Need video card recommendations, upgrading from X800

[Noob10]

I bought this last year:

Athlon 3500 2.2 Ghz
1 GB Mushkin Ram
Audigy 2 sound card
Radeon X800XL video card 256mb
WD 74Gb Raptor


Now I go out and buy my kid

Athlon 3000+ Sempron 1.8 Ghz
1 GB Mushkin Ram
Geforce 6600GT 128mb video card, no overclocking
Am using motherboard sound, run of the mill hard drive

I load up Call of Duty 2 on his computer at 1024x768(his best monitor resolution), all the eye candy maxed out, and I don't have fps numbers handy, but his framerate clearly outclasses mine. Hell, at 800x600 for me with half the eye candy enabled, my framerate is still way behind.

Naturally, I'm jealous to all hell.

I assume 1GB of ram is still good until 64-bit is in full swing. So I'm just gonna go out on a limb and say my video card needs an update. I'd like a nice framerate at 1024x768 or in that ballpark though. What I mean here is I don't need 100fps, but something that's playable. But I don't wanna shell out $500 for a stinkin' video card. His 6600GT cost me $160 @ Compusa last night.

Is the 6600GT that much of a step up over the X800? I run 1680x1050 on a Dell 2005fpw for web pages, etc. If I can get that resolution with a nice framerate for cheap @ my resolution, I'll be giddy. What would you guys recommend? Thanks.

 

[Leper Messiah]

an x800xl shouldn't be getting outclassed in any games...there is something wrong with your computer.

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: Leper Messiah
an x800xl shouldn't be getting outclassed in any games...there is something wrong with your computer.

Agreed, x800xl is more like 6800gt class. Do you have AA/AF enable on the x800xl but not the 6600gt? Re-install latest chipset drivers for your mobo and run some benchmarks to confirm your system is working correctly (e.g 3DMark2005 and compare your scores to others).

 

[Malladine]

They are right. If it was a vanilla x800 it would be more understandable but an XL, no way. Check drivers, AA/AF, benchmark both pcs in aquamark and 3dmark2005.

 

[Noob10]

Actually, I came upon another thread where the guy had a similar issue - he was wondering why his x800xl was slow. What I did was disable AGP Fast Writes in the Bios, dialed down the Aperture size to 128mb, and installed the latest drivers just in case. Works like a champ now in full 1680x1050. Eye candy! WOOT!!!