the 6600 GT was decent. The 2006 crop of games mostly oustripped the 6600 GT. A 7600 GS became the bottom end then.

 

[thegorx]

MSI NX6200-TD256H GeForce 6200LE 256MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$45 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127290


well reburbs can be ok but sometimes they have no returns or very limited returns
ebay is all about comunication, ratings and if they have a return policy.
always email before you bid to see if the seller is responsive.

on the reburb end you might look at crucial as well

http://www.crucial.com/store/r...ompactFlash%20Type%20I

but personally I wouldn't spend $75 on a X1300

also the RADEON X1300 Pro is 128 bit instead of the 256 bit
4 PixelPipelines instead of 12

but then again I still use a Radeon 9700 Pro but then again it's 256bit
heck I had a ATI 8500 with 128bit interface

basically I look for cards that were once near top of the line, look thru mags from a year ago or so. Don't look at model numbers or memory MB that's deceiving

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Newegg had a sale going, in which a relatively decent video card was available for $50, after a MIR of $20. I'll see if I can find that one again. OK, it's an X1650 Pro from HIS, $70 before the MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161037

 

[gorobei]

if you can find it, a 6600GT would probably be in the price range and does fine for OpenGL 3d.
Otherwise go for 7600GS or higher. The sales/rebate wave for this time of year seems to have passed; I think I saw 7900GS with rebates going for $100 at FRYs a month ago. If you can wait a bit, the retailers should start clearing out 7600G(?) cards for close to your price.

 

[mike3411]

Originally posted by: Kiwi
A $50 video card gets you up to 2004, maybe. $90 is about the minimum with which to play games from 2006.

A vanilla 6600 is just barely in its "600 performance" class. Apparently you don't know that the last three numbers, starting with the ATI X000 cards and the Geforce 6xxx cards, reveal the performance level. Your 6200 is/was pretty bad. A 1300 Pro is a very slight improvement over a 6200, and a 7300 GS is about the same as an X1300. All of them are intended to be used for business graphics, with Powerpoint presentations, and charting of spreadsheets.

The 7300 GT is a borderline card, as good or better than the Vanilla 6600. For 3D games released in 2005, the Vanilla 6600 was too slow, but the 6600 GT was decent. The 2006 crop of games mostly oustripped the 6600 GT. A 7600 GS became the bottom end then.

All I'm really expecting / hoping for 30 fps in CS:S with some video settings.
The goal is to get the most performance for the price, but yeah it is difficult to find something modern for that price range

Originally posted by: thegorx
MSI NX6200-TD256H GeForce 6200LE 256MB 64-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$45 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127290


well reburbs can be ok but sometimes they have no returns or very limited returns
ebay is all about comunication, ratings and if they have a return policy.
always email before you bid to see if the seller is responsive.

on the reburb end you might look at crucial as well

http://www.crucial.com/store/r...ompactFlash%20Type%20I

but personally I wouldn't spend $75 on a X1300

also the RADEON X1300 Pro is 128 bit instead of the 256 bit
4 PixelPipelines instead of 12

but then again I still use a Radeon 9700 Pro but then again it's 256bit
heck I had a ATI 8500 with 128bit interface

basically I look for cards that were once near top of the line, look thru mags from a year ago or so. Don't look at model numbers or memory MB that's deceiving

So what would you suggest looking for in this case? Should I be looking for at least 128bit?

Originally posted by: Kiwi
Newegg had a sale going, in which a relatively decent video card was available for $50, after a MIR of $20. I'll see if I can find that one again. OK, it's an X1650 Pro from HIS, $70 before the MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161037

That's PCI-E

Originally posted by: gorobei
if you can find it, a 6600GT would probably be in the price range and does fine for OpenGL 3d.
Otherwise go for 7600GS or higher. The sales/rebate wave for this time of year seems to have passed; I think I saw 7900GS with rebates going for $100 at FRYs a month ago. If you can wait a bit, the retailers should start clearing out 7600G(?) cards for close to your price.

How about: 128MB PNY Verto GeForce 6600 GT DVI VGA HDTV -Out AGP 8x VCG6600GAPB
At $66 ( http://www.compuvest.us/Produc....aspx?ProductID=178007 ) it is a bit over budget but might be a good choice. The 7600GS is more like $90 but yeah it would be around the right price in a couple months.

 

[Rockhound1]

Go with the 6600GT for $66. That seems to be your best choice at the moment. As is always the case with computer hardware, the longer you can wait, the more you can buy. But then the computer software will require more... It is what keeps the hardware manufacturers in business.

 

[Arkaign]

Have you scoured FS/FT here on AT? You should be able to find a decent used card (X800, 6800) AGP for about your price range.

 

[mike3411]

Originally posted by: Rockhound1
Go with the 6600GT for $66. That seems to be your best choice at the moment. As is always the case with computer hardware, the longer you can wait, the more you can buy. But then the computer software will require more... It is what keeps the hardware manufacturers in business.

That seems like the best choice, I'm trying to figure if it would be better to get a slower card with more video ram, but it seems at this point getting the most recent chipset is a priority.
I've been waiting for prices to go down for a while, but now something has to be done and I need to choose from what is currently being offered

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Have you scoured FS/FT here on AT? You should be able to find a decent used card (X800, 6800) AGP for about your price range.

Well, I'd really like to order something new or with a manufacturer's warranty, I know may sellers are very reliable but still it is a hassle. I'm actually looking to get a similar card for two different machines, so maybe I'll order something for one and browse the FS in search of a deal for the other. I've been checking hot deals, but nothing has come up for AGP cards of this type.

 

[bryanW1995]

I have a 9800 pro agp that I'm planning to put in the fs/ft forum. lmk if you're interested.

 

[mike3411]

It looks like it will be the 6600 GT, which came down in price a bit. I'm eying a x1650, but the memory is slower and it's 20-30 pricier.
Thanks for the fs/ft suggestions but I'm only looking at new or possibly refurbs.

 

[konakona]

edit: nvm, if you need something new or refurb then.. 6600gt it is i guess

 

[gorobei]

if you can do so, avoid the PNY brand. their low end cards are reported to be fairly poor quality.

 

[VinDSL]

Hrm...

I'm still running AGP - you can see it in my 'Rig'.

I *looked* at the cards you're considering and, Dude, this is a very nicely constructed card!

Originally posted by: mike3411
DIAMOND X1050AGP256SB Radeon X1050 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$59 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814103033

I won't bore you with all the reasons, but the other ones are garbage, IMHO!

Personally, I wouldn't go for anything less than a (ahem) 7600GT, but if you're on a budget or whatever, I'd go with the above.

That's a nice board!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: mike3411
It looks like it will be the 6600 GT, which came down in price a bit...

I should have kept reading...

Yeah, that 6600GT should run circles around a X1050!

I'd go that route...

 

[Laminator]

Also, a 6600GT will support SM3.0 and will thus allow you to play any game out on the market today (albeit at lower settings), something my X850 XT can't do.

Unreal 3 ***8====>*** X800/X850