Suggest a vid card plz (what works good for you?)

Hey, I'm in the market for a new video card. I just updated my systems after about 3 years, and I need suggestions for a decent, but not grossly expensive vid card. My M.B. is a Intel DG35EC w/ a Core 2 dual processor. The card needs to be a PCIe 2.0 card, and I want to stay in the under $75.00 range if possible... any help would be appreciated!

Comments

  • There haven't been videocards under $75 since 1999 or so. "decent" is anywhere from $150 to $220 now, and that can get you a videocard that will probably last 2 years if you don't mind going without anti-aliasing.

    [edit]

    http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/02/16/s3-crams-displayport-hdmi-and-dvi-onto-70-chrome-540-gtx/

    ^^^ that is the sort of trash you get for under $100. I would not actually trust that card to even be better than onboard video.
  • Hey, I'm in the market for a new video card. I just updated my systems after about 3 years, and I need suggestions for a decent, but not grossly expensive vid card. My M.B. is a Intel DG35EC w/ a Core 2 dual processor. The card needs to be a PCIe 2.0 card, and I want to stay in the under $75.00 range if possible... any help would be appreciated!

    Well, what is the purpose of this card?
    Do you want this to be a full on replacement of your current card?
    How long do you want it to last?
    What graphics settings do you feel comfortable playing on?
    What is your monitor resolution?
    Do you plan on upgrading your monitor anytime soon?
    What is your Power Supply's total wattage?
    What is your Power Supply's 12v Rail AMP?
    How big is your case? (Yes, some cards are massive nowadays, welcome to the future, where bigger is better!)

    I'll get back to you once you've answered those to an adequate level. Be honest, be forthcoming, and don't slouch. If you say you'll have no problem playing on low settings, accept that you'll definitely be on low settings with a $75 card with future games (ie long term vs short term purchase).
  • I run a 8800gts 320mb (oc'd to 600 core, 900 mem) in the same motherboard as the op's. Runs great, isn't as taxing on the psu as a full 8800 (or 9800 or higher card) is. I got it used for $40 and traded the guy a dvdrom. If it's good but used, don't turn your nose up on it. Newer cards like the 9800 have a narrower memory channel than the 320 and 768 mb 8800s, so they really don't improve performance much. The mem channel bandwidth is as much a determiner of performance as core speed and how many cores is. Sometimes older is better. Now if you can find a 280 for $75, jump on it.
  • Well, what is the purpose of this card?
    ...the M.B. has onboard video thats fine with T2 at max video options, but I thought I would see if it improved with a graphics card. I dont know much about graphics stuff like anti-aliasing, and some of the graphics settings shown in T2, etc...I have been thru the settings just to see what changed for the better.
    Do you want this to be a full on replacement of your current card?
    ...No current card, using onboard graphics
    How long do you want it to last?
    Uh, If you mean 'till my system gets a new upgrade again, that can be 3-4 years on average. I have never had a vid card quit on me...
    What graphics settings do you feel comfortable playing on?
    My monitor is set on 1440x900 @ 80 htrz its a 23' LCD
    What is your monitor resolution?
    Do you plan on upgrading your monitor anytime soon?
    Nope, just did a upgrade on all the systems in the house.
    What is your Power Supply's total wattage?
    500w figured I might need more rather than less...
    What is your Power Supply's 12v Rail AMP?
    Where do I find that info?
    How big is your case? (Yes, some cards are massive nowadays, welcome to the future, where bigger is better!)
    Case is plenty big...funny, I've had the sames cases for years now, I just gut them occasionally and get new Mobo, drives, power supply, etc.
  • Shadowex, do your research before you go spouting.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161262

    Suggesting a card that can't even pull more than 25fps in cod4 of all games? Why don't you do YOUR research.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162028

    9800gt for $90 after a rebate. It's false economics to pay $75 for a videocard that can't play ANYTHING right now when you can pay a little more and be good for several years.
  • hey 45,

    that 9800GT will play T2 just fine.
  • Hey, When I first played tribes 4 1/2 yrs ago on phone line I had a Nvidia 64 card pc had 512 mb mem, my next pc on DSL had a Nvidia 256 card w pc having 1 gig mem, now have 512 mb ATI Radeon 4550 with pc having 2 gigs of mem/Intel Dual Core 3gig processor and I honestly have NOT noticed that much difference in game play or effects. You'll be good with any quality 256 or more card.
  • How do you figure out all this info? I have a gateway computer running vista.
  • Shadowex, do your research before you go spouting.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161262

    Suggesting a card that can't even pull more than 25fps in cod4 of all games? Why don't you do YOUR research.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162028

    9800gt for $90 after a rebate. It's false economics to pay $75 for a videocard that can't play ANYTHING right now when you can pay a little more and be good for several years.

    lol, it'd pull more than 25 fps on regular settings. And who the fuck cares about CoD4 ? He wanted a graphics card thats under $75 and will play Tribes. The 4650 will do perfectly fine.
  • edited February 2009
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

    Great card for the price, I owned one for awhile and made some nice videos outta it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/Kaige64

    Videos made with that card.

    Honestly , don't go with the 9800 if you go nvidia go with a 8800. The 9800 is trash. And im sure all these numbers probably don't mean much to ya. Its ok, we got your back. I prefer ATI myself but thats another story.
  • Ati has antialiasing issues with t2, and may cause other oddities in the game. And yeah the 9800 is a slight core improvement to the 8800 series, but lacks the wider memory bus, thusly the similar or even reduced performance.
  • I never had a problem when I had a x1900 before I got my 9800 GT.
  • I never had any issues running T2 with my ATI card. 4870 right now and it runs fine at 1920x1200 easy.
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