Suggestions

[gta_player5]

Well recently I've been wanting to get a good online game for my PC. The problem is that my current graphics is, well not the best. I'd like to know what you guys think would be a good graphics card to buy. I'm currently willing to spend about $150, $200 the highest.

 

The specs of my computer are here:

 

Specs

 

Any suggestions will be accepted, reviewed, and appreciated.

 

Thanks

[MegaVovaN]

I recommend you to buy stuff from the net, for example, newegg.com

First, buy 2nd stick of 512 mb ram (PC2700/DDR333)

Second, for $200 you can buy quite good card for AGP.

 

Oblivous optoin is nVidia 6600GT, but I recommend you to get a lil more cash and buy 6800GT for AGP slot. There's also 6800GS, but I don't know much about them.

Edited February 23, 2006 by MegaVovaN

[Bond996]

Definetly pick up another stick of 512mb RAM for like $40-50 on newegg, and then I would advise getting a 6800GS if you can on the remaining money. Its about on par with a 6800GT, and the plain 6800 isn't really worth it over a 6600GT. So 6800GS > 6600GT.

[Wolf68k]

Why not...I third the idea of getting another stick of RAM.

As for the GFX; you didn't say waht games you want to play. But I think a 6600 non-GT will work just fine.

The 6800GS AGP is great but to be honest I don't see much of a point in getting it when you need to get RAM at the same time. The card is $210 at newegg before shipping.

 

A 6600GT is faster than the 6600 but to get one within your budget will cost you half the VRam.

 

Now by a huge surprise to me you can get an ATI X1600 256MB for $130 (-$10 mail-in rebate). Even more surprisingly this is also the card I would suggest. It's got about the same clock speeds but with 4 more pixel pipelines than the 6600GT. And if I remember correctly the X1xxx series from ATI supports Shader Model 3.0, where as all of the GF6xxx series does as well.

 

Now if you'd perfer nVidia then I'd say save your money and get the 6600. Then save up and get a new rig and make sure it has a PCI-E16x slot.

If you don't think you can save up enough for that, that it'll take you forever to do that. Then save up a few more dollars and get the 6800GS and then save up the $30-50 for a new stick of RAM.