Video card around $150-$200

[Mr Bob]

Friend of mine is looking for a video card around $150-$200.

He plans to play decent games like: warcraft 3 & Battle For Middle Earth

He has a dell dimension 2400, a P4 @2.8Ghz and 512MB ram. Right now he has integrated graphics


Anyone know if this motherboard even supports a regular video card?

Any suggestions? Maybe a 9600XT?

 

[Todd33]

$140 9700 Pro
$170-$200 9800 Pro ($160 used)

If you wait, the 6600GTs will be around $200, but no telling when. Don't get a 6800Xt unless it's a very good deal (~$100), go to the 9700 Pro, they have them on eBay new with "Buy Now", no bidding..

 

[Mr Bob]

What about the x300? BestBuy has the x300 at $199

 

[Todd33]

I assume you want AGP, but if it's PCIe, then it a whole new ball game.

If it is PCIe, then get a 6600GT for $170, hands down best deal, too bad they are $230 in AGP.

 

[Mr Bob]

Well, this guy doesn't know if he has an AGP slot. So PCIe might be the only way to go...

 

[modedepe]

I thought the dell 2400 doesn't even have an agp slot, in which case you would be severely limited in choices.

Edit: by no agp slot I mean pci slot (not pci-e slot)

 

[ponyo]

Dell 2400 doesn't have AGP slot. The best you're going to do is Radeon 9100 PCI.

 

[Todd33]

And without an AGP slot, there's no practical graphics upgrade

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews...le/0,aid,115403,00.asp

Doh! Tell him to sell the whole machine and build a new one.

 

[ponyo]

I don't know about Battle for Middle Earth since I'm not familiar with that game but Warcraft 3 will run perfectly fine on Radeon 9100 PCI.

 

[Mr Bob]

Thanks for the info, so there basically isnt anything he can get PCI wise?

Other than the 9100 ..

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Thanks for the info, so there basically isnt anything he can get PCI wise?

Other than the 9100 ..

Well a 9100 is basically the best. I think they might have made a pci fx5600(ultra?) which would be close in performance.

 

[Mr Bob]

So then this is what he needs? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ME/104-5081711-5807904

I checked around, doesn't seem like many people stock these.

 

[Zebo]

I don't know why people are recommending 9700/9800 pros when the x700pro is just as fast, with more upper bounds, features and cheaper. Only prob is PCIe.

http://www.behardware.com/articles/517/page9.html

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-455&depa=1

 

[vshah]

you can get fx5700LEs in pci, newegg has them. not sure, but they're probably better than a 9100

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I don't know why people are recommending 9700/9800 pros when the x700pro is just as fast, with more upper bounds, features and cheaper. Only prob is PCIe.

http://www.behardware.com/articles/517/page9.html

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-455&depa=1

the problem with PCI-e is not just a problem, its a big problem.

I assumed Dimension 2400 doesn't even have a AGP slot! (becasue this machine is consistently being dicussed on bensbargains.net)

I never swap a mobo out of dell, nor do i think its even possible. but the only option for this guy would be a decent regular PCI video card.....

 

[Mr Bob]

Dell reccomended this card: http://accessories.us.dell.com...2999&page=external

But under the tech specs, it says it is PCI-E, will this work?

 

[bigal40]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
What about the x300? BestBuy has the x300 at $199

i have seen reviews were onboard grahics beats the x300. $199 is an absolutley outrageous price for the x300.

 

[HappyNic]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Dell reccomended this card: http://accessories.us.dell.com...2999&page=external

But under the tech specs, it says it is PCI-E, will this work?

I pretty sure the PCI-E will not work for your Dell 2400,, you need a PCI card, not PCI-E

 

[Mr Bob]

i have seen reviews were onboard grahics beats the x300
- hahahha

What about the link that I posted, think it is worth an upgrade? (http://accessories.us.dell.com...999&page=external)

 

[Mr Bob]

Also, the game requirements are here: http://www.eagames.com/officia...e.jsp?src=requirements

Of course, the minimal wouldn't be good, but what would be a good card just for this game, or future games in the $150-$200 area? Or is something around $110 good enough? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ME/104-5081711-5807904

 

[MustangSVT]

bah. nm

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I don't know why people are recommending 9700/9800 pros when the x700pro is just as fast, with more upper bounds, features and cheaper. Only prob is PCIe.

http://www.behardware.com/articles/517/page9.html

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-455&depa=1

Catch-22.

 

[Mr Bob]

Could use some help here...

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Could use some help here...

Well, he can't use an AGP gfx card, he can't use a PCIe card. He can only use a PCI card.

Here's a roundup/review of PCI gfx cards LINK

I don't know about the LOTR game, but W3 plays just fine on integrated gfx.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Check this THREAD too.