Graphic Card Recommendation

[Grinder]

I'm trying to pep up a friend's PC. It is:

Mobo: Intel Easton D815EEA
Proc: Pentium III, 733 MHz
RAM: 128 Mb
HD: plenty
Video: Integrated
Audio: Creative PCI 16

There is an AGP slot on the board, so I'm guessing that I might see some
improvement with a new video card. Budget is a consideration.

If it seems reasonable to blow less than $100 on a new card, can you
recommend which card to buy? Thanks.

 

[kony]

I'm trying to pep up a friend's PC. It is:

Mobo: Intel Easton D815EEA
Proc: Pentium III, 733 MHz
RAM: 128 Mb
HD: plenty
Video: Integrated
Audio: Creative PCI 16

There is an AGP slot on the board, so I'm guessing that I might see some
improvement with a new video card. Budget is a consideration.

If it seems reasonable to blow less than $100 on a new card, can you
recommend which card to buy? Thanks.

What is primary need for new card, most demanding video usage?

If you're just wanting better gaming, consider a Geforce 3 TI200,
or any other DX8 or higher card, perhaps a Radeon 9600 (no
mention of budget was made). For only 2D work, consider a
Maxtrox 400 or higher. We don't know what the power supply is
like so you'll have to judge whether it can support what you
might add.

 

[S.Heenan]

I'm trying to pep up a friend's PC. It is:

Mobo: Intel Easton D815EEA
Proc: Pentium III, 733 MHz
RAM: 128 Mb
HD: plenty
Video: Integrated
Audio: Creative PCI 16

There is an AGP slot on the board, so I'm guessing that I might see some
improvement with a new video card. Budget is a consideration.

If it seems reasonable to blow less than $100 on a new card, can you
recommend which card to buy? Thanks.

The ATI9000 is a decent general purpose graphics card and the price is
right.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-386&depa=1

 

[Max]

Sounds like you can upgrade that RAM too. It sounds like maybe you're using
133Mhz RAM that's really cheap... plug a 128MB in there or switch out for a
256 or two.

I've seen that RAM for free after rebate. Under $30 otherwise.

-Max

 

[JK]

More ram will help the most. Add a 256 meg stick. A new video card won't
help that much, since the processor is so slow. You might be able to
get an okay used one cheap.

 

[kony]

perhaps a Radeon 9600 (no
mention of budget was made)...

What I meant here, was that although you did write "less than
$100", it's not too cost-effective to buy (up to $100) video card
for that box. An idea of future viability of the card, if it
might be reused in next system or if a specific use warrants
higher than $5 budget, could be helpful in determining if it's
worth spending up to $100, or the real budget would be aiming
towards (anything, any old AGP card) as cheap as possible, which
could be $5 on ebay for a card same age or older than rest of
system.

 

[Mac Cool]

Mobo: Intel Easton D815EEA
Proc: Pentium III, 733 MHz
RAM: 128 Mb
HD: plenty
Video: Integrated
Audio: Creative PCI 16

There is an AGP slot on the board, so I'm guessing that I might see
some improvement with a new video card. Budget is a consideration.

Improvement in what? I think the suggestion of a Geforce3 Ti card is a
good match for that system. I used to have one. They are a little loud,
but offer good performance. Don't pay more than $30 shipped.

A Geforce4 Ti card is another alternative, should be able to get one for
about $50 shipped. There are lots of them around from people upgrading.

Don't waste money on an MX card unless it's really cheap, either of the
above are faster, better choices.

 

[Grinder]

What I meant here, was that although you did write "less than
$100", it's not too cost-effective to buy (up to $100) video card
for that box. An idea of future viability of the card, if it
might be reused in next system or if a specific use warrants
higher than $5 budget, could be helpful in determining if it's
worth spending up to $100, or the real budget would be aiming
towards (anything, any old AGP card) as cheap as possible, which
could be $5 on ebay for a card same age or older than rest of
system.

There's little hope that the card will be recycled into a new machine --
$50 seems like a reasonable target, as I will likely have to replace the
power supply as well. (It only has a 200W supply.)

 

[Grinder]

What I meant here, was that although you did write "less than
$100", it's not too cost-effective to buy (up to $100) video card
for that box. An idea of future viability of the card, if it
might be reused in next system or if a specific use warrants
higher than $5 budget, could be helpful in determining if it's
worth spending up to $100, or the real budget would be aiming
towards (anything, any old AGP card) as cheap as possible, which
could be $5 on ebay for a card same age or older than rest of
system.

Oh, almost forgot. Principal use of the machine is web browsing and
other light-duty stuff. I would like to increase the PC's gaming
potential if possible. (Three kids in the house 16 and under.)

 

[kony]

Oh, almost forgot. Principal use of the machine is web browsing and
other light-duty stuff. I would like to increase the PC's gaming
potential if possible. (Three kids in the house 16 and under.)

I'd probably go with the Radeon 9600 then, and a Sparkle 300W
PSU... if it's not mATX that is. General idea here is that the
ATI card would have better performance and image quality at it's
price point, but preferribly a DirectX 8 or higher card will have
hardware T&L, which will reduce some of the load from the already
slower CPU. Another poster already mentioned that a memory
upgrade might help too.

 

[Grinder]

I'd probably go with the Radeon 9600 then, and a Sparkle 300W
PSU... if it's not mATX that is. General idea here is that the
ATI card would have better performance and image quality at it's
price point, but preferribly a DirectX 8 or higher card will have
hardware T&L, which will reduce some of the load from the already
slower CPU. Another poster already mentioned that a memory
upgrade might help too.

Thanks everyone for the input.