Mid Range vid card? Please help me.

[Kyle W]

I dont want to go past $150 but if I have too I will but atleast not past $200. My system is going to be AMD64 3000+, DFI "LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb" NVIDIA nForce3 250GB, 512MB RAM. Is this a good vid card or no? MSI ATI RADEON 9600PRO . I dont need the best. I just want something I can play HL2 on. Please help me.

 

[wakawaka]

better..... http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-125-156R&depa=0

 

[Kyle W]

that looks good but "OEM/BAREBONE"? Does that not come with a warrenty? Also my motherboard doesn't have PCI-E slot. DFI "LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb" NVIDIA nForce3 250GB. Unless I'm missing something here.

 

[wakawaka]

woops...

 

[EULA]

pci-e can be used in regular pci slots, but at regular pci speeds (i think)

 

[Kyle W]

Originally posted by: EULA
pci-e can be used in regular pci slots, but at regular pci speeds (i think)

But would it still be better than AGP

 

[zakee00]

Originally posted by: EULA
pci-e can be used in regular pci slots, but at regular pci speeds (i think)

no, it can not. two totally different things. even if it could it would totally slice your performance to unplayable levels...and no, AGP>PCI by a longshot.

dont go with the 9600 pro. you will thank yourself if you spend $200 and get a 6600GT, much more powerfull card. its a bit faster than a 9800 pro.
HTH,
Nick

 

[Kyle W]

Originally posted by: zakee00

Originally posted by: EULA
pci-e can be used in regular pci slots, but at regular pci speeds (i think)

no, it can not. two totally different things. even if it could it would totally slice your performance to unplayable levels...and no, AGP>PCI by a longshot.

dont go with the 9600 pro. you will thank yourself if you spend $200 and get a 6600GT, much more powerfull card. its a bit faster than a 9800 pro.
HTH,
Nick

$200 for a $50 game. hmm haha. I'll look at it. Isn't HL2 coming out for Xbox soon? haha I've been looking at this since I found someone posted it on another topic Text didn't know there was a guide every month for a system.

 

[zakee00]

's up to you man, if you like gaming then you will shell out money; its a hobby. but if you are already spending $150, i would say save for another few weeks to get $200. 6600GT will last a lot longer then a 9600 pro.
hint: dont get an XFX; you can find a better card for similar $$$. they have horrible customer support and so/so build quality.

 

[Kyle W]

yeah 1k for a system. no thanks. rather just spend 700. I'll look at that card I'll get it most likely

 

[sellmen]

What kind of resolutions do you play at?

If all you want to do is play those games at 10x7, go to the for sale/trade forum and pick up a used radeon 9700 for about $100-120. Here is one for $110 shipped - much faster than your 9600pro, and cheaper than the 6600GT.

If you plan on playing other games in the future, or want to play at higher resolutions with some AA/AF, spend $200 and get a 6600GT, it's worth the investment.

 

[kextyn]

PCI-E shares NOTHING with PCI and PCI-X.

PCI-X can fit in a PCI slot.

 

[Appledrop]

Originally posted by: sellmen
What kind of resolutions do you play at?

If all you want to do is play those games at 10x7, go to the for sale/trade forum and pick up a used radeon 9700 for about $100-120. Here is one for $110 shipped - much faster than your 9600pro, and cheaper than the 6600GT.

If you plan on playing other games in the future, or want to play at higher resolutions with some AA/AF, spend $200 and get a 6600GT, it's worth the investment.

yep, having owned one, i second the 9700 pro used.

 

[Mattd46612]

Eh splurge and get a Gigabyte 6600GT AGP 8X new from zipzoomfly for 199 shipped. Will last you longer.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: Kyle W
I dont want to go past $150 but if I have too I will but atleast not past $200. My system is going to be AMD64 3000+, DFI "LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb" NVIDIA nForce3 250GB, 512MB RAM. Is this a good vid card or no? MSI ATI RADEON 9600PRO . I dont need the best. I just want something I can play HL2 on. Please help me.

Why not go with an S939 system? Price will be a little more, but you can get the 6600GT card then . And if Half Life 3 comes out, you will probably be able to play it on a 6600GT, but you will DEFINATELY not be able to play it on a 9600.

 

[MrCairo]

Go the little bit extra ($200) and get a Nvidia 6600GT...I upgraded from a Ati 9800 np card and am getting a verynice boost all across the board.

Do a search for 6600GT and look/read the reviews and benchmark, several sites show HL2 results.

For the money/performance ratio there is no better card on the market at the moment ...IMO

Best of Luck!

 

[Rage187]

I'd cough up another $50 and get a 6600GT.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: sellmen
What kind of resolutions do you play at?

If all you want to do is play those games at 10x7, go to the for sale/trade forum and pick up a used radeon 9700 for about $100-120. Here is one for $110 shipped - much faster than your 9600pro, and cheaper than the 6600GT.

If you plan on playing other games in the future, or want to play at higher resolutions with some AA/AF, spend $200 and get a 6600GT, it's worth the investment.

depends on your game's resolution . . . . for the latest games:

9700p - cheap-used for ~$125 play anything at 8x6 with all details or 10/7 mid-hi
9800p - ~$180 new . . . . 10% faster than the 9700p; 10x7 hi
6600gt- ~$200 . . . . best bang-for-buck at this price will play 11x8 hi

You DO get what you play for.
:roll:

the 9600 series has about 60% of the 9800p's performance and good (only) for 'casual' gamers.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I agree with the guys who said pony up for the 6600GT. Some used cards will not have any warranty either, so that should factor in if applicable.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I agree with the guys who said pony up for the 6600GT. Some used cards will not have any warranty either, so that should factor in if applicable.

agreed. a used 9700 pro is nice and all but ist a few years old now its only a matter of time essepcially, with the way some people treat thier stuff.

 

[Kyle W]

Which company? MSI, Chaintech, Leadtek, EVGA, or GIGABYTE? All of them are near the same price.

 

[Wolfshanze]

As the other recomendations state around here, bite the bullet, don't order from Pizza Hut for a couple of nights, and save the extra $50 bucks for a 6600GT... it's VASTLY more powerful then a 9600, and it will stay current for a lot longer... don't look at it as a $200 card for a $50 game... look at it as an investment that will let you play ALL the $50 games of the next couple years at decent speeds at least. A 9600 is already obsolecent.

Having said that...

eVGA and Leadteak are your best bets for a 6600GT, based on quality of manufacturer and customer service if something goes wrong.