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Sub $75 card for Sims 2

A

Alptraum

Golden Member
Seems he likes Sims to and his on board video is of course sucking. I think its one of the Intel on board solutions. Whatever it is he wants something else and has a max budget of $75, hopefully less. His CPU is probably killing him as well (Its a Celeron 1.3 or 1.4 or something like that) but at least he has 512meg of RAM which is better then the 256 or less I figured he would have.

Anyways, he wants a new vid card. I don't know what to recommend in that price range really. He might need to go with something he can pick up new at a BM store as well. So maybe I could get some advice to give him in two categories, both used from FS/FT here or Ebay or whatever, and new from a BM store (I know he has access to most of the usual suspects (Best Buy, CompUSA and so on).

Any advice would be most appreciated.
 
I know the 4200 cards are a great buy, but it seems Sims 2 has a number of DX 9 features and the 4200 series is only compliant with DX 8. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Of course I may end up suggesting a 4200 or other non DX 9 compliant card to him since his budget is so low. But if there is some non total crap DX 9 compliant card out there in his budget that would be great.
 
I run Sims 2 on a GeForce 4 Ti4400 and it works just fine. I don't think a 4200 would be that much different.

Anita
 
SIMS 2 probably only requires that DirectX 9 be installed on your computer. A Ti4x00 will run it just peachy.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. My mother plays SIMS 2 on her 1.8GHz Celeron with a GeForce2 Ti 64MB.
Smooth as silk.
 
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
SIMS 2 probably only requires that DirectX 9 be installed on your computer. A Ti4x00 will run it just peachy.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. My mother plays SIMS 2 on her 1.8GHz Celeron with a GeForce2 Ti 64MB.
Smooth as silk.
Click to expand...

minimum setting huh?
 
gotta be min settings- at 1280 and all the toys tuned on and up it starts to get chuggy every now and then on my 2600+, 512MB, 9800 Pro 128MB!

On my mates 2600+, 1GB, GF4 MX440 it is really chuggy, and thats only at 1024 🙂
 
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB AGP for 78.00

This is new, but you can probably fine one for less in FS/FT.
Click to expand...

I think either that 4200 or this $70 9600 (128-bit 128MB DDR) would be a fine match for a Cel 1.3GHz. If it's a Tualeron, that'd make for a decent setup.

I'd prefer the 9600 for probably better signal quality, better/cheaper AA, and cheaper (but not better) AF. DX9 is a bonus, but don't expect miracles at this price. I think a 9600 performs about on par with, if slightly slower than, a 4200. I also think the 9600's IQ bonuses compensate for its speed deficits, but you may not.

Edit: Performance doesn't look too great with cards faster (X600) and slower (X300SE) than a 9600, but I don't know if a 4200 will be any better. In any case, his CPU will probably hold him back at a 800x600.

It's also crucial that any 9600 you get have 128-bit memory--64-bit memory is basically useless for gaming. The one I linked does. Just make sure your friend's MB will support a 9600! 9600's are AGP 4x/8x only, so check before you waste time/money. Otherwise, maybe look for a used 9500P for under $100 (9500/9700 series is AGP 2x/4x/8x, but they require a decent PSU), or just grab that 4200.
 
They do have radeon 9600s for under 60 bucks, and that is what I recomend. You get the performance of a ti4200(and faster then a ti4600 with aa/af) and you get full dx9 compliance.
 
Originally posted by: kamranziadar
Check all the VIDEO CARDS at www.pricewatch.com this is the best site for every thing you can need.
Click to expand...


Well, I sort of disagree. Pricewatch will frequently pull up no name fly by night vendors. At least they used to, thats why I have been using mainly NewEgg for the past two years or so.
 
Originally posted by: dguy6789
They do have radeon 9600s for under 60 bucks, and that is what I recomend. You get the performance of a ti4200(and faster then a ti4600 with aa/af) and you get full dx9 compliance.
Click to expand...

a <$60 R9600 yhat is 128 bit memory? Please provide a link, because I haven't seen that.

That newegg 9600 at $69 is the cheapest I've ever seen a 128 bit 9600.

The pricewatch vendors all have 9600 SE cards listed under 9600. The OP needs to be sure he's getting 128 bit memory.

Ti 4200
Used Radeon 9500
Radeon 9600

I think the latter is best give the prices right now. Many people sell used 9600s and 9500s for more than that Jetway card is listed at newegg.
 
I hate to say this.. because I know few will agree.. but honestly I like the 5200 and 5700. You can get a 5200 for $50-75. And for $80 you can get a 5700LE, which is what I'd recommend.. but a 5200 will be fine.

People are really hard on the 5200s but checkout the hardocp doom3 review.. it does decently and does have DX9 with Nvidia driver support (which counts for alot in my book) as the years go on.

I'd swing for the 5700LE, i have one and use it.. they are great cards for the price.

The ATI is a great bargain performance wise.. but I have had bad luck with most of my ATI cards in the past (rage, 9500, 9800).. esp as the years go on support seems to lessen compared to NV.

BTW most NV cards from the FX era can be found in PCI versions as well if he doesnt have AGP (which he very well might not).
 
Originally posted by: housecat
I hate to say this.. because I know few will agree.. but honestly I like the 5200 and 5700. You can get a 5200 for $50-75. And for $80 you can get a 5700LE, which is what I'd recommend.. but a 5200 will be fine.
Click to expand...

Wow, what alternate universe do you live in.

I mean, I have nothing against nVidia cards, but their low end is totally horrible compared to ATi. Check out Tom's VGA charts or the latest xbit 2004 roundup and you will see that the 9600 is faster than the 5200 in every game. And the margin is REALLY wide in DirectX9 games, which the Sims2 uses.

Anyone who recommends an FX series card for DX9 has simply not done enough research.

http://graphics.tomshardware.c...004/vga_charts-11.html
Look at the margin the 9600 leads the 5200 and even the 5700 (faster than the LE) in the BFV benches (DX9 / SM2.0)
and again in Joint Ops:
http://graphics.tomshardware.c...004/vga_charts-10.html
 
Originally posted by: iversonyin
Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
SIMS 2 probably only requires that DirectX 9 be installed on your computer. A Ti4x00 will run it just peachy.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. My mother plays SIMS 2 on her 1.8GHz Celeron with a GeForce2 Ti 64MB.
Smooth as silk.
Click to expand...

minimum setting huh?
Click to expand...

Whatever the factory default settings are. My mom wouldn't even begin to know how to change settings. She installed the game, not me. So I cant say what the settings are. SIMS is really not that all of an intensive fast paced game. Its kind of lethargic at best.

 
i figured someone would have to be an a$$..

its not an alternate universe.

ATIs low end does NOT beat NVs low end.

The last i knew a 9600 was not ATI's low end.. its only PRICED like low end.
i just dont prefer ATI cards, enough that i'd forgo a bit more performance for great linux support, much better dual monitor support and overall better driver support in the long term.
i dunno i just found NV drivers to be a bit better for tinkering across the entire PC platform.. and i think a FX would be a nice cost effective solution to the mans problem.. LEAVE ME ALONE ARGH!!!!!!!!
 
I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just think that for the application the original poster has specifically asked about, an nVidia solution is not the best choice.

And I don't know about you, but when I want to buy a piece of hardware I compare hardware of different brands PRICED SIMILARLY. So if the 5200 and the 9600 cost the same, I consider them direct competitors. After all, I want the best for what I'm willing to spend, not the best of what is SUPPOSED to be competing with a particular piece of hardware.

What does Linux support have to do with the OP wanting a card for the Sims2, a DirectX game? I don't think he's going to be playing that game under Linux.

Even if the drivers are nicer (which I don't necessarily agree with, but lets just suppose that it's a fact) is it so much nicer that you can ignore a ~40% performance advantage for virtually the same price? (cheapest 128 bit 5200 is $66 shipped on newegg vs $70 for the 128bit 9600)
 
Originally posted by: Concillian
I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just think that for the application the original poster has specifically asked about, an nVidia solution is not the best choice.

And I don't know about you, but when I want to buy a piece of hardware I compare hardware of different brands PRICED SIMILARLY. So if the 5200 and the 9600 cost the same, I consider them direct competitors. After all, I want the best for what I'm willing to spend, not the best of what is SUPPOSED to be competing with a particular piece of hardware.

What does Linux support have to do with the OP wanting a card for the Sims2, a DirectX game? I don't think he's going to be playing that game under Linux.

Even if the drivers are nicer (which I don't necessarily agree with, but lets just suppose that it's a fact) is it so much nicer that you can ignore a ~40% performance advantage for virtually the same price? (cheapest 128 bit 5200 is $66 shipped on newegg vs $70 for the 128bit 9600)
Click to expand...


totally agree, as long as you compare something in same price range, its apple to apple
 
I'd take the 5700Le personally for $80.. but that doesnt fit his price range.

You did say that ATIs low end is better than Nvidias... and it really isnt. The 9200 is not a better choice over a 5200 IMO.
But ATI has traditionally dropped their prices like this. IIRC, the radeon ddr was dropped in price as a knee jerk reaction to the GF2MX being as fast as it was (not too far off from the radeon DDR 32mb IIRC, esp considering the original price difference).

i dont want to continue this conversation, because i believe the OP will go with the 9600 anyway.. but for my money, i'd get a 5700 or even a 128bit 5600/5200.

i certainly have nothing against the 9600 choice.. but honestly if i were to settle for an ATI, i'd spend the $100 or so to get a 9600 Pro.
otherwise i dont think the performance gains are worth the trade off on gambling sticking a ATI in your system.

but the linux (which is part of overall driver quality) support and better multimonitor support are things that might matter to the sims2 player sometime..
the OP should know that i've experienced a better running windows XP when using Nvidia cards over ATI.

Nvidia seem to accelerate the GUI, while i dont think ATI does.. to test, drag a window around on a system with a NV card (even dating back to the GF2), then pop in a 9800 and do it.. you'll notice lag. Even after drivercleaner3/format.. with such a low powered system, this could actually matter.. it does bug the crap out of me on my systems.

no matter what you decide to get, i'd recommend a DX9 card like the 9600 or FX series. you may not be able to run as high res as you might be able to on a GF4 4200, but at least you wont miss any graphic details that might require DX9 hardware.

for instance, heat haze in doom3.. not that you will be able to tear that game up at all.. but you'll have the capability at 640x480 possibly.. and you can always turn those graphical features off to increase res.
 
Alptraum: a friend of mine was playing this game on her old P3 1.1 GHz with ATI AIW Radeon PCI (32MB), it was running pretty ok, a bit choppy but playable with bare minimum setting (800x600 all things off)

she now uses a Radeon 9800 SE (a spare card from her friend) ... and after the upgrade the gameplay get smoother quite a bit (not that much though) ... I think 9600 would be ok ... maybe even the 9200 would still be ok ... because I think the limiting factor here would be the CPU since the game uses a lot of AI ... my friend says that as long as she plays with a small number of sims the gameplay was ok
 
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