Hi, im new here and saw some of the other topics that you've help other people with and you seem to know what your doing so i have a question to ask. I'm looking to buy a graphics card after buying my new computer because it comes with a ATI Radeon X200 which im pretty sure isnt a good card at all. Im going to have about $150 left afterwards and im looking to play games like counter-strike:source, half-life 2, fear, etc. the specs for the computer are here http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...t&productCategoryId=cat01172&id=1130986697125 Thanks for any help you can give me.
Found this by doing a Google search. Of course many are a matter of opinion but what I would suggest is that you research on Newegg.com what you money can buy in a graphics card that is the highest on the list. I also would go to each games site and see what they recommend as well. Personally I prefer NVIDIA cards. Examples: Video cards from best to worst : X850XTPE X800XTPE GeForce 6800 U X850XT (really more tied with GF6800U) GeForce BFG 6800GT OC Radeon X800 XT GeForce 6800 GT X800XL (better value than GF6800GT though) Radeon X800 PRO (whomever put this behind the GF6800 doesn't know their cards) X800/R430-12P (still not enough tests to determine it's place) GF6800 GF6600GT X700Pro (X700XT MIA, but there are a bunch of X700Pro+ out there which would equal GF6600GT) X800SE Can be better and worse than the GF6600GT and X700Pro but sucks because usually far FAR more expensinve. And anyways SE = Sucky Edition. Radeon 9800 XT Radeon 9800 XT (Why 2 R9800XT ?) GF6800LE X700 Radeon 9800 PRO 256 *(Personally Prefer the R9800P-128 over this cardm cause this card's 256mb of DDRII runs too hot and doesn't OC worth a damn) Radeon 9800 PRO GF6600 GeForce FX 5950 U GeForce FX 5900 U Radeon 9700 PRO (In Shader heavy or PS2.0 games this beats even the best FXs) Radeon 9800 (same as above) GeForce GF 5900 Radeon 9700 X600XT Radeon 9500 PRO (This card FAR outperforms the R9600XT in modern games and really the FX5900XTs benifits are in areaswhere all these cards get 100fps so what's +/- 5fps? [x]X600Pro[/x] GeForce FX 5900 XT Radeon 9600 XT (actually in newer DX9/PS2.0 games the R9600XT will outperform the FX5900XT [and even the FX5900 and 5900U many times]) FX5900XT is better in more olde games so gets the nod. Radeon 9600XT 256 (Who put this so high up, the 256mb version in most cases has slower memory than the 128mb version and the extra 128mb has little impact on weak [4pipe] cards) PCX5950 (Poor PCIe cousin of the other X5900 series) GeForce FX 5700 U Radeon 9600 PRO Once again in newer/future games the R9600P will outperform the FX5700U. I'd say they are close to tied especially with the OCability of the R9600P. Radeon 9800 SE-256bit (Rare, but strong card, basically an R9500Pro ver.2) GeForce FX 5800 U (This card is a TERRIBLE card, not worth the money or hassle, and performance SUXOR!) GeForce FX 5800 X600 Radeon 9800 SE-128bit (Just below the R9600P) GeForce FX 5700 (Definitely better than the GF4tis, just turn on AA/AF to find this out). Seriously the G4ti's advanatge is in old outdated games. R9550 GeForce FX 5600 U FC (See above, Rev.2 is better than the GF4tis) GF6200 (Depending on model [fulle dedicated texture memory, w/ TurboCache wo/ TC]) X300 PCX5750 GeForce4 Ti 4600 8x GeForce4 Ti 4600 GeForce4 Ti 4400 GeForce4 Ti 4200 8x GeForce4 Ti 4200 128 GeForce4 Ti 4200 64 GeForce FX 5600 U (In newer games will be better than GF4tis, also will allow better AA/AF settings I think this is too low, but not going to defend a card even nV decided wasn't good enough) Radeon 9500 128 (Far better than given credit for, but not worth placing correctly) X300SE GeForce3 Ti 500 64 Radeon 8500 64 Radeon 8500 128 (Whomever made the list doesn't realize the 64mb is clocked faster, and resolutions need 128mb kill these cards anyways so little benifit from the extra 64mb) GeForce FX 5600 FX5200Ultra (Far FAR Too Expensive for it's performance, but better than often thought) GMA900 (Intel's latest integrated solution isn't great but will get you better than some older cards) R8500LE/R9100 R9000Pro (or rare R9200Pro) Radeon R9600SE (give boost thanks to benifits in newer games) FX5500 FX5600XT/SE FX5200 GeForce3 Ti 200 128 (Too old to argue placement, but shouldn't be bought for any current gaming) GeForce3 Ti 200 64 (ditto) Nothing worth Mentioning (Intel Extreme 2 would end up being wiser choice) Quote: Most of the cards below this point do not have pixel shading. (Meaning they are very slow for 3D) Radeon 9200 64* Radeon 9500 64* (Still better than the FX5200/R9000/GF3ti/GF4MX) GeForce FX 5200 U* [b/](Better than this, still crap for what it's sold as, but better than bottom of original list) GeForce4 MX 460 GeForce4 MX 440 8x GeForce FX 5200 GeForce4 MX 440 Radeon 9600 SE* (Far better than this, actually useable but SE still something to avoid) Radeon 7200 32 Radeon 7200 64 GeForce 2 MX 400 64 Radeon 7000 PCX 4300/5300 GF4MX4000 Radeon 7500 XGI Volari (any of them - Huge Suckage) Xabres (Ditto) Matrox Cards (Best2D cards available, but forget doing any gaming except the fun of surround gaming which isn't a performance issue but a proprietary benifit) Quote: *Has pixel shaders, but sucks too much for it to be usefull
well what kinda card would you recommend me buying. i have a price range of about 150 but im willing to add 10 or 20 more dollars to that. i just wannt to get a card thats gonna last me a while so i can play CS source, HL2, and fear. once the time comes i'll probably upgrade the card with out a problem i just dont have alot of money to spend cuz i have to buy the pc first.
I stated what way you should go, by doing a bit of research within Newegg.com and even a Google search for recommendations on which game is better with what card. The first thing would be to see exactly how your new PC pans out with the games before even upgrading to a different card.
Remember you are going to need a PCI Express video card not an AGP. Here are some examples in your price range http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121178 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121549
on newegg i found a couple of good graphics cards for about 180 plus shipping, but they are referbished cards. Do you think they are worth the money? the main one im looking at is the ATI radeon X800 XL
I personally never buy refurbished merchandise. I always believed that if one person had a problem with it, why take the chance on being Number#2 with the same problem.
i found on Newegg a ATI Radeon X800 GTO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142052 Do you think its worth it for 179.00 plus 10 tax and 5 for shipping so its around 205 dollars. Do you think its worth it for that much.
I say, why buy something if you know it's had a troubled past? Oh and scubabud, any reason why you emitted the 2006 generation of cards from there? I assume merely due to the expense, right?
Yes, I think it does. Matter of fact I was checking out the AGP version of that card just a little while ago.
hey thanks sammoris i was looking all night and i never saw one lower than 180. BTW why do you think it was that high and the same exact card on the same sight is so much cheaper. and also what does VIVO stand for + what is a could heat range for the card while its playing games. in a couple of the reviews it was said that it idled at around 30 degrees C and was up to 70 usage. is this very bad, will i need to invest more money into fans and such?
No graphics card will come with a fan that isn't powerful enough, in the same way as no prebuilt system will come with inadequate cooling. It all depends whether or not your case already runs warm or not - try a program like motherboardmonitor or Hmonitor to find out - you want below 40ºC really. if it's about that, then you may want bigger/more case fans. YOu can also buy PCI slot exhaust blowers. VIVO stands for Video-in video-out, so it will support an image incoming and display that as well as outputting the PC image to the monitor. The temperature limit for graphics cards is above 70ºC normally, in fact its three figures. I wouldn't worry about heat with a card in that part of the range. As for prices, some board manufacturers charge more and others less, and some deals are retail (snazzy box, manual, CD, leaflet etc) and others OEM (cardboard box with just the component inside), which obviously makes them cheaper.
No, actually I pulled that info from a Google search to give NJman a starting point, and ofcourse suggested he go on Newegg.com to check out cards as well. Since his budget was near $150, he could search Newegg.com for any year card within his budget.
In your opinions do you believe that the Radeon X800GTO will play halflife 2 CSS and BF2 if i dont overclock it, cuz i dont wanna over clock it until i can get an extra fan and powersupply.
ok thanks very much thats really the only reason i wanted to get this new card. even though this is off topic is dod source just as good as dod?
