Good graphics card - £80/$150 Max!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul
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Paul

Hi,
Looking for a new card to put in my system. Must have good TV-Out and good
performance in games. I'm on a tight budget so £80/$150 is my absolute
limit!

ATI or nVIDIA, i don't really mind


Thanks!
Paul

Athlon XP 2500+
512MB PC3200 RAM
 
Unless having DX9 compatablilty is really important for you, I'd be looking
at a Radeon 8500 64Mb or 128Mb. The 9100, 8500 AIWand the 8500LE are all
good choices too, just clocked a hair slower. You'll pay more for an AIW
too. Avoid the 9000,9200 or 9600SE. They're all slower than the 8500/9100's
.. Ebay UK has several 8500 auctions up right now in the 10 to 30 quid range.
I bought a 128Mb 9100 for 28 quid and I'm very happy with it.
 
DX9 compatability is pretty important really as I want to be able to play
the latest games in all their glory,
Any more ideas?
 
About the only DX9 card you're going to be getting for that money is an
FX5200 or a 9200SE or 9600SE. DX9 games will be a slideshow on these. If you
want the ability to actually play DX9 games, you should be looking at a
straight 9600 or an FX5600. Of these two, the 9600 is by far the better
choice. Any DX8 card will play DX9 games after the systems been upgraded to
DX9, it'll just run with the DX9 bells and whistles disabled. Still look
good in DX8 IMHO.
 
Paul said:
DX9 compatability is pretty important really as I want to be able to play
the latest games in all their glory,
Any more ideas?
Click to expand...
How about ramping up the budget, if you wish a card that is equiped to
play all coming games well..you better show a bit more squidies!

Think... 9600 Pro and alike, those cards are the begin of what you
need! Though a nice 9800 Pro...mmm...
 
Thanks guys I think i'll have to spend that little bit extra on a 9600.

Whats the difference between a normal 9600, 9600XT and a 9600 Pro?
 
Augustus said:
About the only DX9 card you're going to be getting for that money is an
FX5200 or a 9200SE
Click to expand...

DirectX 9 acceleration on ATI boards begins with the 9500--the 9200 is a
DirectX 8.1 board.
 
Paul said:
Thanks guys I think i'll have to spend that little bit extra on a 9600.

Whats the difference between a normal 9600, 9600XT and a 9600 Pro?
Click to expand...

9600 offers good performance
9600 pro offers better performance
9600 xt is a slight revision but offers slightly better performance
then the 9600 pro

You don't need to buy a 9600XT, a 9600 Pro gives performance close to
it and runs games very fine!
 
Dark Avenger said:
"Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message

9600 offers good performance
9600 pro offers better performance
9600 xt is a slight revision but offers slightly better performance
then the 9600 pro

You don't need to buy a 9600XT, a 9600 Pro gives performance close to
it and runs games very fine!
Click to expand...

Sapphire do `Fireblade` versions of the XT`s that are clocked even higher
than standard XT`s. For a little bit more dosh of course.
 
Thanks guys decided to go for a Pro 9600. Is there an overclocking utility i
can use to squeeze some extra performance out of it when it arrives?
 
Paul said:
Hi,
Looking for a new card to put in my system. Must have good TV-Out
and good performance in games. I'm on a tight budget so £80/$150 is
my absolute limit!

ATI or nVIDIA, i don't really mind
Click to expand...

Komplett had Radeon 9600Pro's for £80 the other day, but their website is
down (http://www.komplett.co.uk) so I can't check if they are still doing
them.
 
Paul said:
Hi,
Looking for a new card to put in my system. Must have good TV-Out and
good performance in games. I'm on a tight budget so £80/$150 is my
absolute limit!

ATI or nVIDIA, i don't really mind


Thanks!
Paul

Athlon XP 2500+
512MB PC3200 RAM
Click to expand...

My advice would be to swallow the extra £12 over your stated maximum and get
a http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=7951 Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB,
£92.83 including VAT

-JB
 
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