please help me pick a video card from the following list

[HiME]

my friend wanted to buy an AGP video card for his 2 years old system, he's a gamer and his budget is ~$50CA.

ok, here's the list (all in canadian dollars):

1. MSI FX5200-TD128 128MB DDR w/TV Out $55.00

2. Asus V9520-X/TD nVidia GeForce FX 5200 128MB $45.00

3. Sapphire Radeon 9250 128M $43.00

Please leave me your opinions and tell me which one to get for him! Thanks a lot!

 

[AnitaPeterson]

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=153&card2=72

see this? I'd say they're on par. Subjectively, I personally despise the 5200 series.

 

[IlllI]

none of those choices are really that great..

 

[v8envy]

Go for #3, it's the cheapest of the bunch. Unless you need TV out. Your friend won't be playing any games made post 2003 on that hardware.

 

[HiME]

well, he is a gamer who plays new online games and switchs for a new one every month

he's currently using on-board video, do you think he'll benifit from adding a video card to his system?

he's running:
Athlon XP 3200+
Asus A7V8X-LA
448 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM

FX5200 supports dx9.0, but the Radeon 9250 doesn't. is it going to have a huge impact on his games?

 

[LiekOMG]

At the very least look for a used Radeon 9600XT or something. All of the cards you listed are ancient even by todays standards, let alone tomorrow.

 

[fliguy84]

Try to find some used 9500pro or 9600pro. They're much much better than those cards. But if I want to pick a card, I would choose the 5200. And try to find the one with 128-bit memory

 

[Ika]

A 9550 with a rebate might sell for 50CN; look for one and get your friend ATITool and unlock the clock lock. It overclocks well, to above 9600Pro speeds.

 

[HiME]

thanks for the replies, but 9600 will cost him at least $70 plus 15% tax

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Where are you located? There might be a computer dealership with rock-bottom prices, or some computer fair this coming week-end...

 

[Bull Dog]

Originally posted by: HiME
FX5200 supports dx9.0, but the Radeon 9250 doesn't. is it going to have a huge impact on his games?

The FX series are so slow at DX9 stuff that it really won't matter becuase most games revert to a DX8 render path with the FX series.