Need an AGP card

[P2Mc28]

I've been looking around trying to figure out what the heck to get to replace an ancient 9800pro I've got in a Pentium 4 system (damn, that card has served me well forever). Except that... I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what is what when looking at the older cards. I've been looking at ATI's X#### cards, then the 3650 HDs... but I'm not sure what would be a safe buy or a waste of money.

Basically, I need something with Shader Model 3.0, and enough horsepower to make something happen with Borderlands. This is a temporary solution until I can straight up replace the entire system with a newer one, so I don't want to spend too much to eek out every ounce of life remaining in the thing. Just something to get by.

What models should I be looking at?

 

[dualsmp]

If it is short term, you could probably buy the one linked below, use it for say 6-9 months and turn around and sell it for $60. The 4650 is desirable at least from an AGP standpoint because it has accelerated flash support, is fast for an AGP part, and the one below has DDR3 as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161308

 

[RussianSensation]

4650 is the best AGP card. But given a single core ancient processor, and how poorly ATI cards perform in Borderlands, it may not be sufficient anyway: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,...with-Unreal-Engine-3-Geforces-ahead/Practice/

 

[P2Mc28]

Except for the videocard, it does meet the recommended specs, at least - 2.4GHz (running 2.8Ghz), 2GB RAM. Tho I understand 2.4GHz doesn't mean the same thing as it the requirements imply... and the 2GB RAM is likely looking for more than DDR1... but... eh. You should see the system I've got running Battlefield 2142! ... On second thought, no, nevermind, it's embarrassing.

Anyway... yea, more than I was aiming to spend... but... it won't go to waste. Even after the system is replaced, it'll still get used for CS:Source and WoW (as it does now).

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Now to settle my internal Cypress/Fermi debate for the new system...

 

[nemesismk2]

I am running my last AGP motherboard with a Sapphire Radeon HD 3850 512MB AGP which is kicking gaming ass when fitted with a Sempron 3000 Processor

 

[StrangerGuy]

AGP machines are not worth upgrading. Period.

 

[nemesismk2]

AGP machines are not worth upgrading. Period.

AGP is still okay if your not into serious gaming and your processor is powerful enough.

 

[Leyawiin]

AGP machines are not worth upgrading. Period.

No, not "period", more like "it depends". I have a Athlon64 3700+ on a socket 754 mobo paired with an X850 XT AGP. Its a PC I built in 2005 and has since become a "back up" PC, but its still viable for a lot of tasks - most of my early and mid decade games are still installed on it. If the X850 XT were to ever crap out there's no way I would just chuck the whole system. That would be a big waste of serviceable hardware. A less than $100 card would be worth for me to keep it going.