Graphics card suggestion for friend's box

[TedKord]

Got a friend who bought a game last week that his old video card can't handle.
It's an older system, which is fine for his use (mostly just surfing), but he's
asked me my opinion on what to get to replace it. Which card will give maximum value
on such an old system? Which would give diminishing returns due to the rest of the
system?


The only caveat is, it needs to be a PCI card. His system has (disabled) built in video,
no AGP slot. He's currently running an ATI All-in-Wonder 8mb (Rage Pro chipset), but
needs hardware T&L for the new game.


His PC is an HP he purchased from Best Buy or other similar local retailer several years ago.

System specs: P3 1.0GHz
128mb PC-100 (I'm giving him another 256mb I have laying around, so it'll be 384mb)
(Obviously) 100MHz FSB
built in sound (no idea which)
Windows ME

Thanks for any help.

 

[ponyo]

Get ATI 9100 PCI card. It should be around $50-70.

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Naustica
Get ATI 9100 PCI card. It should be around $50-70.

 

[RussianSensation]

Xtasy Radeon 9100 PCI 64MB

Even though the title says 9100 AGP 64mb its a PCI card

just remember when textures exceed 64 mb its gonna go to 10FPS and make any game unplayable so probably cant play any game above 1024x768

 

[nick1985]

BARF! windows ME? do him a favor and get a new OS

 

[TedKord]

Originally posted by: nick1985
BARF! windows ME? do him a favor and get a new OS

I've told him that, but he's satisfied with what he's got. Really, 99% of what he does is surf the web.

 

[Dufrane]

Why do people hate windows me???

 

[lchen66666]

Yes, go with PCI version 9100. That's that best you can get from PCI video card.

 

[klah]

Sudhian's Ultimate PCI Round-up.

128mb 9100 for $70 = Winner.

fx5600 moderately faster but 2X price.

 

[TedKord]

Thanks to all who replied. The overwhelming sentiment seems to be the 9100, so that's where
he's going.

Found the 128mb one at TigerDirect for $70, plus a $20 rebate. I know, tiger rebates suck, but even
if it doesn't go through, the $70 is no more expensive than anywhere else. So at worst he'll get it at
the same price as everywhere else. At best, for $20 cheaper.

If the absolute worst happens, and tiger just doesn't ship it or ships the wrong one, he'll dispute the
charge. (I'm going to make sure he prints out EVERYTHING during the transaction)

Thanks again. I've never really thought about PCI graphics, let alone kept tabs on which was good.
Heck, I didn't even know they still made PCI vid cards.

 

[Matthias99]

If you're looking to save a few bucks, there's also the GF2/GF4MX PCI. I've run BF1942 on a GF2MX32MB (at 800x600!), so it'll probably handle whatever your friend wants it to. I'd take the 9100, personally, especially for $50 net.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Dufrane
Why do people hate windows me???

because windows 98SE is 10x better and windows xp is 10000000X better and windows 2000 is 10000000000000000x better

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: Dufrane
Why do people hate windows me???

Cause it's horrible. Winxp pwns.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: Dufrane
Why do people hate windows me???

Cause it's horrible. Winxp pwns.

winxp is just as ass... win2k thanks!

 

[Matthias99]

I fail to see why win2k is soooo much better than winxp. If you take away XP's flashier GUI, it's essentially the same operating system. Both of them are newer variants of the WinNT kernel. I'm unaware of any huge technical differences between them -- if there are some, I'd love to hear them, but so far nobody I've seen claiming this has presented much proof.