I need a really cheap agp card

[elnino21546]

Ive decided to hold off on my full computer upgrade for a couple months and get a conroe system when they are released, with a decent video card like a 7600gt or x1800xt or 7900gt.

For the time being though I really want a newer video card than what I have. My current system is a sempron 3100+, 512mb ram, geforce 3. I really want to try out some newer games like BF2 but I dont want to wait a couple months until I get a new computer.

What agp card can i get for <100 retail that will play BF2 as an example. Actually I will probably buy it used on the forums or ebay. 6600gt? 6200?

Actually can I even run BF2 with 512 ram?

 

[Captante]

Either a Radeon 9800 Pro/XT or a 6600GT is going to be your best bet forget the 6200... you should be able to snag a 9800 Pro on FS/FT for roughly $75-$85 shipped, a 6600GT will be slightly more, but also slightly faster.

 

[elnino21546]

Thanks for the reply. Ive been looking on ebay and FS sections and Ive seen a couple x800xls for 90-100ish. How does that compare to a 9800 or 6600?
Also do I need 512 more ram or can I stand pat until my new computer?

 

[elnino21546]

Actually I only saw one x800xl in that range and it was pci-e, the agp ones i saw were morelike 130-140. Its looking more and more like I will try and find a 6600gt. I would still like to know if its worth getting 512 more ram though.

 

[LW07]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131007
I would get this 256mb X800GTO for $110. It's slightly faster than a 6800 most of the time which makes it faster than a Radeon 9800XT or a 6600GT.

I would also look at getting 512mb more ram, too. I ran Far Cry on a similar system to what your system would have been with the X800GTO(I had an Athlon XP 2600+, 512mb ram, and Geforce 6800), and Far Cry liked to stutter at 1024*768 with no AA and medium settings, no matter what I tried, which was because of the lack of memory. I upgraded to 2 gigs(1 gig is probably all that's needed now, especially if you're saving up for Conroe) and it runs a lot better(Well, I must say that I upgraded to an Athlon 64 3500+ and X1900XT, not trying to brag or anything, but still, it would have run better anyway even with the 6800.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141436
512mb Kingston ram for $40.

 

[fluffysheap]

BF2 runs fine in 512MB of RAM. Having less RAM makes your load times longer (and BF2 is not a game that loads quickly in the first place). Note, BF2 has serious problems with CTD's right now, if you are crashing, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to upgrade. With only 512MB of RAM you will run out if you set texture and geometry detail to anything other than lowest, but with a sub-$100 video card you will have to do that anyway.
For the record, I run it (if slowly) on this:
|
v

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: elnino21546
Actually I only saw one x800xl in that range and it was pci-e, the agp ones i saw were morelike 130-140. Its looking more and more like I will try and find a 6600gt. I would still like to know if its worth getting 512 more ram though.

Sorry, my bad ... I meant X800GTO, not 1800, I'm afraid they arn't quite that cheap yet!

This is the one, but looks like the price jumped $10:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102609

Otherwise a 6600GT off the forums is the best bet ... a 6800nu (plain vanilla) will perform the same to slightly better so its another good choice if you can find one.


As for the RAM, yes.. if you only have 512mb's adding another 512 will help a lot.