video card advice

[sancou]

Hi I am new to this forum... a friend recommended you all to me! I am putting together my first computer and have ordered everything except a video card. I am here for advice on which one I should get. I have ordered:

ASUS P4P800 SE I865PE chipset motherboard for intel socket 478 CPU
INtel p4 3ghz 800M processor
512 mb of ddr pc-3200

I do not do lots of gaming, things like maybe harry potter, sims, ect.... I do work with lots of graphic programs doing different things like computer crafting and working with lots of pictures from my digital camera. I really want a 256 mb ram video card just for incase..... my budget is up to $100.... what do you suggest? I was looking at the gforce fx5500 at newegg but they are out of stock....would that one be good or is there something else I would be happier with? Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Pete]

Forget 256MB at that budget. Your best bet for a fast (and thus more future-proof) card is to find a used Radeon 9700 Pro for ~$110 (possibly at Anandtech's For Sale/Trade forum). If you must buy new, you'll be happier with a 128MB 9600 Pro or XT than that slow FX 5500.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Pete
If you must buy new, you'll be happier with a 128MB 9600 Pro or XT than that slow FX 5500.

Aye, 256MB on a vidcard is a total waste on the low end cards.

You'd be better off bumping your desktop to a full GB of RAM instead of a 256MB video card.

 

[SneakyStuff]

MB doesn't mean faster, if I were you, i'd just get something such as this Sapphire 9600 for $95, and be done with it. It will serve you well for your purposes.

 

[RussianSensation]

9600Pro - $106

 

[HappyNic]

If those 256mb are clock pretty fast then it's ok,, but for your $100 mark ,, they will be rated very slow. Having a bunch of slow ram wouldn't help you at all. "would you want 20 grandpas to help you move house or 10 buff men in their 20s."

If you are doing Graphic programing/photos editing, those Firegl from ati should work well,, you could even flash some of the regular 9600/9800/8500 to firegl.