YAVCT

[goatjc]

Well, I'm now starting to get antsy. . .a little antsy in my pantsy if you will.

I'm looking to upgrade the video card without a full blown new system. I basically want the capabilities to play CS:S w/ HDR & at a higher res and possibly other more recent games (stalker et al). Right now, it cannot handle the HDR capabilities without running at like 15fps.

System right now:

P4 3.0 prescott w/ ZALMAN CNPS9500
ASUS P4P800SE Socket 478 Intel 865PE ATX Intel Motherboard
1.5gb pc3200 ddr ram
9800pro 128mb (agp obviously)

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I should also say an upgrade of no more than $175

 

[Negronpope]

The manufacturers have you boxed in on this one. If you want to stay with AGP you'll pay a premium for a video card AND you're not willing to pay much. IF you had a PCI-E slot that money would pay for a 7900GS. As a former owner of a 9800 I HATE to say it, but that would dust your ATI card. However, it won't work in your system. The closest thing would be a 7600GS (which isn't even close), or the sole AGP 7600GT on the market (which at close to your price limit is way overpriced). HOWEVER, the price of a P4 PCI-E motherboard (even those that can handle a socket 478 processor) and a PCI-E video card would not be higher than the kind of card you're looking for. How about a 7600GT (at abot $100 to $120) and a replacement motherboard (at about $50)?

 

[goatjc]

Well, I really dont want to upgrade both the motherboard and the video card. . .mostly because the heatsink and fan were a b!tch to place on there (so, pretty much the next time I'm replacing a motherboard, it's gonna get a brand new processor, video card, case, ps etc) so I mainly want rec's for an agp video card where I could see the best amount of performance for the smallest amount of $. And I think the "playing CS:S in HDR. . ." is something to note as well.

I really dont want to pay for something that is going to be overkill. As long as the maps stay at or above 40fps, I'm a happy man.

 

[Oyeve]

How about THIS? or THIS?

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: goatjc
Well, I'm now starting to get antsy. . .a little antsy in my pantsy if you will.

*backs slowly out of thread*

 

[goatjc]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
How about THIS? or THIS?

Do you think those would be overkill? When I said $175, I meant that at most, cheaper would be better. And again, I'll reitterate, I just need something to mainly do HDR in CS:S and play it at 40fps with avg resolution and high detail.

 

[BladeVenom]

The 7600GT is almost as expensive, while the 1650 Pro and 7600GS aren't all that great, and they still cost over $100.