Which graphics card?

[tralalala]

Well, it seems that now my graphics card is too old (ATI Radeon 9550).. Seems it isn't enough to run the newest PC games, so I'm guessing it's time for a change.

I had a look over at newegg.com, but I really don't understand much about GFX cards.. So, what would be a good (great) card, for a budget of, say, 150$ max? Something that would be good for the long-run, and won't break down halfway through installation.


Fanks

[lynx]

Does your mobo already support PCI-E?

If not, your budget is already spent on a new mobo, and since that probably also means a new processor and memory I think you need to forget the idea that a graphics card upgrade is going to give you a long term solution.

So, assuming you need AGP, probably the best you can hope for is something like an ATI Radeon HD3850. But remember that at best it is still a stopgap measure.

[Detale]

What are your system specs bro?

[db_la_23]

go for 8800 gtx r 9600

[tralalala]

Computer:
Computer Type ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.5512
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name RAFI-18B01231E1 (Rafi)
User Name Rafi the Great
Logon Domain RAFI-18B01231E1
Date / Time 2008-09-08 / 14:13

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4 530, 3000 MHz (15 x 200)
Motherboard Name Asus P5P800S (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DDR DIMM, Audio, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Breeds Hill i848P
System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (11/03/04)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Bluetooth Communications Port (COM13)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter ATI Radeon 9550 / X1050 Series Secondary (256 MB)
Video Adapter ATI Radeon 9550 / X1050 Series (256 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9550 (RV350)
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 710M/710V/MagicSyncMaster CX701BM/CX711BM [17" LCD] (H9NX405513)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Analog Devices AD1888 @ Intel 82801EB ICH5 - AC'97 Audio Controller [A-2/A-3]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Storage Controller SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive WDC WD1600JD-00HBB0 (149 GB, IDE)
Disk Drive WDC WD3200KS-00PFB0 (298 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55L (DVD+R9:10x, DVD-R9:10x, DVD+RW:20x/8x, DVD-RW:20x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
Optical Drive SL7424P UPT201S SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive SL7424P UPT201S SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive SL7424P UPT201S SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive SL7424P UPT201S SCSI CdRom Device
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
D: (NTFS) 30059 MB (2636 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 305234 MB (56070 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 122558 MB (5679 MB free)
Total Size 447.1 GB (62.9 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Keyboard (IntelliType Pro)
Mouse Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Mouse (IntelliPoint)

Network:
Primary IP Address 10.0.0.5
Primary MAC Address 00-0B-6B-01-29-CD
Network Adapter 802.11g USB 2.0 adapter (10.0.0.5)
Network Adapter Bluetooth LAN Access Server Driver - Packet Scheduler Miniport

Peripherals:
Printer Canon PIXMA iP2000
Printer Lexmark E240n
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - USB Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801EB ICH5 - Enhanced USB2 Controller [A-2/A-3]
USB Device 802.11g USB 2.0 adapter
USB Device Broadcom 2045 Bluetooth 2.0 USB-UHE Device
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Intel(r) PC Camera CS110 #4
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Printing Support

[Acid_death69]

lol did you just copy the stuff outta device manager or everest?

[Detale]

I would say either:

ASUS AH3650 SILENT/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit for $90.99

or if you want to spend the $150

HIS Hightech H385F512ANP Radeon HD 3850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 For $159.99

Your MoBo doesn't have PCI express slots so for the long haul I would recomend get the cheaper card and save up for a new board homie

[tralalala]

@Acid - Copied it from Everest. Works a charm.

@Detale - Fanks Will take that as a good piece of advice.. But does the cheaper one have that VertexShader 3.0 thingy?

[kondrae]

both those cards a pretty new so yes.

note that you will pay usually $30-$40 more for the agp version verses the PCI-E version even though agp version will be bit slower.
So if you can and want to, upgrade your whole pc
then you can buy a 8800gt PCI-E for $100
or ati hd 3650 PCI-E for $50

[Detale]

Good Point K