Need a video card in the $50 to $100 range.

[Macro2]

What's available? Thanks...
I see radeon 9550s, 9600s and nvidia 5200, 5700 etc but don't know how the compare.

 

[kylebisme]

I'd go for the 9600, make sure it isn't a 9600se though.

 

[Blastman]

The Sapphire cards generally have excellent in 2D display quality. The 128MB 9600 $96 would be a good choice.

 

[Delorian]

9600 would be your best bet other than maybe a used GeForce 4 Ti off of ebay or somewhere, it'd be anywhere from $50-$100 and just about as good.

 

[Macro2]

GeForce4 ti is faster than the FX5700LE?

I see the 9600 with 256k vs 128k is just a few bucks more as is the 9600 PRO. Is it worth it?

 

[Bateluer]

I figure its only a matter of time before my sister wants to know if her DUron 700 w/ GF2MX200 will run The Sims2. I've got a Sempron 2200, with an Asus mobo, and 512MB of DDR400. All thats left is a graphics card upgrade. I'm thinking the 9600np is probably the best bet for under 100 dollars. Seems like the only other nvidia card in that range is the 5700LE at about 85.

 

[Rage187]

hands down the 9600pro.

Hard to recommend a dx8 4200 when all games coming out now have dx9 goodies.

 

[selfbuilt]

Agreed, go for the 9600pro if you can afford it, 9600nonpro if necessary (and avoid the 9600se or 9550). And don't bother with 256mb cards, they are a useless waste of money at this level of performance.

 

[orangat]

For ~$80-90 shipped, get the 128Mb ATI 9600pro. The comparable Nvidia 5700 non ultra might be in the same price range.

 

[Delorian]

OP you stated $50-100, use these charts found here at THG to judge performance on a certain card within that price range (granted the charts were updated around Xmas time, they still show most of the cards in this range


IMO,
If you are only going to spend around 50, get a GF4Ti
If you spend around 100, get a 9600 or GeForce 5700(LE or standard, try for 128-bit it's a big difference)
If you spend up to 150 get a 9600 pro/xt

 

[Macro2]

Thanks, you guys are great.

BTW, I have one app that only uses nvidia cards. How close is the 5700LE to the 9600 regular?

 

[Bateluer]

I'd also be interested in knowing how the 5700LE compares to the 9600np, given that are almost the same price.

 

[Sarvatt]

I was in the same position and ended up getting a $69 radeon 9550 (with 128 bit memory interface) and a $10 arctic cooling VGA silencer. Stock speeds were 250/400 and it is running at 452/536 now getting 3918 in 3dmark03 and I'm very happy with the choice 🙂

http://www.tweaktown.com/docum...ype=review&dId=649

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Sarvatt
I was in the same position and ended up getting a $69 radeon 9550 (with 128 bit memory interface) and a $10 arctic cooling VGA silencer. Stock speeds were 250/400 and it is running at 452/536 now getting 3918 in 3dmark03 and I'm very happy with the choice 🙂

http://www.tweaktown.com/docum...ype=review&dId=649

That seems like a good choice if you don't mind overclocking. The only difference between the 9550 and the 9600 is core and memory speeds, right?

 

[Delorian]

Benchmarks for 9550/5700LE

looks like they are about the same performance wise. 9600 is faster than a 9550, speeds are a lot higher and it has better ram chips, should OC decently though