Which is the cheap PCI-E card to buy? (ATI Preferred)

[homestarmy]

I am building a pc for another person with my components and upgrading. I am going from a board with AGP to PCI-E. I would use the onboard 6100 video, but I need to use DVI-HDMI. There's no way to convert the VGA out to DVI is there? Didn't think so...

Anyhow, I need a cheap card that is something like 6100 or x300 based and am wanting to go cheap (just needs to be able to output HD material at 1152x648) but not get something with horrible reviews. It just needs to have DVI.

Please let me know of any deals or tell me why or why not I should use a card. I prefer to not use anything with shared memory.

Thanks!

 

[chilled]

Unless you need HDTV or S-Video out, I think any passive DVI card that doesn't use TC/Hypermemory would be fine.

 

[homestarmy]

That's what I am thinking. I won't see any difference with one of the lower end PCI-E cards?

Also, I am wondering what is the best deal. Do any of you guys have a recommendation? Will there be a difference running the ATI vs the Nvidia cards at all, especially for HTPC and running custom resolution?

I am currently having an issue where at startup the computer is changing resolution, and I want to avoid that. I am getting a whole new Mobo and this card to hopefully alleviate that.

 

[dBTelos]

I have heard that ATi cards have better picture quality.

 

[homestarmy]

I have tended to like their ability to change and save resolutions etc. They tend to be a little more expensive though hmm...

 

[n7]

X1300

 

[A5]

I'd look for an nvidia 6200 or ati x1300. Should be under $100 either way.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
I am building a pc for another person with my components and upgrading. I am going from a board with AGP to PCI-E. I would use the onboard 6100 video, but I need to use DVI-HDMI. There's no way to convert the VGA out to DVI is there? Didn't think so...

Thanks!

Why don't you just get a 6150 board?

 

[homestarmy]

I looked at them and they are s939 only. Also, I am getting this board for $40ish.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: n7
X1300

How about x700 vs x1300? The x700 seems to have higher specs for memory. The x1300 is a 9.0c card while the 700 is just c.

And x700 is $16 cheaper while the x1300 is passively cooled. I already have a 9600xt in the case in my living room and I don't think I can hear that fan (but can't tell what fan is what). The performance should be about the same in my scenario, so maybe I should go with the x700?

Also, will they have a difference when Vista comes out? I will likely upgrade to that version of Media Center.

Help?

Thanks so much!

 

[homestarmy]

Or how about this x300 model? It does have hypermemory, but there is 128 onboard, and I could just use ONLY that, right? Is there a reason why it would not work well for me?

Link

 

[homestarmy]

Any thoughts on the x300? I have someone that will sell me one for $25 shipped.

 

[chilled]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
Any thoughts on the x300? I have someone that will sell me one for $25 shipped.

X300 will be fine. TBH, the filters on even cheap graphics cards have improved over the last couple of years, so any card within that period will be fine. Clarity is only a problem when your res is more than 1600 x 1200. Make sure you get a good quality DVI cable as well and not unneccessarily long either.

 

[homestarmy]

Right. I am using a CRT HDTV anyway, so the clarity is not exactly perfect.

Thank you!!

 

[homestarmy]

I ended up getting an x300 model (the one I spoke of), but I am now having problems. It is displaying HDTV very badly (jumpy).

Could you guys please read this thread and help me out?

Thanks so much!

 

[secretanchitman]

6200/X1300 without the turbomemory turbocache whatever crap will be good for you!

 

[homestarmy]

The 6200's specs look about the same as the x300 though....

Also, how about the x550, x600, x700's?

 

[homestarmy]

And onboard 6100, how would that compare to the x300?

I am thinking of swapping computers and using this with my projector that only runs at 800x600.

It uses VGA, so the onboard 6100 could be used if it is any kind of improvement at all (probably not).

 

[Fenixgoon]

if you're looking for a ~$100 model - 7600GS or x1600pro... both can be had for about 100 or slightly above, and both *should* support HD-out (the 7600GS does cause i own one )

 

[homestarmy]

Really I was looking for something more like sub-$50 . I thought this card would be great when I got it for $25 and it almost was.

I am thinking about swapping innards with my desktop machine, but that is a long process, as it will likely involve a lot of reformatting and installing.

My desktop machine is running a K8N-E deluxe and a 9600XT. That vid card is the same that powered my media center previously and played HD without a hitch.

It's lovely to see an older card outperform the hell out of a newer card. I really hate it that they continue to release crappy video cards as well as better ones, while there is no rhyme or reason to the naming scheme when you compare one generation to another...