what is the cheapest card I can get that will play the newer games like doom 3 at a decent frame rate. I need something that will support 2 lcd screens and maybe a tv tuner or hdtv tuner built in. is there such a thing? I don't need the best and the fastest just something that won't break the bank but decent.
which card to get
- Thread starter crotchrocket
- Start date
Around $200. Depends on where you live. I'm in San Diego, and a local comp. store is selling a 6600GT AGP for $170
EVGA 6600GT
why EVGA? so you can step up (once you save a few bucks) to a better card (6800GT, or Ultra)
Make sure you save up fast though, before 90 days.
why EVGA? so you can step up (once you save a few bucks) to a better card (6800GT, or Ultra)
Make sure you save up fast though, before 90 days.
thanks for the help, newegg has the msi vivo for $214. So with this I just want to make sure it comes with a tuner. what I want to do is set it up with 2 lcd screens and when I'm not using one of the screens to watch tv on the lcd while i'm working.
I just want to make sure because I don't see anything in the vivo that says it comes with a tv or hdtv tuner. it's very vague.
I just want to make sure because I don't see anything in the vivo that says it comes with a tv or hdtv tuner. it's very vague.
I plan on getting the 6600gt. Is my celeron 2.4 enough and will it be enough for games like cod and doom 3.
VIVO is Video-In Video-Out... VIVO does NOT = TV Tuner.
As far as I know, there are NO GeForce6 cards with a TV Tuner.... in fact, it's silly to even pay more for video cards to get TV Tuners or VIVO.
Just buy a regular GeForce 6600GT, save a few bucks and get an independant stand-alone PCI TV Tuner card with VIVO... they don't cost that much, and once you have a good one, you can upgrade your video card at will without worrying about paying extra for VIVO or TV Tuners every single time you upgrade your video card.
As far as I know, there are NO GeForce6 cards with a TV Tuner.... in fact, it's silly to even pay more for video cards to get TV Tuners or VIVO.
Just buy a regular GeForce 6600GT, save a few bucks and get an independant stand-alone PCI TV Tuner card with VIVO... they don't cost that much, and once you have a good one, you can upgrade your video card at will without worrying about paying extra for VIVO or TV Tuners every single time you upgrade your video card.
I was hoping that the 6600gt would include a tuner. that way I wouldn't lose my last pci slot for a tuner. it looks like I have to upgrade to a p4 also. will a 2.4 be enough?
#1) Never buy a Celeron if you're wanting to play hard-core games... Athlons or true Pentium-4s are the way to go.
#2) Always get full-ATX MBs so you have more then two or three PCI slots
#3) So what were you saving the last PCI slot for? It's only useful if you're using it, go ahead and put that last slot to use!
#4) If you're really hard-up for PCI slots, you could get an EXTERNAL TV-tuner (via USB 2.0), but of course that costs more then a PCI solution and adds extra junk outside your case.
Having said that, the 6600GT will probably not run at its full potential on a Celeron system... this is not to say a 6600GT is a bad purchase, because it WILL help your system out to play Doom3, and it WILL port-over to a newer MB/System if you so choose later to upgrade to a faster system (so long as you still have an AGP system). You may not get the best mileage out of a 6600GT combined with a Celeron, but it's definately going to be a big improvement over what you have now.
If I were you, go ahead and get the 6600GT and see how you like it. If it's not enough, you can always upgrade the CPU later (and/or get a new MB/CPU combo). If you've got a Celeron in a mini-ATX system, I'm under the assumption you have on-board graphics? If so, you'll DEFINATELY benefit by getting something like a GeForce6 (you do have an AGP slot, right?).
Of course, if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, upgrade everything at once, but if you're on a budget, I'd recomend you get a 6600GT and a PCI TV-Tuner.
#2) Always get full-ATX MBs so you have more then two or three PCI slots
#3) So what were you saving the last PCI slot for? It's only useful if you're using it, go ahead and put that last slot to use!
#4) If you're really hard-up for PCI slots, you could get an EXTERNAL TV-tuner (via USB 2.0), but of course that costs more then a PCI solution and adds extra junk outside your case.
Having said that, the 6600GT will probably not run at its full potential on a Celeron system... this is not to say a 6600GT is a bad purchase, because it WILL help your system out to play Doom3, and it WILL port-over to a newer MB/System if you so choose later to upgrade to a faster system (so long as you still have an AGP system). You may not get the best mileage out of a 6600GT combined with a Celeron, but it's definately going to be a big improvement over what you have now.
If I were you, go ahead and get the 6600GT and see how you like it. If it's not enough, you can always upgrade the CPU later (and/or get a new MB/CPU combo). If you've got a Celeron in a mini-ATX system, I'm under the assumption you have on-board graphics? If so, you'll DEFINATELY benefit by getting something like a GeForce6 (you do have an AGP slot, right?).
Of course, if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, upgrade everything at once, but if you're on a budget, I'd recomend you get a 6600GT and a PCI TV-Tuner.
If you really want to play the latest games at something other than low video settings, you should look into upgrading the entire system. It all depends on what is more important though. Kick ass gaming or some extra money in your pocket. I chose the former much to the chagrin of my wife.
I have Celeron 2.4 on a via p4pb 400 mb with 512 ram which I've had for a year or two. and I have a Radeon 7500 I think. Up until now I had no need to upgrade, I was happy with my system. I haven't played a computer game in a while.
Now I want a 2 lcd setup and with the new video card I figured I'd give some of the games ( cod, doom 3) a go. they're just starting to look awesome. I think all i need to do is upgrade to a 6600gt, tv tuner and p4 2.4 and I'll be set. Is my mb OK?
Now I want a 2 lcd setup and with the new video card I figured I'd give some of the games ( cod, doom 3) a go. they're just starting to look awesome. I think all i need to do is upgrade to a 6600gt, tv tuner and p4 2.4 and I'll be set. Is my mb OK?
The MSI 6600GT AGP has video in, but no tuner. You can use an old VCR as the tuner. I have this card, but haven;t tried the video-in yet.
If you want something with a tuner, then your best bet is a separate WinTV card for $45, or get the ATI all-in-wonder.
All in Wonder
The 9800 can play all current games well, it's just barely behing the 6600GT in most games, except Doom3, where its a more behind, but still playable. It also has a remote control for the tuner, which may or may not be useful.
If you want something with a tuner, then your best bet is a separate WinTV card for $45, or get the ATI all-in-wonder.
All in Wonder
The 9800 can play all current games well, it's just barely behing the 6600GT in most games, except Doom3, where its a more behind, but still playable. It also has a remote control for the tuner, which may or may not be useful.
blckgrffn
Diamond Member
I would step to something quicker than a 2.4 if I were you - try to get the fastest that will work on your board, or maybe one step down
Like my earlier recomendation, I would get a 6600GT card and a TV Tuner PCI card, and call it a day.
Run your system as-is otherwise and see if you are happy with it.
If you are still not satisfied, THEN I would look at upgrading your CPU.
As for what CPU to get, it all depends on your MB and what it will support... you need to determine what chipset is on your MB and what you can upgrade the CPU to. Specifically, you need to see if you can go with an 800MHz FSB or not. If so, something like a 3.0GHz P4 with 800FSB would be the way to go.
Still, I'd get the 6600GT and TV Tuner first and check that out before upping your CPU... if you get the 6600GT and are not happy with the performance for whatever reason, you will know you are bottlenecked at the CPU level and need to do one more upgrade, but you might be happy with just the video card upgrade... do it one step at a time unless you just want to spend a bunch of money.
Run your system as-is otherwise and see if you are happy with it.
If you are still not satisfied, THEN I would look at upgrading your CPU.
As for what CPU to get, it all depends on your MB and what it will support... you need to determine what chipset is on your MB and what you can upgrade the CPU to. Specifically, you need to see if you can go with an 800MHz FSB or not. If so, something like a 3.0GHz P4 with 800FSB would be the way to go.
Still, I'd get the 6600GT and TV Tuner first and check that out before upping your CPU... if you get the 6600GT and are not happy with the performance for whatever reason, you will know you are bottlenecked at the CPU level and need to do one more upgrade, but you might be happy with just the video card upgrade... do it one step at a time unless you just want to spend a bunch of money.
thanks Wolfshanze, I like your recommentdation better because it'll save me some money . And I'll see how I like it before I upgrade the cpu. my mb supports 533 bus and 3.0 +, but I don't want to spend that much just for a cpu even if I have to upgrade. btw I have 5 pci slots and that's my last one.
. And I'll see how I like it before I upgrade the cpu. my mb supports 533 bus and 3.0 +, but I don't want to spend that much just for a cpu even if I have to upgrade. btw I have 5 pci slots and that's my last one.TRENDING THREADS
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