Cant decide a vid card for around less than $100

[kormaster]

I got a p3 700 on a Abit BX-133 w/ 256 mem pc133. Im running WinXP and the windows are SLUGGISH.

I want to spend around 70-100 bucks a new vid card... i have been looking at newegg.com and geforce 2 Ti's are attracting to me. What do you guys think?? I dont do crazy gaming.. just CS once in awhile (I AM SO USED TO SMOKE LAG LOL) and mostly just browse the internet.

So why upgrade if i dont play games??
1) Diamond Stealth S540 SUCKS on WInxp (the vid card is OLD)
2) When i drag the windows around the desktop, it BLURRRRRRRS and LAGGGGGS

so guys, help me please. Thank you!!

 

[kormaster]

bumpy!!

 

[dakata24]

for counterstrike, a geforce2 ti is plenty.. my old duron 800 with a geforce1 ddr plays cs well... hmm. winxp kinda sluggish? have you thuoght about upping the ram by adding an additional 256megs? in off topic, it was being debated whether or not 256megs is enough for a computer these days... Click Here to check the thread out..

 

[TheStang]

Well for CS, the CPU really has more of an impact on performance than the video card. If you're looking for smoother gameplay and performance, I would recommend you save that money into a new processor rather than spend it on some cheap video card. I've personally tested CS on a Athlon 750 with a GF3 Ti200, and its results do not even compare to that of a GF2 MX on my friend's 1.4 tbird.

 

[dakata24]

i think the cpu should be fine for what he wants to use it for. counterstrike isnt too cpu intensive.. if that was the case, then how am i able to play CS on my celeron 466 with a voodoo3 decently at 1024x768x16bit? i really think a new video card ( to replace the diamond stealth s540 which is a pretty ancient card) would really improve performance. if he saved money for a new processor, and didnt upgrade the old stealth s540, that video card is seriously going to be a huge bottleneck on the system... a p3 aint too shabby. it can play all the current games good enough..

 

[Willoughbyva]

Video card prices have been dropping lately. I would say check out the gforces, but also take a look at the ati 7500s.

 

[NewCompGeek]

i suggest the ati radeon le

just overclock it to the regular specs and youll have a great card

 

[kormaster]

Thanks for the great responses guys, but upgrading to higher CPU and mobo isnt in my budget right now... i rather wait until my PIII 700 is really ancient (another year or 1.5 years) I can live with that... it's ok... but hmm GF Ti200 still sound good.. im staying away from ATI.. why?? maybe im stubborn but Nvidia always seemed to be on the egde (ATI and their drivers...)

from newegg.com
$85.00

GAINWARD/CARDEXPERT GEFORCE2 Ti450, 64MB (NO TV-OUT) DDR 4.5ns - RETAIL GeForce2 Ti450 incorporating GeForce2 Pro breakthrough 3D architecture, in a 2-pipe form, which delivers the full GeForce2 Pro/450, 3D features set at mainstream price points

 

[kormaster]

i think im gonna guy that card.... in addition, u really think i might need extra 256 meg upgrade???

 

[dakata24]

<< i think im gonna guy that card.... in addition, u really think i might need extra 256 meg upgrade??? >>



well, id get the video card first since it seems to be a major bottleneck in your system and then go from there..

 

[azkiwi]

Since you're not into gaming - how about a Matrox? You can get a G550 for under $90 and never have a driver issue again. You'll even have DVI for your upgrade path... Why spend all those $ on features you'll never use?

 

[Instagib]

Matrox rules. I have a Millenium II on my server and I love it.

 

[cofg4me]

I think you're wise to avoid the cheaper ATI card with XP right now. I upgraded to XP home and have yet to find a driver that runs games well in XP. I'm not biggoted against ATI (all my video cards(3) are ATI!), it's just that they don't seem to have good XP drivers for their value stuff right now. (I was unable to get my TV Wonder VE to work at all under XP home even though it worked perfectly under ME!)