Video Card for Old Computer

[jgonzalez]

My computer is an old crappy Pentium 4 machine. It is a small form factor computer and only takes low profile AGP cards. It currently has this video card that came with it:

http://i28.tinypic.com/sztlzm.jpg

I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?

Is that best I can get? Remember it has to be AGP and low profile (or low profile "capable").

Also, how can I embed images into my posts?

 

[dderolph]

I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.

 

[Magusigne]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102730

3850 AGP i think is THE BEST agp card out there..

That being said..p4 prolly is a bottleneck.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: jgonzalez
I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?

That card does not include a low profile bracket and you will lose the VGA D-Sub connector in order to use one. Only the DVI port and perhaps the S-VID output will be useable with a low profile bracket.

Your options are bleak. There is nothing low profile in AGP that will significantly improve on the NVS 280/285 you have. If there is, it will be obscenely expensive. Low profile market has 1/10th the selection at 5 times the price.

PCI Express low profile is a bit better than AGP, but not much.

 

[Denithor]

If you're looking for a performance card it's probably cheaper at this point to build a new system rather than trying to find a low-profile card for an old slow P4 box.

 

[jgonzalez]

Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.

How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

Originally posted by: Powernick50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102730

3850 AGP i think is THE BEST agp card out there..

That being said..p4 prolly is a bottleneck.

That one isn't low profile and it looks like it can't be adapted.

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: jgonzalez
I've been looking into video cards I can upgrade with. So far the best I've found is this:

http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PVT4.../ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?

That card does not include a low profile bracket and you will lose the VGA D-Sub connector in order to use one. Only the DVI port and perhaps the S-VID output will be useable with a low profile bracket.

Your options are bleak. There is nothing low profile in AGP that will significantly improve on the NVS 280/285 you have. If there is, it will be obscenely expensive. Low profile market has 1/10th the selection at 5 times the price.

PCI Express low profile is a bit better than AGP, but not much.

My monitor supports DVI and I could just use an adapter if I had to deal with a monitor that didn't.

Originally posted by: Denithor
If you're looking for a performance card it's probably cheaper at this point to build a new system rather than trying to find a low-profile card for an old slow P4 box.

Well with my next paycheck I'm going to have enough to buy a new computer so the reason I'm upgrading this old one is to give it as a present to my little brother. With an upgraded video card and more RAM it could run Half-Life 2 smoothly. That'll run me about 100 bucks based on my current choices, so I don't see how buying a brand new computer is cheaper.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

The very simplest answer is rather cheap as well. Pull the guts out of the current SFX size box, and transfer it all to a proper size case. Directron, eWiz, Newegg, ZZF, et al, all will have overstocks, scratch & dent, etc sales from which you can get a properly sized case, shipped, for less than $25 (yup, it will probably look cheap, and perhaps be flimsy -- so what?)

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: jgonzalez

Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.

How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

Is that one low profile? I see nothing to indicate it is. If it is, then I agree with you.

I like Kiwi's suggestion, too.

 

[jgonzalez]

Originally posted by: Kiwi
The very simplest answer is rather cheap as well. Pull the guts out of the current SFX size box, and transfer it all to a proper size case. Directron, eWiz, Newegg, ZZF, et al, all will have overstocks, scratch & dent, etc sales from which you can get a properly sized case, shipped, for less than $25 (yup, it will probably look cheap, and perhaps be flimsy -- so what?)

I don't think that would work because this motherboard is very specific to this case. It is a pre-built Compaq, so it's not just a regular Micro ATX motherboard.

Originally posted by: dderolph

Originally posted by: jgonzalez

Originally posted by: dderolph
I wouldn't be surprised if that as good as you're going to find since you need the low profile card. Wait, here's one that might be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129107

I use nVidia and haven't followed the ATI product line, so I can't say where this card falls in the video card spectrum.

How is that card better? Based on my limited knowledge, the one I linked to looks better.

Comparison:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

Is that one low profile? I see nothing to indicate it is. If it is, then I agree with you.

I like Kiwi's suggestion, too.

It's not low profile, but it can be adapted with a cheap $5 adapter they sell on that same Amazon page.

If you look at this picture: http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com...d7a02e3d1ee35110.L.jpg you see that I can just remove the cable for VGA out and put in the new smaller bracket.

 

[taltamir]

that does not seem right, most cases have tons of holes for various placements and standards, I Doubt compaq would go and make a special motherboard with special hole configuration, even if they did, with a little work you can still make it fit (aka, drill holes in the case's backplate to attach the motherboard to, it is just a sheet of metal)

 

[wwswimming]

i vote for the 6200 you found at Amazon. it's decent, you're not spending too much
money upgrading older hardware, your brother gets a decent computer.

 

[jgonzalez]

Originally posted by: taltamir
that does not seem right, most cases have tons of holes for various placements and standards, I Doubt compaq would go and make a special motherboard with special hole configuration, even if they did, with a little work you can still make it fit (aka, drill holes in the case's backplate to attach the motherboard to, it is just a sheet of metal)

This is the machine: http://h18000.www1.hp.com/prod...349_div/11349_div.HTML (the first one)

Even if I could disassemble it, get the motherboard out, and use a new case (and new power supply), I don't think the hassle and especially the price is worth it just to use a full size AGP card.

Originally posted by: wwswimming
i vote for the 6200 you found at Amazon. it's decent, you're not spending too much
money upgrading older hardware, your brother gets a decent computer.

Yea, unless anybody has a better idea, I'm going to get the 6200 and upgrade the RAM on the computer to the full 2GB. It'll make a pretty decent machine.