Support NeoGAF

[element]

what is a good graphics card for $100?

I don't normally deal with cards this low, so I'm looking for advice.

 

[tedtropy]

I'm honestly not sure what you could get for $100 that would qualify as a "good" card. The low-end Radeons are good 2D cards that'll do some basic 3D/gaming stuff and you can find them in the $50s. You won't get anything that'll play modern games well at that price. Just depends on what the person needs from it.

 

[element]

it really wont be for games. just a 'home' computer, internet surfing and stuff.

 

[Wellington]

Get a 9600 Pro. That is the absolute lowest I would go if I were into PC gaming. Different versions range from $110-$130.

Edit: Oh, then just about anything would do, heh.

 

[element]

Get a 9600 Pro. That is the absolute lowest I would go if I were into PC gaming. Different versions range from $110-$130.

Edit: Oh, then just about anything would do, heh.

I was looking at a 9600 SE, which can be found for $70. Might go with a 9200, but not sure.

 

[Wellington]

SE is a severly crippled 9600, but if you're just gonna use it for email, web browsing, text editing, and stuff like that, there's no harm in getting it.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

If was just for common Windows tasks, a GeForce 1 would surfice.

I never believe poeple when they say that's all they'll do. Get a 9600, non-SE

 

[Phoenix]

I'll bump on the 9600. If you're going to spend money, you might as well get something that has a higher liklihood of being happy with Longhorn.

 

[tedtropy]

I'll bump on the 9600. If you're going to spend money, you might as well get something that has a higher liklihood of being happy with Longhorn.

And if you're gonna get the 9600, why not bump it up a few bucks and get a great 9800 Pro. If you need just a basic video card, go with onboard or spend no more than $50, but if you're ready to play with the big boys, I'd say the 9800 is the base.

 

[teh_pwn]

$100 is the limit?

Then probably the Geforce 4 Ti4200-4800. You won't get DX9 though.

 

[teiresias]

I have my secondary computer which is running an old original Radeon 32MB card and an old 10Gig HDD.

I've noticed some chugging in Baldur's Gate 1 and since I plan to play BG2 which is more taxing (by a bit) I'm thinking of getting a new cheapo HDD (since the 10Gig is really old and might be the cause) and a cheap $50 vid card. I'm assuming any of the current $50 cards will be better than the old Radeon, right?

 

[alejob]

Go for the TNT2 32 MB!

 

[element]

ended up going with a ATI 9550. It scored as high as the 9600 in places but was only $70

 

[Diablos]

F*ck Longhorn, its not coming out until 2006-2007 anyway.

 

[Phoenix]

And if you're gonna get the 9600, why not bump it up a few bucks and get a great 9800 Pro. If you need just a basic video card, go with onboard or spend no more than $50, but if you're ready to play with the big boys, I'd say the 9800 is the base.

9800 is twice what the guy is willing to spend. You can get 9600s at the price he wants to spend.

 

[RaymondCarver]

This is exactly what I'm looking for: something circa $100.



It's going to be an Athlon2200 + 512MB PC3200 + a yet-to-be-named video card. The $70ish 9600's are looking to be the sweet spot, but I wish I had double the cash to get the MSI 9800. But that's the way the game is played.





I guess the upgrade plan could be: get a $70 to $80 Radeon 9600 for my brother in law, and then if he wants to get something more powerful later on he could do so, giving me the 9600 to use here or in my mom and pop's computer for gaming @ home on the weekends.

 

[Stuggernaut]

Since you aren't using it for games, why not just get an FX 5200.

Man those things run windows fine, and play a lot of games fine. Hell Dell uses them as a stock card on most of their low end systems.

Plus you can get one for less that $50 ;P

 

[Catalyst]

I think those FX 5200 cards go for $60 at Walmart .

 

[RaymondCarver]

Here's something I found for $60 after shipping.
SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9550 128MB DDR 128BIT DVI/TV-OUT 8X AGP WITH SOFTWARE (BULK PACK)





But here's what I ordered from NewEgg
ROSEWILL RADEON 9600 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "RW9600-128D" -RETAIL

there. got it. pulled the trigger on $77.00