View Full Version : Gaming video card recommendations?
Lunatique 06-12-2006, 03:25 AM I'm still using a FX5200, and it's just not cutting it for current-gen games anymore. I need a new video card that can do current-gen games (F.E.A.R., Half-Life 2--with everything turned up to max quality at about 1280X1024) flawlessly, but ideally under $200. Any recommendations? Oh, and I need an AGP one, not PCI Express.
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Geforce 7800GS is the best you can buy from nvidia on the AGP side. If thats too pricy, try the Geforce 6800GS (a weaker card, but fits in the sub $200 price tag range)
Lunatique
06-12-2006, 06:54 AM
I'm looking at the AGP versions of:
HIS Radeon X1600PRO 512MB
and
DIAMOND Radeon X1600PRO 512MB
They seem to be the most powerful in the sub-$200 range. Don't know which one to pick though.
newman
06-12-2006, 07:12 AM
I don't know what CPU/socket you've got.. But if it can be stuck in any newer PCI-E equipped board, you should think about replacing the motherboard first and then get a PCI-E card... Don't know if that's possible in your case, though. Just a thought.
newman
06-12-2006, 07:36 AM
edit: something screwed up my connection and as a result there was a double post. sorry.
Lunatique
06-12-2006, 07:39 AM
My mobo is an Asus P4P800. I'm pretty happy with my mobo, so there's no real reason to upgrade. The last batch of AGP cards perform quite well for current-gen games, so getting one now should last me another two years or so. After that, it'll be a better time to upgrade my entire rig to the next generation of everything.
Sully
06-12-2006, 08:46 AM
I just bought a 6800gt for £110 which I though was pretty reasonable and it rips with all the latest games!
newman
06-12-2006, 01:29 PM
I just bought a 6800gt for £110 which I though was pretty reasonable and it rips with all the latest games!
Forgive me, but I doubt that. Granted, you can get good FPS with almost every game out there with the abovementioned card, but by no means on high resolutions with the best graphics settings. Don't tell me you can play Oblivion in high-res, with all the effects enabled (HDRI lighting, all the shadows, etc. I have a 7900 GT and Oblivion worked fine on the highest settings at 1600x1200 in 90% of the cases, but I had occasional slow-downs so I had to reduce the resolution.) So a more accurate thing to say would be that it works good. But if you say it 'rips with all the latest games' then whoever reads that will think that it will work well on the highest settings, which is simply not true.
Why are you looking at the Radeon X1600 AGP cards? Just courious. The cards I mention, are of a higher class (thus faster), and still come pretty close to your $200 mark. Well ok maybe not the 7800GS :), but its the best AGP card you can get.
http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q1/geforce-7800gs/index.x?pg=4
That review has both the 6800GS and 7800GS on it, also, the X1600 does not make an appearance, because it is a midrange part of its generation, while the 6/7800GS is a low-high end part.
Sully
06-12-2006, 02:29 PM
Who needs to run games at 1600x1200 I mean thats just stupid in my opinion at lower res like 1024x768 or 1280, 1024 this cards does rip the guy is on a budget and your not gonna get a card that can run those resolutions for under 200 dollers... I know it hasnt got pixel shader 4 and all that but for the money I paid for it its perfectly good with all the latest games...:rolleyes:
I run games at 1920x1200 :P
Mainly cuz stuff looks good at the native res of my monitor...
Lunatique
06-12-2006, 06:36 PM
If it wasn't for the budget, I'd get the most expensive card out there, but all the cards you guys mentioned are above the $200 mark and PCI Express. I searched for the best cards under $200 and the X1600 Pros are what I came up with (I shopped at Newegg online).
This will be my last AGP card, as the next upgrade will have to include my mobo as well, since I'd need to upgrade that to a PCI Express mobo. So, I really just want a decent card that can run all the current-gen games, but have no need for crazy performance like 1600 x 1200 with 4X anti-aliasing or some other crazy feat. As long as I can play today's games on max setting at a resonable resolution, and tomorror's games with normal settings, I can hold out until my next upgrade.
None of the cards I mention are PCI Express.
Also, Only the 7800GS is above the $200 mark. The 6800GS (AGP version) is around $150 usually.
Lunatique
06-12-2006, 07:01 PM
I forgot to mention that the Diamond X1600 Pro has dual monitor support--which would be important to me for doing art and music.
I read some forum discussions, and it appears the X1600 Pro is better at certain games, while the other cards mentioned are better at others in high resolution. It seems to be different from game to game. God I hate shopping for video cards--the way they name the cards and generations are totally confusing.
Dont know any modern mid range graphics card (or higher) that does not have support for dual monitors.
Heck, my Geforce 4 has dual monitor support :)
What are some other things you do on your comptuer aside from games? Maybe this will help make the choice easier.
if you do alot of 3D, then I would suggest going for an Nvidia based solution. If gaming is the only concern you have, then it wont matter so much. But the 6800GS is a good card, and shouldn't be over looked.
Lunatique
06-12-2006, 07:40 PM
I don't do much 3D at all. I mostly do 2D and music production, and then gaming. Of course, I'm making the upgrade mostly for gaming, as my current FX 5200 has no problem with 2D or music production.
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