Upgrade advice video card~older system

[NuTechNot]

I need to upgrade the video on an older comp. Currently has S3 ProSavage intergrated.
For a 12 yr old boy just getting into gaming....nothing serious as HL (yet)
Does want to play Wolfnstein, etc

The comp specs are: Not really planning to buy new comp for at least another yr

mobo: Biostar M7VKL
chipset: VIA KLE133 ~system totally virgin~nothing OC~ not even sure if could be. Haven't tried.
think VT8364A Yes, I realize it's a really lame system, but it's got to last a bit longer.
CPU: Duron 850MHz
max system ram: 512 SDRAMSDRAM

Has NO AGP slot, so will have to find PCI card.
(will still be much better than intergrated video ?right?)

So anyone interested in helping with this challenge! I'd appreciate all advice/suggestions.
Something to hold him over for another yr and have better gaming.
Since the system is "such as it is" I hate the word obsolete..... ;-)
I don't want to spend too much...... any suggestions around $100 ??

2nd and same ? the new video cards have DDR Ram, this can be used on system with SDRAM....??

Thanks to anyone with suggestions!!

 

[Corporate Thug]

honestly, anything PCI + duron 850 will run modern games like a slide show.

you may want to look into a radeon 7500

 

[NuTechNot]

Thanks, I actually had looked at the Raedon 7500. Wasn't sure if I should
put something a little "more" into the system or not.
So, I should stop at 64mb? Will 128 help, or will it just
hit bottleneck and be no better than a 64mb card.

Thanks again.

 

[KGB1]

You'd best look into a Radeon 9100/9200 PCI card with 64/128 MB Ram. The core is from the original 8500, SURELY it is toned down a little than the AGP/Retail version but it will be more than enough.

It's DirectX 8.1 hardware, really good performance, DUAL VGA in most cards and I don't think any card can beat it in its class. You can also look in a Radeon 9600 128MB PCI, its rare; but a DirectX 9 card and is the last PCI card to be made most likely.

I would stay away from GF/FX 5200 PCI, since it is sub-par hardware and horrible performance. I don't know of any fx5600 PCI being made. Even though they are both Direct X 9, doesn't seem as though they are worth it.

No bias here though, I have a 3 Nvidia cards and 1 ATi card. I'm just giving my honest opinion ( and that I ordered a PCI Radeon 9100 64 for his 566 Celeron)

 

[xSkyDrAx]

If your looking for a temporary solution before your next upgrade, which should be soon IMO. I suggest the Radeon 7500 or the G4 MX420. Im using one now and i got it like 5 - 6 months ago i think. It worked pretty well for me but im looking into HL2 and D3 so i upgraded to Specs below. Its coming next week but thats not relavant to your question so yea. Radeon 7500 or MX420 and even the MX440Se PCI would do well. Anyways, i dont suggest spending too much for the cards...somewhere in the 50-80,90 range online. Anymore is just getting ripped off, like i did at staples. '-_- 100 for a MX420, never again.

 

[VIAN]

 

[Peter]

KLE133 has the aged Trident CyberBlade graphics core. Anything is better than that. Get a PCI Radeon 9000 (e.g. from PowerColor) and enjoy.

 

[NuTechNot]

I've got some good suggestions here, so I'll go look online at those cards and see if any of the local
stores have any in stock (doubt that happening! lol who's going to stock a PCI card? *G* )


I figure just about anything has got to beat the intergrated on it now.

And when I get a new comp. can put this one where it belongs.....at
my Grandma's house!!!!

 

[RickH]

Get a card from Best Buy, not the mail or a "local" shop if you can. They will take it back if it doesn't workout. R