Cheap Graphics Cards

[Raptor9]

I know not everyone likes reminiscing about old and obsolete hardware in these forums, but I have a question regarding cheap and outdated graphics cards that needs an answer. Basically, with a budget of $100 dollars max, which AGP card would you recommend?

 

[the cobbler]

Any of these would be good choices.

I would guess roughly this order, best to worst:

either Sapphire 9800Pro
MSI
rosewill 6600 (can be OCd near 6600GT)
Powercolor
Sapphire 9800SE

 

[Maximilian]

Our definitions of old & obsolete clash severly :frown:

Still, that refurbed 9800 PRO is a gd deal.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: the cobbler
Any of these would be good choices.

I would guess roughly this order, best to worst:

either Sapphire 9800Pro
MSI
rosewill 6600 (can be OCd near 6600GT)
Powercolor
Sapphire 9800SE

Where I am, finding any of those for less than about $140 or so is going to be difficult. On the other hand, the Radeon 9700 Pro cards can be found for less than $100, and they were pretty good. Someone is bound to want to name some FX card, but honestly the nVidia cards in that series were a poor value. You had to pay too much for the FX 5800/ FX 5900/ FX 5950, nothing much less counts, and none got you full Dx9 compatability. For nVidia cards, step back a generation to the GF 4200, 4400, 4600, all of which are good for older games, and the prices are well within the affordable range.

Presently I do have more FX's than anything else, but I got most of those while the GF 6 series was new, and their winning performance caused a major devaluation of the FX's, even NIB ones. I don't have direct experience with other Radeons, like the 9600 (probably affordable).

 

[the cobbler]

Originally posted by: Kiwi
Where I am, finding any of those for less than about $140 or so is going to be difficult.

that's true anywhere, which is why I pointed him to refurbs. really good deals when the cash is limited.

 

[Greg04]

Originally posted by: the cobbler

Originally posted by: Kiwi
Where I am, finding any of those for less than about $140 or so is going to be difficult.

that's true anywhere, which is why I pointed him to refurbs. really good deals when the cash is limited.

I'd add that be patient with newegg with refurbs. I went thru 3 refurbed 9800 pros last year :-(.

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

9800 is the best hcoice, refurb or not.

 

[Bizzy]

by the time you go through all those refurbs, sending them back and what not, you might of as well bought a new one, no?

 

[Sforsyth]

try to find someone thats want to update their card to buy it from