Graphics Card

[gavinprice02]

You get this question asked all the time, but I'm thinking of getting a computer P4 2.4gig, 512mb ram any way I'm going to upgrade memory and was just wandering what graphics card to get? I want a really good one and medium to high price range.
Any Suggestions???

[asda_price]

In your price range Gavin you're left with the following options:

Medium price
nVidia GeForce 6600 GT


Medium-high price
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT
ATi Radeon X800 Pro


High price
nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra
ATi Radeon X800 XT (go for the XT PE if you're willing to a bit further)

Hope this helps!

Rob.

PS. These are all AGP cards. I'm presuming that's what your PC supports. If you want PCI-Express then you'll have to buy a new motherboard (you'll also have a wider range of graphics cards if you have PCI-e) Also, I recommend for you to upgrade to 1GB of RAM. This will greatly reduce loading times and you'll notice some increase in FPS too.

[Scottler]

I've also got a P4 2.4...I would definitely recommend jumping up to a full gig of RAM if you can swing it.

As for the card, I'm personally very happy with my FX5200 in this box.  (But if I were to upgrade the system, I'd also upgrade the card.)  On my system though, quite happy with it.

Now everyone will come in and tell you that it sucks.  lol

[congo]

Yes, it really does suck.

[Scottler]

lol everyone says that, but you guys have seen my shots.  Sliders maxed I still get 20+fps on average...

[congo]

What the heck was wrong with the one I bought then, it truly, truly reaked of foulness and bad odours, and it was slow too,

[Scottler]

I completely agree that it's now getting older....crap, ya know what?  I just realized that the 2.4 isn't in my box.  lmao  The 2.4 is in my wife's system.  I've only got a 2.0.  haha that thought literally just came to me as I was typing.

Anyway, when I got my 2.0, I didn't know CRAP about computers, other than how to use 'em.  I actually bought a 2.0 with XP and 128mb RAM.  Since increasing it to a gig, the difference is amazing...if I were to go back and try running it on 128 I think you'd probably find me hanging from the curtain rod!

[congo]

Oh don't do that Hyperion, I've got some crappy ram here just in case of emergencies.  

[Scottler]

I just can't imagine running a system on that now...what was I thinking?  lol

[beaky]

I'm no expert, but here's two things I'm sure of:
1- go AGP.
2- a top-of-the-line card won't do a lot for you without the RAM and processing speed to back it up.

 I have a mid-priced (@ $140 US) nVidia GeForce FX5700LE(128M), and with 996 RAM and a 1.2 GHz processor, I'm barely hurting it, but it won't give me all the performance I want. Once I upgrade to a faster CPU, I should be able to squeeze out every drop- or fry it! I actually bought it at a retail shop because my first card was too wimpy and I didn't want to wait to order an upgrade online- it was that, a 64-M card, or some ridiculous $400 card my system couldn't even warm up. But I'm happy with it...

[the_autopilot]

A 9800 pro is really all you need for that kind of computer (2ghz)

However, with the 6600 gt and 9800 pro being the same price and the 6600 gt being much better, go with the 6600 gt.