Graphics Card Recommendation

[gfunk]

Hey everyone. I just purchased a new system, Pent4, 3.8 Ghz, 512 MB RAM.

I was looking to get a decent AGP graphics card. My price limit is $200. I like to play FPS and RTS games. Any recommendations?

 

[Ranger REG]

in-store price or online price?

 

[WingOver]

CircuitCity is selling the ATI Radeon 9800 (non-pro version) for $200 after a $100 rebate:

http://www.slickdeals.net/#p3906

The Radeon 9600 XT sells for about $200, and it comes with a coupon for a free copy of Half-Life 2.

I have the older Radeon 9700 All-In-Wonder and it's excellent. I recommend the 9600 XT at your price range. They perform great, designed for DX9, and come with a free game.

This link contains some benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1910

 

[Psionicist]

Hey everyone. I just purchased a new system, Pent4, 3.8 Ghz, 512 MB RAM.

I was looking to get a decent AGP graphics card. My price limit is $200. I like to play FPS and RTS games. Any recommendations?

*cough*2.8 Ghz*cough*

 

[drothgery]

In that price range, it's basically GeForce FX 5700 Ultra (the older GFFX 5600 line isn't worth considering, as it's not performance-competitive with the 5700 or the Radeon 9600 line) vs Radeon 9600 XT. Take your pick.

 

[jdavis]

In that price range, it's basically GeForce FX 5700 Ultra (the older GFFX 5600 line isn't worth considering, as it's not performance-competitive with the 5700 or the Radeon 9600 line) vs Radeon 9600 XT. Take your pick.

yea that's about it, there are two cards in that price range. The Radeon card has been getting a lot of press as the best bang for your buck card in a lot of reviews but the GeForce FX 5700 is relatively newer to the market. Take your pick, performance levels are very similar between the two.

New GeForce FX cards
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031023/index.html

Radeon 9600 XT
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/index.html

 

[Ranger REG]

Is there any good 3D video card that works on 4x AGP slot? Got a 2-year-old PC that uses (discontinued?) PC800 memory modules.

 

[gfunk]

In that price range, it's basically GeForce FX 5700 Ultra (the older GFFX 5600 line isn't worth considering, as it's not performance-competitive with the 5700 or the Radeon 9600 line) vs Radeon 9600 XT. Take your pick.

I think you are right. After some research I choose to go with the GeForce FX 5700 Ultra. Thanks for your help guys!

I'm playing Splinter Cell and C&C:G with all the video options and detail levels ratcheted up to the maximum. Sweet!

 

[shadowlight]

Refardless of what you pick, I'd recommend http://www.newegg.com/

Excellent prices, excellent service, excellent shipping time!

 

[Goobermunch]

Not that this is relevant anymore, but if you can find the money, I'd highly recommend the Radeon 9800 Pro 128. It performs as well as the 256 for most games and out performs everything else on the market.

On a related note:

If you're buying hardware online, you must go to http://www.pricewatch.com.
It's an online database of prices. I've never had a problem with any of the vendors and I routinely find stuff well under retail.

--G