Video card advice needed

CaffeineMe

I just built a 64 bit rig (Athlon 3000+) and installed BF2. It runs nice, but the video is just not what I'd hoped. It defaults to all settings at the lowest, and is very dark. As much as I hate to admit it, the GeForce 5500 I bought a month ago is just not going to cut it. I need to bite the bullet and buy a real video card. Ah, but which card??

I can stomach spending about $200, but not much more. I don't have any particular loyalty to ATI or NVidia, just want the most bang for my buck, and also some longevity. My mobo is a DFI NV3 Ultra D, AGP video. Running XP64, with a GB of memory. Welcome all suggestions, and the reasons for them!

TheSmJ

I say go for a 6600 GT. They can be had for $150.

ryko

even though it's $50 more dollars than your limit, i'd go with the x800xl....

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=190527

Mt_Goat

ryko wrote:

even though it's $50 more dollars than your limit, i'd go with the x800xl....

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=190527

I second ryko's recomendation.

Even though it is more bucks than you specified it is the best bang for yor your buck, period. Also, being a 256 bit interface part it will have greater longevity than anything else in the price range.

sfleuriet

I could be wrong, but what about a cheaper 9800pro? It sounds like he's like me - doesn't want the highest end graphics, just something that looks pretty good. (Am I right?)

Sapphire 9800pro 128mb - $127

Sapphire 9800pro 256mb - $169

CaffeineMe

You are right Pilotwings, and those look like good choices! I'll keep this in mind. The X800 looks good too, but I don't know how much bang I'd get for the extra $100. I really just want to see 80-90% of the detail in games, and not lag due to crappy video.

TheBaron

if you want that level of detail, get the X800XL

ryko

just noticed you need agp....the link i posted earlier is for pcie. the x800xl agp is more expensive at around $316...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102521


i change my suggestion to a 6800 non-ultra, 128mb, 256 bit for $194

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130202

or regular x800, 256mb, 256bit for $248

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102530

lemonlime

6800NU is probably one of the best choices if you want bang for the buck in AGP

edcentric

Take a look at this
http://anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2455
good, basic advice and prices.

I am looking also, there are choices. I am leaning toward a 6800. The fastest version that I can afford.

TheSmJ

The performance difference Anandtech did between the 6800NU and the 6600GT show that they're either in a tie, and in one test the 6800 BARRRELY pulls ahead by a little over 3% in HL2.

IMO, the 6600GT is far better in terms of "bang-per-buck".

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130220

Nightwolf

so do you guys fell that a 6600gt would be a better deal than a 6800np?

Armo

im not sure what an NP version is, but a friend of mine got a 6600gt and its just a hair faster than my 9800's, and considering its a newer GPU would probly be a better choice over a 9800 pro, the 9800's are sneaky and you gotta watch out for the # of interface bits, they hosed a bunch of people with 128bit interfaces a while back, so just be aware they aer some 128bit interface 9800's out there.

lemonlime

The 6800NU is basically the 'Geforce 6800 w/128MB'. It has 12 pipelines, and WILL be significantly quicker than a 9800pro. The AGP version also has the ability to be softmodded to 16pipes if you are a tweaker. That would certainly bridge the gap between cards like the 6600GT. It's more of a 'current gen' card I suppose. The 6600GT only 8 pipelines.

FormFactor

lemonlime wrote:

The 6800NU is basically the 'Geforce 6800 w/128MB'. It has 12 pipelines, and WILL be significantly quicker than a 9800pro. The AGP version also has the ability to be softmodded to 16pipes if you are a tweaker.

Ill second that suggestion.