Looking for some AGP advice

[imported_rz]

I'm upgrading a 9800 Pro in a Athlon XP 2.0ghz machine with 2GB of ram and a 400w PSU. I've been trying to find a x1950 Pro to upgrade to but I can't find one thats not $300. So I started looking into HD2600XT's but I've learned that there are several issues with drivers for those cards, so I'm not so sure about the 2600's. My question to you guys is what would you suggest? Should I look at NV cards maybe? Should I just get the 2600 and work with the driver issues? BTW, I have a PCI-E machine. This upgrade is for a 2nd computer, budget is about $200-250.

 

[n7]

Welcome to the forums


Honestly, spending $200-250 on an AGP card is a terrible value.

Celeron dual core E1200 - $53.24 (can OC well; much faster than an Athlon XP)
http://www.ncixus.com/products...70/BX80557E1200/Intel/

Gigabyte DS3L - $88.39 (or go cheaper)
http://www.ncixus.com/products.../GA-P35-DS3L/Gigabyte/

Asus 8600 GT passively cooled - $92.79 AR
http://www.ncixus.com/products...NT%2FHTDP%2F256M/ASUS/

OCZ 2x1 GB DDR2-800 - $23.77 AR
http://www.ncixus.com/products...22GK/OCZ%20Technology/

$258.19 + shipping.

Now i did this up to show why AGP cards = waste of money.
You could shave even more off that price by checking for better deals, looking at used on FS/FT, etc.

The best thing about that sytem is that it can easily be turned into a high end machine down the road; just add a quad core, more RAM, & a better video card.

 

[imported_rz]

Originally posted by: rz
I'm upgrading a 9800 Pro in a Athlon XP 2.0ghz machine with 2GB of ram and a 400w PSU. I've been trying to find a x1950 Pro to upgrade to but I can't find one thats not $300. So I started looking into HD2600XT's but I've learned that there are several issues with drivers for those cards, so I'm not so sure about the 2600's. My question to you guys is what would you suggest? Should I look at NV cards maybe? Should I just get the 2600 and work with the driver issues? BTW, I have a PCI-E machine. This upgrade is for a 2nd computer, budget is about $200-250.

Thanks for the reply and welcome, been a lurker for sometime.

I won't be buying a whole new system, I already have a high end system. This AGP card is for a 2nd system. I don't have a need for 3 systems. This system does fine doing what I need it to do, theres no reason to upgrade the entire setup.

I'm in a unique situation. I am waiting for my main system's mobo to come back from a RMA. SATA controllers just stoppd working. This is gonna take some weeks I'm guessing. So I'm gaming on my 2nd PC that I use for boxing buffers and such in certain MMO's. It needs a video card so I can play something while waiting for my mobo to come back. Mainly Mythos and Lineage 2 is what I'll be playing.

I could upgrade and get a whole new setup.. I just don't know if I wanna deal with that. I will consider what you have posted though. You've got me thinking now. BTW, is NCIX Canada based? Will they ship to US? I've always used newegg for everything.

Thanks for your help.

 

[n7]

I linked to NCIXUS mainly since i know NCIX (as i'm in Canada).

Not necessarily suggesting them as the store to buy from; just to gives ideas.
Obviously newegg or others would be fine, you'd know which US stores are the best deals.

I do know this is for your secondary system, but when you can build a whole new better system for nearly the same price as your AGP card budget, & then sell the existing parts, you actually would likely save money, as preposterous as it sounds.

Spend ~ $300 on new secondary system; sell old parts for ~ $100+

You'd likely end up with less than $200 spent total for a future-friendly system.

 

[imported_rz]

n7, I just want to thank you. I've decided to go ahead and start building my next system. I was going to wait a few months for the new video cards to come out to start on it and make my switch to Intel. What I'm going to do though is build a cheap system that I can upgrade in a few months because atm I am on a budget.

I want to base my new system off the E8400, so I'm looking at mobo's that are going to support it and will OC good. I've never built an Intel system before, always been AMD. Looking at the ABIT IP35 Pro maybe, its pretty expensive atm for me @ $180 from newegg but I see it mentioned here alot. Not really sure what direction to go in with the mobo.. I only need 1 PCIe slot, I don't have any specific needs for the mobo other than good OC capability.

 

[Skunkwourk]

http://www.compusa.com/applica...dpNo=2918625&CatId=935

used to be 149, looks like they raised the price to 189. I know its not a great deal, but its less than 300.

 

[BigMoosey74]

Originally posted by: n7
Welcome to the forums


Honestly, spending $200-250 on an AGP card is a terrible value.

Celeron dual core E1200 - $53.24 (can OC well; much faster than an Athlon XP)
http://www.ncixus.com/products...70/BX80557E1200/Intel/

Gigabyte DS3L - $88.39 (or go cheaper)
http://www.ncixus.com/products.../GA-P35-DS3L/Gigabyte/

Asus 8600 GT passively cooled - $92.79 AR
http://www.ncixus.com/products...NT%2FHTDP%2F256M/ASUS/

OCZ 2x1 GB DDR2-800 - $23.77 AR
http://www.ncixus.com/products...22GK/OCZ%20Technology/

$258.19 + shipping.

Now i did this up to show why AGP cards = waste of money.
You could shave even more off that price by checking for better deals, looking at used on FS/FT, etc.

The best thing about that sytem is that it can easily be turned into a high end machine down the road; just add a quad core, more RAM, & a better video card.

Nice work, quite a valid point. I wouldn't put that MOBO at high end potential though...the RAM is capped at DDR2 1066 and the north and south bridges are decent but not cutting edge. I would say that would give you a solid mid-range system for the future.

That really puts things in perspective for those who sit on the upgrade fence with AGP systems. It really hurts that AGP cards are going for higher prices than their PCIe counterparts as well.

For people with single core P4s...your system will hold your GPU back by a lot...it is relative to what you are doing however, but these new AGP cards like the HD 3850 are really targeted for dual core users. It is tough to swallow doing a total system revamp but AGP isn't a good investment if you want higher performances or future upgradability.

 

[krnmastersgt]

rz, why not just get the P35-DS3L like n7 suggested? Almost half the price of the IP35 Pro, only problem being I don't think it has native 45nm support so you'd need to buy a really cheap cpu to flash the bios with :/