Video Card Recomandaitions?

[farmerdave]

I am looking to replace my current video (a piece of junk - GeForce 4 MX440 :-/ :-/ :-/).  I need something better than my current card, although I think nearly everything is.  i have a tight budget, as i doubt my parents will pay for it - i need one at least under 200 US$, preferably lower.  I saw a GeForce 4 FX5200 at Circuit City for only 90$, though i don't know if it's worth buying.  My system specs are: AMD Athlon 2200, 1.8 Ghz, 512 MB RAM

[Rivers]

With that budget I would go for a Fx5700 they are around 150US$ the FX5700ultra is around 200 and I

[Rivers]

Stay away from the 5200 or the 5600 they have much lower performance then  the 5700 and the  prices are  almost the same.

[MichaelH]

here's one:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... WSE&depa=1

[Delta_]

Radeon 9600 is a very good card you can pick up for the same price as a 5600xt, and it is better.

[bm]

The 5600XT is slower than the normal 5600 isn't it? I think the 5700 would be the best from what I've heard.

Where did that video card performance chart get to?

[Delta_]

Here we go:


It is clear the 9600 is faster than the fx5600

[bm]

Its close! But I think the FX5700 just takes the cake. I think its a case of which name you pefer - ATi or NVIDIA

Its a shame the normal FX5700 isn't on there - where do you think it would come against the 9600pro?

[Dan]

a piece of junk - GeForce 4 MX440

You don't understand. I have a Nvidia TNT2! King of c**p.
Dan

[Daz]

holy cow theres an fx5200 at the bottom of that list i didnt think they were that bad...mine is second to top in first diagram i think u need at least the 5700 or 9600 pro to get good performance from fs2004 on full details n stuff

[4_Series_Scania]

holy cow theres an fx5200 at the bottom of that list i didnt think they were that bad...mine is second to top in first diagram i think u need at least the 5700 or 9600 pro to get good performance from fs2004 on full details n stuff

Strange that, I've got an FX5200 in my #2 machine, it scores double what the old MX440 scored in the same system.....  ???

FS9 runs just fine with anti-alaising and my 5600, the 5700 is the one I'd buy tho.

[VPA_KTPA]

I just replaced the ge force 5200 fx with the ATI 9600XT.and if i hadnt seen the boost i got in FPS with my own eyes i wouldnt have beleaved it.but if your going for the 9600 model get the 9600xt and leave the 9600pro model on the shelf.and what i can tell you for shure on the 5200fx its not a bad card for the price but you will need a pretty strong system to get it to perform well with anti-alaising turned on.any thing much below a 2.0Ghz will struggle for decent FPS at the major airports unless you fly out in the desert with no scenery around or turn settings way down.as to the other cards i havent never owned them cant tell you anything about them.and dont buy any off brands get name brand.no PNY or shuch.if it dont say Nvidia or ATI on the box you dont want it.

By the way what opperating system do you have.some of the newer cards wont work on win 98.the ge force fx 5200 will work on that opperating system.but the 9600 wont work on nothing but win me,xp,and 2000.you need to keep that in mind before you lay your money down.check out the system requirements on the side of the video card box.

[Delta_]

Also look at your power supply.  The FXs use 75W!!!!  The Radeon 9600s use 35W.

[jnick]

Search around.

You can get a 9800Pro 128MB for just over $200.

I used to live by Geforce, but now have the 9800Pro and love it.

But it all depends on your power supply. You're going to at least need 320W power supply to run the high end cards. (9700-9800XT/5700-5900Ultra)

If you have a dell, their power supply is 250Watts, but say  they under name it, and it's really opperational at 350watts.

Btw, Dells = garbage - for the gamer.

[Delta_]

That 320W is for non generic supplies.  Generic supplies don't give anwhere near what they say they do.  

Antec and Enermax are the best supplies to look for.  They give what they say they can do.