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Throw Me a Bone! - Video Card Concern
Sands
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm currently in the mood to upgrade my video card, most likely as a result of this smokin' sexy summer weather that's been up and about these past couple of weeks, or perhaps because I want to indulge in some games this summer? They both sound reasonable to me..
I current have a system with a 2.8ghz Pentium 4 Processor, 1GB of Memory, Asus P4P800-e Deluxe Motherboard, and a very ugly GeForce FX 5200. Unfortunately my motherboard only supports AGP format so I'm limited to some overpriced, less powerful cards. I'm not looking for the "best of the best" AGP video card here, but rather the cheapest video card that'll give me the most "bang for my buck", hopefully being able to support some of the newer games such as Half-Life 2/Counter Strike Source, Oblivion, FEAR, NWN 2, and Barbie Horse Adventures, as well as some of the games to come like Starcraft II, Team Fortress II, and the ever-demanding Barbie Horse Adventures II.
As I move onto University next year, I want to keep the cost of the video card as low as possible since I wont be using it all that much over the course of the year, excluding summer vacation. The price range I am looking to park the video card in between $0 - $160, with tax in Canadian funds. I understand that with a card in this range, I wont be able to play a lot of the games listed above on high settings (at least I don't think?) but hopefully a card in this range can allow for a playable atmosphere.
I've got a couple cards already picked out that I'd like you guys to take a peek at and see if they'll give me what I'm looking for, but I'd also like suggestions on some other cards that may be better and less expense than those that I've chosen. Here are a couple cards I've been considering:
1) BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC / 128MB GDDR3 / AGP 8x / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (OEM)
This card is currently at Tigerdirect.ca for $92.99 with -$40 rebate included w/ the price. Here is a link for more details:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2884779&CatId=318
2) Biostar GeForce 6800 XT / 256MB DDR2 / AGP 8x / DVI / VGA / TV Out / Video Card
This card is currently at Tigerdirect.ca for regular $99.99. Here is a link for more details:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3098336&CatId=318
Those are two video cards that I had in mind; however, I'm not sure what to pick up in the end? It would be nice to be able to pick up a card locally to avoid the shipping fees, but I understand that's not going to be the case this time around.
One concern I had with the two cards I selected above are the warranties that they come with.. The BFG 6600GT comes with a lifetime warranty, whereas the 6800 XT only comes with a one year warranty, and that is essentially why I'm holding onto the 6600 GT as a potential choice because of it's lifetime warranty incase something happens down the road. I'm not sure what the Biostar GeForce 6800 XT is like for life, but if it has a record of breaking easily or soon after the warranty expires, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable going with that video card?
So in a nut shell, providing you guys with all this information, I would like you to recommend a good AGP video card to an moderate gamer like myself!
Thank you in advance,
Sands
I current have a system with a 2.8ghz Pentium 4 Processor, 1GB of Memory, Asus P4P800-e Deluxe Motherboard, and a very ugly GeForce FX 5200. Unfortunately my motherboard only supports AGP format so I'm limited to some overpriced, less powerful cards. I'm not looking for the "best of the best" AGP video card here, but rather the cheapest video card that'll give me the most "bang for my buck", hopefully being able to support some of the newer games such as Half-Life 2/Counter Strike Source, Oblivion, FEAR, NWN 2, and Barbie Horse Adventures, as well as some of the games to come like Starcraft II, Team Fortress II, and the ever-demanding Barbie Horse Adventures II.
As I move onto University next year, I want to keep the cost of the video card as low as possible since I wont be using it all that much over the course of the year, excluding summer vacation. The price range I am looking to park the video card in between $0 - $160, with tax in Canadian funds. I understand that with a card in this range, I wont be able to play a lot of the games listed above on high settings (at least I don't think?) but hopefully a card in this range can allow for a playable atmosphere.
I've got a couple cards already picked out that I'd like you guys to take a peek at and see if they'll give me what I'm looking for, but I'd also like suggestions on some other cards that may be better and less expense than those that I've chosen. Here are a couple cards I've been considering:
1) BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC / 128MB GDDR3 / AGP 8x / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (OEM)
This card is currently at Tigerdirect.ca for $92.99 with -$40 rebate included w/ the price. Here is a link for more details:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2884779&CatId=318
2) Biostar GeForce 6800 XT / 256MB DDR2 / AGP 8x / DVI / VGA / TV Out / Video Card
This card is currently at Tigerdirect.ca for regular $99.99. Here is a link for more details:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3098336&CatId=318
Those are two video cards that I had in mind; however, I'm not sure what to pick up in the end? It would be nice to be able to pick up a card locally to avoid the shipping fees, but I understand that's not going to be the case this time around.
One concern I had with the two cards I selected above are the warranties that they come with.. The BFG 6600GT comes with a lifetime warranty, whereas the 6800 XT only comes with a one year warranty, and that is essentially why I'm holding onto the 6600 GT as a potential choice because of it's lifetime warranty incase something happens down the road. I'm not sure what the Biostar GeForce 6800 XT is like for life, but if it has a record of breaking easily or soon after the warranty expires, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable going with that video card?
So in a nut shell, providing you guys with all this information, I would like you to recommend a good AGP video card to an moderate gamer like myself!
Thank you in advance,
Sands
It's All or Nothing, There's No In-Between
Sands on
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http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/06/11/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for_the_money/page4.html
if you can move up in price and get a 7600GT you'll be in much better shape, this will probably be the last video card you'll buy for this system, so you may want to consider saving up and doing a motherboard/CPU/video upgrade. I have a 7600GT and it runs Oblivion (a real beast) pretty well, though mine is PCI Express not AGP. You want a card with Pixel Shader Model 3 and DX 9.0c support for some of those games (FEAR and Oblivion for sure).
also beware of naming conventions, a Geforce 7300 GS 512MB is not as good as a 6800 GT 256MB for example eventhough the numbers on the box might make you think otherwise.
this tool is good for generally comparing graphics chips in various games
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html
this looks like a good match for you
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150233
so ... how is Barbie Horse Adventures?
Since I'm restricted to AGP format, that also keeps my from wanting to spend a fair bit on a new card.
I would go for a 7950 or 8800...the 8600 sucks ass
Hows that look??
Anyway, I think these are better (third down)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=EVGA+GeForce+7600GT+256MB&x=23&y=31
They all have a mail in rebate, too
If you grab the third one down, it's only about 100 with shipping included.
Thanks
I had a similar spec-ed machine to yours. I plumped for a XFX 6600 GT.
This Card Right Here. However, I like the lifetime warranty on the 6600 you found plus it's pre-voerclocked to boost the momery clock by a solid 150Mhz.
From what I read about the 6800 XT series, the gimping of it undermines the superior architecture, the loss of memory megahurtz killing the fill-rate.
That makes the 6600 the better choice. Go for the 6600.
However, if you can find a cheap 6800 LE then you might well be onto a good thing but a bit of a gamble. A 6800 LE is a stock 6800 with manufacturing flaws in up to 4 of the pipelines, rather than ditching the cards they turn off 4 pipes. Often only 1 of the pipes is damaged but they still turn off 4 pipes and sell them at 6600 prices. If you get lucky you can unlock 3 pipes and have a very near 6800 quality card with that glorious 256-bit memory path.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
EVGA e-GeForce 7600GT AGP8X Superclocked 512MB Video Card
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10088627&catid=10524&logon=&langid=EN
How does she compare to the other 7600 GT I was looking at earlier there at tigerdirect.ca? Is this card going to run any of the games I mentioned from the beginning with an enjoyable atmosphere?
A non-futureshop option would be ncix.com, I've been ordering parts from them for years. I believe they're based out of Burnaby, BC.
I've chosen the EVGA e-GeForce 7600GT AGP8X Superclocked 512MB - Hopefully she installs easily and handles some of these amazingly-fun games well enough to play them under enjoyable terms.
Thank you all for your help and advice! I'll drop a follow up on the card ASAP