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Dray_04
02-12-2004, 01:33 AM
It has come to my attention that alot of noobs (like me... jkz) ask the same question every day.

"What graphic card should i get?"

Here is a list outlining the basic mid-end and high-end graphic cards that are out at present.

Please note that all card info is subject to change at anytime

Lets start with the real budget cards:


Radeon 9000 64Mb
Radeon 9200 64Mb
Radeon 9200 128Mb
Radeon 9200 Pro 128Mb etc.

GeForce4 MX440 64Mb
GeForce4 MX440 128Mb
GeForce4 Ti4200 64Mb
GeForce4 Ti4200 128Mb
GeForce4 Ti4400 128Mb
Geforce FX5200 128mb

These cards are not what you are looking for if you plan on playing 2003-2004 games such as UT2003, Halo, NFSU etc. dont get me wrong.... you will be able to play these games, but you wont be able to EXPERIENCE these games, which is what we all want, dont we?

These cards are CHEAP ok! .. so dont pay more than $150 otherwise u are definately getting RRRippped off $10 - 150 US should be a nice average. lol. $10 for a fx5200. jkz. but they are crap
a more detailed review on the r9600xt (http://www.hardwareaccelerated.com/content/products/atiradeon9200pro/atiradeon9200pro.php)

Where do I buy them? According to many people on this forum and by the sounds of it Im recommending www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com)

please note that i have not listed every single card offered, just some of the more popular cards. Also i am only going to suggest ATI and NVIDIA.

Midrange cards


Radeon 9600 128Mb )
Radeon 9600pro 128Mb > & 256mb
Radeon 9600xt 128Mb )
All In Wonder Radeon 9600 Pro 128Mb
Radeon 9800SE 128Mb (i dont reccomend any card with the SE attachment)

GeForce FX 5700 128Mb
GeForce FX 5700 256Mb
GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 128Mb
GeForce FX 5600 256Mb etc


These cards are great if you are like most of us here... on a budget. Im not exactly sure on the price range of these cards in the US but expect them to be anywhere between:

$150 - $ 350 US Just find a good online store like the one i suggested above and you should be fine.

These cards play the latest and greatest DX9 games, and should cope easily with 2003 - 2004 games on medium resolutions and higher. Games like Halo and LOTR: The return of the King should flow like a breeze considering you have specs such as:

P4 2ghz or Athlon 2000+
256Mb DDR Ram etc....


High-end range cards

Now we are getting somewhere!!! THE BIG BAD BOYS!!!

You want big bad ass graphics then this is for you!




Radeon 9800 128Mb
Radeon 9800 Pro 128Mb
Radeon 9700 128Mb
Radeon 9700 Pro 128Mb
All in Wonder Radeon 9700 PRO 128Mb
Radeon 9800 Pro 256Mb
Radeon 9800 XT 256Mb YEE HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

GeForce FX 5900 128Mb & 256Mb
GeForce FX 5800 Ultra 128Mb
GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 128Mb & 256Mb
GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256Mb
GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256Mb NOW THAT IS POWER!!!

I can only say that these cards will deliver!
a more detailed review on the 5950 (http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/fx5950ultra/11.html)

Price Range: In NZ about $400 - $1000 !!! YES I KNOW OMFG!!!!! SO in US its about $230 - $700
and whatever you do, always make sure you do a bit of research b4 you purchase a graphic card. I alwayz thort that i was getting a good deal on one website, whereas i looked at another website and it was $50 cheaper.. etc it goes on...

Anyway, good luck with your graphic card hunting and i hope this topic gives you a basic idea of what card does what.

P.S I am open to change anything in this.

P.P.S feel free to add any comment/suggestion

abu_has_the_power
02-12-2004, 01:49 AM
u forgot some new cards. and none of the high end cards u listed costs $700. the max is $500. some workstation cards are also good for gaming. firegl's and some others.

decent list. although most ppl already know most of wat you said

not criticizing, just suggesting

Dray_04
02-12-2004, 01:53 AM
like i said b4, im open to crit.... suggestions. lol. nah i just got really bored, so i thort id make up a quick guide, i made it in a rush...
i knew id forget sum stuff.. ill chuck it in soon

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 02:26 AM
Aight well work on the neatness some if you want to get this pinned...

Also, you have the Radeon 9700 128MB in midrange and highrange.

I would not put the Radeon 9800SE in the highrange, it should be in the midrange if you ask me.

Pretty nice guide I guess..just needs alot of neatening up, and I really dont think the quotes are needed..make it look kinda messy...

_John_Lennon_
02-12-2004, 02:38 AM
Its an okay thread, Needs some work though, and needs to be more through.

We really should condense alot of those Hardware topics to one topic thread, with links to the threads, like this one.

Dray_04
02-12-2004, 03:09 AM
k, ive taken out the quotes, and just put review links instead B)

what else should i do. i really want to get this thread good, because im gettin sick of those other threads.... and im guessing some of you are as well.

but dont get me wrong. ill always be polite and offer advise to nooBs.

_John_Lennon_
02-12-2004, 03:16 AM
Better formatting, better introduction, better sentence structure, better headings....

I could go on.

ricochet
02-12-2004, 03:24 AM
Originally posted by _John_Lennon_@12 February 2004 - 03:16
Better formatting, better introduction, better sentence structure, better headings....

I could go on.
I think its a good start,,, and a noob wont worry about semtence structure. I say thanks and keep working on it.... ;)

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 03:25 AM
I would kinda like to make one..maybe ill try that later

Wasnt he asking like a TON of questions about graphics cards not too long ago though? Lol I'm thinking someone really into graphics cards should make one of these.

EDIT: Adam, DONE B) haha

adamp2p
02-12-2004, 03:26 AM
Watch out there with the definitive mode...you are asking for flaming.

peat moss
02-12-2004, 03:42 AM
Good job Dray B)

SciManAl
02-12-2004, 03:48 AM
not bad, credibility is an issue, otherwise not bad keep doing thses, and improve then you will eventually get pinned...

_John_Lennon_
02-12-2004, 04:00 AM
Originally posted by adamp2p@11 February 2004 - 22:26
Watch out there with the definitive mode...you are asking for flaming.
If thats in relation to me, than anyone who flames me probably isnt good at much else.

I will probably edit this thread tomorrow, repost it, revise it a bit etc. Of course, im not trying to take credit for it, dray can have the credit.

adamp2p
02-12-2004, 04:10 AM
Originally posted by _John_Lennon_+11 February 2004 - 20:00--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (_John_Lennon_ @ 11 February 2004 - 20:00)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-adamp2p@11 February 2004 - 22:26
Watch out there with the definitive mode...you are asking for flaming.
If thats in relation to me, than anyone who flames me probably isnt good at much else.

I will probably edit this thread tomorrow, repost it, revise it a bit etc. Of course, im not trying to take credit for it, dray can have the credit. [/b][/quote]
NO DUDE&#33;

I am speaking about the original author of this thread, not you John_, my friend. B)

What I am saying is dray o2 is asking for flames because he is in "definative mode." What that means is that he is defining what is and is not good, which I am sure everyone has a definition for. ;)

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 04:19 AM
I have a very nice one coming up...hopefully..been working on it for about 30 mins so far.

_John_Lennon_
02-12-2004, 04:25 AM
Originally posted by bigdawgfoxx@11 February 2004 - 23:19
I have one
There is irony in that somewhere....

*squints

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 04:54 AM
got about 1 3rd of it done....working pretty hard..hope yall like it lol

John...not sure if that is meant with disrespect..but i dont think i deserve it.

Dray_04
02-12-2004, 06:16 AM
feel absolutely free to take this thread and turn into a better topic,

cause im mainly just trying to explain it to newbs, what card ya shud get if ya on a budget and what card can play what etc.

im not trying to say one card is better than the other (well, yer i probably am).

im just trying to start a topic, that will give people the general idea of what card to chose if they are about to ask. And i DO hope some1 makes a thread like this (OBVIOUSLY BETTER lol) and get it pinned.

like i said b4, it didnt take long to make, bt hopefully it will get the idea across.

:music1: B)

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 06:21 AM
hopefully the one i just made will..spent a couple of hours on it lol

Dray_04
02-12-2004, 06:27 AM
it is awesome...

pretty much what i WANTED to do...

but i cudnt be fucked. lol :) :) :) :) :D


yah now hopefully it will get pinned so ya can tell ppl to go there..

hopefully i will get jst a lil lil credit.

fingers crossed :P

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 06:29 AM
You get credit for giving me the idea to make a really nice one :P haha

:) good job man..like u said...we just wana provide info

Dray_04
02-12-2004, 06:45 AM
yep.

:cowboy:

and if i see another "What graphic card should i get" thread. then ill just simply post the link to your guide.

p.s please note that i was once a "what graphic card should i get" neewbie. so no disrespect to any1 in anyway.

:gossip: :gunsmile:

atiVidia
02-12-2004, 12:24 PM
this topic will go out of date in about a month lol


ive been working on one for 2 days now... itll prolly never get posted LOL

bigdawgfoxx
02-12-2004, 03:46 PM
Thats why he will pinn mine hopefully...and i will update it every week.