Best AGP under $150?
I've been planning to upgrade my system, but I won't have the cash to do a complete changeover to a new platform (from my AXP to a Core 2 or Athlon 64 system) for a few months. But my system is running Civ4 way too slow, and it's driving me nuts.
So what's the best AGP card I can buy for under $150? I don't want to spend much more than that since I can't expect the resale value to be very high on a dead-end interface, and I'll be upgrading to PCI-E probably in Feb/March. On Newegg, it looks like my choice is between a 7600GS and a X1600Pro. I haven't been keeping track of graphics cards lately - is there a clear winner between those two cards?
What I'd really like to be able to do is run Civ4 (only game I'm playing right now) at 1600x1200 (LCD native resolution) with 2xAA. That might be asking too much, but I'll take anything that's noticably faster than my moderately-OC'd 9800 non-pro (at 395 core, 305 memory).
Thanks in advance for the tips!
Relevant system specs:
Abit NF7-S, Mobile Barton at 1900Mhz, 1GB Ram at 200mhz (bargain RAM won't OC)
Currenlty using ATI 9800 non-pro.
So what's the best AGP card I can buy for under $150? I don't want to spend much more than that since I can't expect the resale value to be very high on a dead-end interface, and I'll be upgrading to PCI-E probably in Feb/March. On Newegg, it looks like my choice is between a 7600GS and a X1600Pro. I haven't been keeping track of graphics cards lately - is there a clear winner between those two cards?
What I'd really like to be able to do is run Civ4 (only game I'm playing right now) at 1600x1200 (LCD native resolution) with 2xAA. That might be asking too much, but I'll take anything that's noticably faster than my moderately-OC'd 9800 non-pro (at 395 core, 305 memory).
Thanks in advance for the tips!
Relevant system specs:
Abit NF7-S, Mobile Barton at 1900Mhz, 1GB Ram at 200mhz (bargain RAM won't OC)
Currenlty using ATI 9800 non-pro.
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Comments
Thoughts?
Edit: This one in particular looks pretty good, with unlocking the extra pipes and all.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195027
I think he wants something better than he currently has
ahhh! not the 9800 Pro lol It was good in its time of the G5 series but it is time to retire the 9000 series
TBH you can pick up a 6600 256MB AGP and it will run your Civ 4 game and most other games fine until you upgrade your system. Usually priced between $65 - $100 it out ranks the 9800 Pro as it supports all the current tech in game, and it won't break the bank...
If you want the better card for your buck and want to drop $150.00 go for the 7600GS it is faster than the current X1600's but quality wise I would say both cards are in the same ballpark.
The 76 is the faster card in almost every benchmark.
So I've read in a few places that the x850Pro has more horsepower than the 7600GS, especially when it comes to using AA at high resolutions (due to the 256-bit memory). Of course, the x850 dosen't support Shaders 3.0. I've been going back and forth over the last couple of hours on which kind of eye candy I want, but I think I'm leaning towards the 7600GS. It might run a little slower, but I can get a taste of the eye candy yet to come when I get a more powerful PCI-E card later
Post some benchmarks with what ever you get. I got a PCI-E 7600GT and I am building the system within a few days. I will post mine.
Good luck
Still deciding... but the GT looks like it would handle FSAA much better.
I also think most of the AGP versions of the 7600GS really use GDDR2 and not GDDR3. The Egg is the only site I have seen reporting a AGP 7600 with GDDR3... But they might have made a GDDR3 variation.
What the hell?
Nvidia is really trying to confuse me now the GS line has always been there AGP card, but I guess when the 7900GS was released they opted for the switch up with GT and GS Its so hard to keep up with all these name changes
But who wants a $34 1.6GHz Celeron?
Not I, sir. Not I.
Just PM me.
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