Looking for a cheap and good video card

[stevenviola]

I am building a computer for college and need advice on a video card to buy. I might do some gaming but nothing to serious. Just Half-Life 2 and some other games. I am looking to spend at the most $150 for the card. I don't really care if its Nvidia or ATI. I just need some suggestions of what to pick and why. Thanks

 

[CKXP]

agp or pcie?

 

[berkut7]

Assuming you're looking for PCI-E card: see if you can stretch that a little higher and you could get a GeForce 7600GT.
Here's a $155 (after $20 rebate plus $5 shiping) MSI 7600GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127095

 

[stevenviola]

yea, sorry, i meant pci-e. Are there any suggestions for ATI cards or should i just look at Nvidia cards

 

[berkut7]

From ATI's side: X1600 XT is somewhat cheaper (the cheapest one is ~$140), but it does not offer nearly the same level of performance as 7600GT. The next card up the ladder for ATI (for current generation cards) is X1800 GTO, but it starts at ~$200.

 

[LW07]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688
Radeon X850XT-$164 plus shipping
Get the X850XT