Graphics cards on a tight budget -- which is the lesser (lessest?) evil?

F

FoneBone

Member
OK, given the available configurations, it's down to two a few worse-than-I'd-like options:

Radeon 9800 Pro (128MB) AGP
vs
Radeon X300 SE (128MB) PCIE
vs
GeForce FX 5200G Ultra (128MB), w a 3.4 GHz or so P4 CPU.

Which is the best of these? (I'm pretty sure I should go with the 9800, but I want some expert opinions, so to speak). And will one of these cards be sufficient to run games like Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 playably? (I'm ok with turning down the resolution and other options as needed.)

Advice, please.
 
FoneBone said:
:P I ain't exactly an expert on this stuff, obviously...
Click to expand...

A big waste to pair the 5200 with a 3.2 ghz P4. Just save 200 or so dollars by buying a P4 3.0 Ghz version with the Radeon 9800 Pro.
 
9800 Pro isn't top of the heap anymore, but it isn't exactly a card i'd call worse-than-i'd-like canidate. It's still good.
 
The configuration I ultimately got:
P4 3GHz
1GB RAM
128MB Radeon 9800 Pro

I don't have a broadband connection (EDIT: yet, anyway), so in the way of testing the card, I've been reduced to the demos that I can copy off of my brother's computer. Max Payne 2 ran excellently, and Farcry ran well too. I just hope this'll last me a while without having to upgrade.
 
I glad you made a thread like this. I'm in the same boat. So if/when I get a card, I'll be getting the 9800 pro.

Now, what would be better for gaming (Doom 3, Far Cry, HL2, etc.):

1) upgrading from 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM for $80; or
2) upgrading from a MX440 to a 9800 pro for $200+

(BTW, this is on an AMD 3200+)
 
AirBrian said:
I glad you made a thread like this. I'm in the same boat. So if/when I get a card, I'll be getting the 9800 pro.

Now, what would be better for gaming (Doom 3, Far Cry, HL2, etc.):

1) upgrading from 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM for $80; or
2) upgrading from a MX440 to a 9800 pro for $200+
Click to expand...

Uh, both? You need to get rid of that videocard, that's your #1 priority. But really, spend the extra $80 and get the ram upgrade too. It really helps with a lot of games.


(BTW, mobo is an AMD 3200+)
Click to expand...

LOL! You sure about that?
 
Slo said:
Uh, both? You need to get rid of that videocard, that's your #1 priority. But really, spend the extra $80 and get the ram upgrade too. It really helps with a lot of games.
Click to expand...
I know both, but which one first IYO? So the videocard is holding back performance the most for the $?


Slo said:
LOL! You sure about that?
Click to expand...
Shut yo face!

Thanks for the suggestion though. :)
 
So many peoples fell for nvidia's G4 MX series, not realizing that its nothing more than a subpar geforce 2 GTS :\

Dont even bother running doom3 or farcry with that card, it doesnt even support dx8 shaders. Getting rid of that card is your #1 priority for running current games.
 
Videocard, then ram. I'm running Doom 3 on a 9800PRO with 512Mb PC3200 ram and don't get any hitching. I do get some small hitching once in awhile in Farcry though...1GIG would be good for FC.
 
Buggy Loop said:
So many peoples fell for nvidia's G4 MX series, not realizing that its nothing more than a subpar geforce 2 GTS :\

Dont even bother running doom3 or farcry with that card, it doesnt even support dx8 shaders. Getting rid of that card is your #1 priority for running current games.
Click to expand...
The 440 came free when I bought the PC, so I can't complain too much. I'm currently running Doom 3 on low 640x480 and it's very smooth (of course it is the lowest setting). But I want more! :)

So the consensus is videocard first then RAM? Thanks for the suggestions, guys!
 
This is your salvation........you owe me your soul.

256bit.jpg
 
One is made by ATi, the other is made by VisionTek. I always go for ATi.

I'm no expert on any of this, but I think the two companies clock their cards differently.
 
Buggy Loop said:
So many peoples fell for nvidia's G4 MX series, not realizing that its nothing more than a subpar geforce 2 GTS :\

Dont even bother running doom3 or farcry with that card, it doesnt even support dx8 shaders. Getting rid of that card is your #1 priority for running current games.
Click to expand...

It's not a subpar GF2 GTS. It's actually faster than GF2 PRO but slower than GF2 ULTRA.

Of coiurse I am talking about 440/460 and not something that is on the motherboard.
 
I can vouch for VisionTek. I have a Geforce3 made by them and it was very stable and performed comparably to other GeForce3s.
 
Badabing said:
One is made by ATi, the other is made by VisionTek. I always go for ATi.

I'm no expert on any of this, but I think the two companies clock their cards differently.
Click to expand...


NOPE. Same clocks. ATI is very strick about clocks. Hurcules actually complained about this in their press release after they went under. Only thing they could do was offer better cooling for you to clock it higher yourself. Offcourse the situation is different with the X800 line as HIS currently has the fastest X800 XT PE card.

This is your salvation........you owe me your soul.

Scroll down and look under other features.

Clocked at 380/340(DDR) = 380/680 Effective = Stock 9800 PRO.
 
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