Graphics cards

[JonnyBoy]

I think it's finally time I replaced my PC's graphics card. The one I have is a 128Mb GeForce 4 MX440 that was pretty decent in 2003, but struggles to play GTA San Andreas even at 1024x768, 16-bit colour with all graphics options turned off/down.

The realisation of just how pants the old GF4 is came when I installed the game on a not-particularly-high-spec IBM laptop with ATi Mobility X300 64Mb graphics and it played smoothly at 1024x768 in glorious 32-bit colour with the default graphics options left alone.

Question is, on a budget of next to nothing (£40 tops - I'm a tight-fisted Yorkshireman after all!), what should I get to replace it? I'm fortunate in that my motherboard is an Asrock one that has both AGP and PCI-E graphics card slots, so I don't have to replace it to upgrade to a PCI-E card.

The rest of my system is as follows:
Athlon X2 3800+ CPU
Asrock 939 Dual-Sata mobo
512Mb PC3200 RAM
200Gb HDD

I don't need a monster of a card, just something that'll cope with games like GTA SA at 1280x1024, 32-bit colour and with the anti-aliasing and detail turned up. Trouble is, I don't know a good graphics card from a hole in my head these days. The model numbers all mean nothing to me!

This one caught my eye due to good reviews:
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119699

What do you reckon? Can anyone recommend alternatives? Would like to spend as little as poss, budget is £40 max but if I can get a decent card and spend less please tell me!

 

[jug]

in that price range, ATI x800 or x850 (XT versions if you can get one) PCIe

no matter what you need a 256bit memory interface, directx9.0 at least (or 9.0C if poss), and look for a decent memory transfer rate as thats a good clue of overall performance.

compare ati cards: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/131/1
compare nvidia cards: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/132/1

 

[JonnyBoy]

D'oh, I'm a numpty and stuck this in the wrong section, any mods want to move it?

 

[Hellcat]

x800 or x850 (XT versions if you can get one) PCIe

no matter what you need a 256bit memory interface, directx9.0 at least (or 9.0C if poss), and look for a decent memory transfer rate as thats a good clue of overall performance.

compare ati cards: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/131/1
compare nvidia cards: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/132/1

Yep. PCIe x800 or x850 are amazing value for money. If only the AGP versions were at the same price.

 

[jug]

Yep. PCIe x800 or x850 are amazing value for money. If only the AGP versions were at the same price.

AGP? its 2007, get with the times

 

[JonnyBoy]

Jug: Cheers!

Now I have some idea what to look for, until now I was basically aiming for 256Mb without using turbocache/hypermemory/other silly name for stealing system RAM

Can't find any X800/X850's on ebuyer, CCL or Dabs though. Are they out of production now?

 

[Hellcat]

RAM is not as important as clock speed these days. Plenty of 128mb cards are faster than 256 or even some huge 512mb monsters.

They're out of production so might have to make friends with ebay.

 

[JonnyBoy]

512mb X800 GTO: Worth a look?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-118-SP

Bit pricey (comes to £50 with P&P) but judging by those comparison pages it's a bit of a beast compared to the 7300.

 

[jug]

my mate had that exact same card not too long ago. its a great card for the money. you can play doom3 in ultra mode without killing the card, thats always a good sign.

 

[Stu DemonD]

I run an ATI X850XT PE 256MB AGP card - cracking card, got it 2nd hand off eBay last year.

BUT it is only 9.0, and has shader 2 only, so may struggle with some of the latest games. However, for my needs, it is great. Get one if you can.

PS - thread moved

 

[JonnyBoy]

Cheers Stu

The only XT's I could find were on the 'bay and out of my price range. That 800 should do the job though, should be a massive step up from the old GF4!

 

[Hellcat]

Looks about as fast as you can get for an AGP interface too.. well without paying BIG money for a X850 PE

Worth £50 to go from a XT softmod'd 9800 pro?

 

[jug]

Worth £50 to go from a XT softmod'd 9800 pro?

do you mean, is it worth paying £50 to upgrade to an 800XT/850XT, when you have a 9800pro currently?

if that is the question i'd say definately worth it, plus you can sell the 9800 so it wont cost you that much to upgrade.

 

[JonnyBoy]

Sorted. My X800GTO will be here tomorrow!

Getting it delivered to work as well so can go straight home and fit it

Cheers for your help everyone

 

[jug]

:woot:

dont be afraid to try silly resolutions, it can handle it :slayer:

 

[Hellcat]

:woot:

dont be afraid to try silly resolutions, it can handle it :slayer:

Your monitor may not though

Forgot to see if the x800 GTO has dual outputs.

 

[jug]

it has VGA + TV out + DVI

so you can go dual DVI

 

[JonnyBoy]

Heh, cool, will give it a go!

Monitor only goes to 1280x1024, but since the best I've ever managed to play games at so far is 1024x768 this should be something of a revelation

 

[Hellcat]

Oh that's PCI-E.. no use to me.

 

[thefishdude]

also i notic eyou only have 512 mb of ram that is low 1mb of ram would make a noticable difference