What AGP card should I look for?

[Ricochet]

I have a system with a Pentium D 805 and 1.5 Gig DDR400 ram running the built-in video. What would be the fastest AGP card that I can run without being CPU limited?

 

[happy medium]

If you can overclock your cpu to 3.1/3.2 get a 3850agp.

 

[Ricochet]

Yeah, that's something I may have to work on. I wonder how much I can push this CPU with this cheapo motherboard (Link).

 

[betasub]

As recommended above, the 3850 is probably the fastest AGP card released. Yes, there are a lot of cases where you'd be CPU limited (assuming you don't play FPS at high res/detail), so overclocking the old Pentium D would help drive a new-ish graphics card. The question shouldn't be about CPU limitations, but instead about how many $ you are prepared to spend on old legacy hardware (AGP) that won't be of use when you get a new (PCIe) rig.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: ricochet
Yeah, that's something I may have to work on. I wonder how much I can push this CPU with this cheapo motherboard (Link).

I copied this from a review:

Pros: Board works with Cedar Mill 661 3.6GHz 800MHz FSB. Has great overclocking settings in BIOS and very cool BIOS and OS hidden partition backup options.

Cons: No SATA,but what do you expect for $20?

Other Thoughts: I Really didn't think a cheap board like this would take a 3.6GHz Cedar Mill,but I had a 3GHz Celeron for a spare along with some DDR RAM and a 7600GS so I decided to give it a try. This board purrs like a kitten,runs great and has a ton of BIOS options including some great overclocking

 

[happy medium]

what card you have now?

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: happy medium
what card you have now?

I'm using the motherboard built-in video.

 

[happy medium]

What games do you want to play? Anything modern will require a 3850 and a cpu overclock.

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: betasub
As recommended above, the 3850 is probably the fastest AGP card released. Yes, there are a lot of cases where you'd be CPU limited (assuming you don't play FPS at high res/detail), so overclocking the old Pentium D would help drive a new-ish graphics card. The question shouldn't be about CPU limitations, but instead about how many $ you are prepared to spend on old legacy hardware (AGP) that won't be of use when you get a new (PCIe) rig.

I have another system running a C2D E6650 and 3870x2 to run the latest games. This is just a spare system that my roommates and guests would use. I wouldn't mind beefing it up a bit. A $100 for a 3850 will be the last upgrade this system will see if I decide to go that route.

 

[JPB]

Originally posted by: happy medium
If you can overclock your cpu to 3.1/3.2 get a 3850agp.

:thumbsup:

Can't go wrong with this recommendation.

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: happy medium
What games do you want to play? Anything modern will require a 3850 and a cpu overclock.

I definitely would like to be able to play Company of Heroes on it. One of my housemate play Supreme Commander.

Looks like your recommendation of the 3850 is the best route.

 

[ther00kie16]

You need to check if your power supply is enough to power an overclocked CPU and a 3850.
Looking at 3850 prices, it probably wouldn't cost much more to buy a new motherboard with PCI-e, the $12 after rebate ddr2 and a 4670 (low power requirements here), which according to anand's article does very well compared to the 3850. That way, you can upgrade to Core 2 next when your CPU becomes inadequate.

Edit:
cheapest 3850 agp - $130 after rebate

upgrade:
2gb ddr2 - $12 after rebate link
4670 - $70 after rebate link
cheap motherboard - $40 link

Upgrading actually costs slightly less
It would be way less if you skip on the 4670 right now and get the $25 ram + 8600gts deal currently offered. Then you can upgrade the video card later if you feel it's inadequate.

 

[Ricochet]

Thanks, ther00kie16. I got in on the 8600gts + OCZ ram deal for a system that I'm building for a friend. It's hard for me to just abandon this motherboard. I would rather put it to good use than shelve it. I haven't fully decided whether to upgrade it. The cheapest used 3850 I've seen runs for about $100.

 

[Denithor]

Use the Microsoft Live Cashback program to save some bucks buying one on eBay.