Some questions about graphics cards

[JJR512]

What ATI GPU is approximately comparable in performance to the NVIDIA GeForce 6200?

What ATI GPU typically is in the $50-100 price range?

Does ATI have a GPU in that price range that's better than a typical GF-6200-powered card?

Comparing cards at the same price level (entry-level), does ATI or NVIDIA typically offer better performance?

Between ATI and NVIDIA, which typically offers a more stable product?

Comparing different card manufacturers (Asus, BFG, PNY, MSI, etc.), does anyone in particular have an outstanding reputation for stability and reliability?

I'm looking for a card in the $50-100 range for a computer I may build for work. The card must have one VGA and one DVI connector and must be a PCI Express x16 card. Gaming performance is not important. Rock-solid stability is of prime importance. Comment or suggestions are hereby solicited.

 

[videoclone]

1. X300 ... a little slower and i dont think it comes in AGP a 9600XT would also come close on the AGP side of things.

2. Radeon 9250, 9550, X300, 9600 and X600

3. No ATI doesn?t unless you buy a second hand or refurbed card a X800XL is at a nice price but i would still get a 6800GT unless the savings were marginal

4. Nvidia does.... but if you are buying Refurbed or second hand cards ATI has the better options at the moment. X800Pro for $199 "( Ati is offloading built up stock and calling it Refurb to avoid its Partners back lashing it for outpricing them over the RRP )

5. Both ATI and Nvidia are stable .. so long as your card or windows install hasn?t got issues. ive had Cards from both ATI and Nvidia crash on me and lock up my system ... its all about luck .. these newer model's are allot more stable then cards from a few years back. Cheaper products are also more likely to have issues. ( Cheap brands Only sometimes ) and thats what warranty is for.

6. With brands .. yes .. the more the card costs the less COST cutting steps the company took to make the Damn thing = better Quality card... but this doesn?t mean the cheaper cards are not stable .. they are probably just fine! and you wont notess any difference. you just have less of a chance the card will break with a better brand. thats all.

7. X300 or 6200 from an expensive brand .. ( expensive brands are only ever $5 to $20 more at the most ) one without a fan would be nice for its quietness and you don?t hafta worry about the fan ever dieing and in turn killing your videocard.

 

[hans030390]

for that price, i'd go for a 6600

 

[videoclone]

Hans he said he doesnt care about gaming .. it may be better he get a slower card that doesnt get as hot.

Athlough the 6600 card was made to run at 500Mhz and its clocked down to 325Mhz.. i dont know how hot it gets i'm just asuming its hotter then the 6200 and X300 because its faster ^__^ hehe

 

[BillyBobJoel71]

the 6600 (not gt) should be fine for you. Personally, I think the following card is your best deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170070

 

[orangat]

JJR512,
Why bother with 3d acceleration if its not going to be used for gaming? Just get a cheap directx9 card from a decent manufacturer.

You mentioned pci-e which limits your options on cheaper cards. You'll probably have to get a nvidia 6200 or ATI x300 series. If you could use a PCI or AGP card, I'd get an even cheaper card possibly a Savage or Volari chipset for the video acceleration.

All the manufacturers you mentioned are decent. BFG is pretty highly ranked, has office support in US and has lifetime warranty. Brands I'd rather not use imo from are XFX and PNY.

 

[imported_Kensai]

eVGA and BFG are my recommendations. eVGA having a better warranty.

 

[JJR512]

Albatross is not a brand I've ever heard of, either by seeing in a retail store or reading about in a magazine, that I can recall. For all I know it could very well be the fastest, most stable card available, but I'm wary of buying brands I'm not familiar with.

Here are two I'm thinking of now, after reading the above comments and searching Newegg. Both are GF-6600 cards, pretty much identical in specs and noted features, except the Gigabyte card claims to have its core clocked at 450MHz, whereas the Asus has its core clocked at 300MHz. I don't know what't the norm for the 6600. Interestingly, despite having an alleged faster core clock, the Gigabyte is passively cooled, whereas the Asus has a fan. Personally, I'd be a bit scared to not have a fan. I've read a lot of good reviews on Newegg about other Gigabyte cards, and this one is no exception. Both cards have nothing but positive, 5-egg reviews (although the Gigabyte has more of them, at 11 vs. 5 for the Asus). I know Asus is one of the top-tier motherboard makers in terms of being feature-rich yet remaining rock-stable; although their video cards don't get as much attention, I would assume they are also of similar quality. So, really, as you can see, it's quite difficult for me to pick one from the other. Any help?

Asus
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814121180)

Gigabyte
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814125176

 

[JJR512]

Originally posted by: orangat
JJR512,
Why bother with 3d acceleration if its not going to be used for gaming? Just get a cheap directx9 card from a decent manufacturer.

I didn't really realize there was a choice to NOT bother with 3D acceleration; I just assumed that all modern video cards, certainly anything designed as a PCI Express x16 part, would have it. NVIDIA, and ATI to a much smaller extent, are the only two GPU makers I've paid any attention to during the last several years, so I'm only familiar with what they have to offer.

Actually, I didn't really say that the card won't be used for gaming; I just said that gaming performance is not important (stability being the most important factor). The company I work for, a phone tech support company, has a fairly relaxed policy about this. As long as us workers do the job, they don't mind if we play some games during slack time or on breaks. So, there's a good chance that games will be played. But this has to come second to the card being stable when I'm actually working. I was mainly hoping to find out if any one particular GPU or card maker has a known reputation for stability, but it sounds like there is no clear stand-out, as long as one sticks with the major name brands.

 

[orangat]

You're right, PCI-e does limit your options to more cards which have 3d acceleration. Search for dx9 and pci-e for your max price on newegg and it'll show your limited choices.

 

[videoclone]

You safe getting either card .. but the one with a lower clock sounds better .. the default is 325 for a geforce 6600 core ... remember its for a work PC and its best you think of it that way .. dont worry about factory overclocks you want something closest to the Nvidia Default .. and they lowered it 25Mhz so they could passively cool it .. good for them. i still think it would run hot and a 6200 or X300 would be more stable and run cooler.