Budget Graphics Card

[xephalon]

Hey Guys,

I just upgraded a number of components including processor, memory, and harddrive... but I think my system is now bottlenecked at the video card. I wanna play some games, but I'm not that hardcore... However, my current GF3 Ti200 doesn't even have DX9 support. Can people recommend a solid graphics card under $100 that can play most of the newest games comfortably? I've been looking at stuff like the GeForce FX5200 - 5700, or Radeon 9500-9600 or x300. Here're my current specs:

A64 3000+
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum
1GB Corsair Value Select DDR400 DIMM
2 80GB Seagate Barracuda SATA on a RAID 0 stripe
NEC 3500A DVD-R as IDE-master
1 80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA100 as IDE-slave
Winfast 128MB GeForce3 Ti200
Soundblaster LIVE!
Keyboard and mouse are the Logitech MX Duo
running WinXP +SP2.

Thanks!

 

[KoolDrew]

9600

 

[Fern]

IMHO, stay away from the Geforce FX cards. They never did DX9 worth a crap.

Look for a 9600 pro 128 MB (and not the "EZ" version either).

Fern

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
9600

 

[SrGuapo]

I would go for a 9600. They are DX9 compliant, will run newer games (albeit on lower settings). The 5200 is pretty bad for a gaming card, as most here will tell you.

Edit: damn I type slowly...

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
9600

 

[w00t]

i would say 6600gt? might be too much but it will be good.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: w00t
i would say 6600gt? might be too much but it will be good.

It's more than double the $100 price, but worth it if you want to play at 1024x768 instead of 640x480 - 800x600.

Just don't buy a PCI-E version by mistake, you need AGP.

 

[Andres3605]

i can play HL2 at pretty good fps at 1024*768 with AA 2x in my 9600 xt, you can find a pretty cheap 9600 pro around there and have decent FPS in most games but DOOM 3 which i didnt like anyways.

 

[thegimp03]

9700 pro used off of ebay perhaps? worth a try, as they're better than 9600 series cards.

 

[KoolDrew]

If you shop on ebay I would probally get a 9800 Pro or 6600GT AGP if you can find it for a good price.

 

[w00t]

i think the best or the 9700 and 9600 series is the 9600xt. the 9700pro isnt much better.

 

[ts3433]

I think the 9500 Pro performed about as well as a 9600 XT, so look into a used one of those. If it must be new, try a 9600 or 9600 Pro.