OK all, need vid card purchasing advice

[Chapbass]

Alright, so im putting together an HTPC, but the setup im currently looking at (mega tight on cash) won't have an AGP slot.

I wouldn't really be using it for much, maybe FFDShow at the very most. I was thinking about the 5700 card on newegg, or possibly the 5500 chaintech card (Also newegg).

Dx9 seems to be pretty much a requirement...anyone else have any suggestions?

If itll make the vid quality better, im willing to spend a little extra money (say..up to 200-250...if theres even PCI cards that high anymore...).

Im gonna try posting over at htpcnews and such, but i figured id try over here first since you guys have always helped me out in the past : ).

Thanks
Chap

 

[Rock Hydra]

What type of CPU are you running?
Spend 40 bucks on a cheap mobo w/ AGP. Buy a 80-100 dollar video card. You save some money. You said yourself you're mega tight on cash. It would probably be wise to take the less expensive alternative.

 

[cubby1223]

A Radeon 7000 is plenty powerful for what you're asking of it. Though to say you're mega-tight on cash, but can put out $200-$250 on a video card...

 

[coomar]

your pretty much limited to 4-5 videocards on pci, all overpriced, it would probably cost the same to get an agp board and videocard and sell your other board

 

[CheesePoofs]

I believe the 6200 TurboCache chip is relatively cheap. If it is, I'd get that.

 

[Chapbass]

the problem is i cant get a new MB without a new case (barebones PC which, unless im wrong, needs that mainboard)...

And yes, i am tight on cash, such as i dont have extra for frilly stuff such as card readers, dvd-rw, etc....but if it would do a good deal better to spend more on a vital component like a vid card, then i would wait the extra time to save up...

for a relatively nice looking case (for a living room PC), it seems like theyre all about 100-150 bucks :\...

 

[Chapbass]

oh btw, ill probably be running ~2.4 ghz p4... though im not sure yet i havent purchased it yet....

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

geforce 5200 fx pci. cheap and very solid. you can get nice cases for <50 dollars.

 

[Chapbass]

< 50 eh?

Having the whole "doesnt really look like a PC" type thing is pretty important though...even though it seems kinda not needed, i have to share it with a few others that im living with, and i have a weird feeling theyd throw a fit with a "computer looking" case in the living room (dont ask, weird situation)...

It seems like the few choices would be the silvertone cases, which are 100-150, but i definitely like the look of the Asus Pundit barebones, which i nabbed for a good price over in FS/T. It looks sleek and came out to be quite a bit cheaper...

I dunno, if anyone knows of any cheaper "living room looking" cases (for lack of a better term at 11:45 at night), please lemme know.

-Chap

 

[Creig]

Why not simply get a motherboard with integrated video then?

 

[mrzed]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about here. There are plenty of PCI cards powerful enough for your needs, all around $50 or less. If you do a basic search on newegg for PCI you can come up with a Radeon 9250 or FX5200

9250 for $50 example

Why worry about getting more power, it won't get you better video quality. If you are gaming, that's another story, but you didn't mention that. Also, ATI cards generally have better DVD playback quality, even the low end ones. But really, you can't go too far wrong with either unles you are a serious vid snob.

If you are not gaming (or planning on running HD, in which case your CPU will be a problem too) save your money and just get a cheap card.

Also, why is DX9 hardware a requirement?

 

[fibes]

I'm kinda in the same boat, but I want the best PCI video card for my work computer. I play video games at work and unfortunately I can not swap out the motherboard for an AGP slot. Any suggestions?

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: fibes
I'm kinda in the same boat, but I want the best PCI video card for my work computer. I play video games at work and unfortunately I can not swap out the motherboard for an AGP slot. Any suggestions?

Stop playing games at work?

 

[Chapbass]

Alright, i suppose ill just use my integrated video for now, and see how it goes...

At some point i wanna go HD, but maybe then ill have more cash...

Thanks for the responses guys, im pretty new to the HTPC arena, and i havent really used much of the programs yet, so im not quite positive as to how much power im gonna need....i think the guides at HTPCNews kinda design computers faster than they need to be at that price range (unless obviously HD...)...

Ah well, either way, thanks guys.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: fibes
I'm kinda in the same boat, but I want the best PCI video card for my work computer. I play video games at work and unfortunately I can not swap out the motherboard for an AGP slot. Any suggestions?

Stop playing games at work?

How about no!