What to look for in a Video Card

[mikebigtoe]

Hello all,
I am going to upgrade my Video card this weekend and want to know what to look for when purchasing one.
I hear things about Pipelines and bit speeds. I am not much of a gamer and really the only thing I play on my PC is FS9. I am looking at an FX5200 or a Radeon 9200/9600. and again what should I look for when choosing one? Are these good models for FS 9?
Thanks,
TOE

[Iroquois]

It really depends what you want. I'm a big nVidia fan but out of your choices the Radeon 9600 is the best option. The FX5200 really doesn't pull its weight. The 9600 also allows full water effects in FS2004 where the other two don't.

I keep saying just get the best you can afford. I would wait until nVidia releases it's 6600 AGPs which are excellent budget gamming cards. They should be out come November.

[congo]

I wouldn't get any of the cards you quoted mike, they are all on the slow side.

Here is a short list from best to worst:

NV 6800 ..... all types (from around $250 upwards)

9800XT   ...... seems to be a little pricy still

9800 pro  ....... good card, bios can be flashed to XT standard

NV 5900 ultra, pro or XT  ...... try not to get the XT in this model, but even that can usually be made faster.

below this, things get dodgy.