Need a cheap *1.5v* AGP graphics card. Reccomend?

[Mike Barnard]

Hi.

I've just bought a couple of cheap ASRock K7VT4A+ Mobo's to get some
older hardware running again. BUT, I've discovered (in time
thankfully) that they won't allow 3,3v cards without causing damage.

Guess what. The cards I have are some variation of the Rage128 series
which run at... <fx fanfare> 3.3v. Sigh.

Now I HAVE to buy a couple of graphics cards to ensure I haven't
wasted the money from the mobo's! ARGGGGHHHHH! My fault for not
checking, I know.

So, my wonderful knowalls. Whats a CHEAP but not crap **1.5v** card?
I'm working my way up the Dabs list of cards from the bottom but it
takes AGES to refer back to the makers each time and dig out the
voltage.

Thanks.

 

[kony]

Hi.

I've just bought a couple of cheap ASRock K7VT4A+ Mobo's to get some
older hardware running again. BUT, I've discovered (in time
thankfully) that they won't allow 3,3v cards without causing damage.

Guess what. The cards I have are some variation of the Rage128 series
which run at... <fx fanfare> 3.3v. Sigh.

Now I HAVE to buy a couple of graphics cards to ensure I haven't
wasted the money from the mobo's! ARGGGGHHHHH! My fault for not
checking, I know.

So, my wonderful knowalls. Whats a CHEAP but not crap **1.5v** card?
I'm working my way up the Dabs list of cards from the bottom but it
takes AGES to refer back to the makers each time and dig out the
voltage.

Thanks.

In the video card world, cheap=crap
It is crappiness that makes a card cheap. Even when gaming
performance doesn't matter, there's still 2D quality that
commands a higher price - enter Matrox.

IMO, either find a used card somewhere or a Radeon 7000,
something like that "made by ATI" which in a lower-end card
can potentially mean better output filtering components for
a better analog output. I find it hard to swallow ATI's
drivers for a low end card though, prefer nVidias but the
cheap nVidia cards seldom seem to have very good analog
output, though anything newer than Geforce2/MX/4 MX is a
little better. Another potentially cheap alternative is an
ATI 128 _PRO_.

On the other hand, having just bought them you might
consider seeing if returning them is cost-effective. Even
if there is a restocking fee it might be cheaper to do so
then buy boards with integrated video, depending on what
your definition of "crap" is, which can't be too strict or
demanding else you wouldn't have been planning the ATI 128
cards... which are fine for 2D but don't have anything
particularly redeeming about them. Even in a server a
better choice would be the older, less power hungry and
cooler running Rage XL series. Unfortunately they too are
3.3V only, unless ATI has tweaked them since inital
offerings as they are still on some server boards as a
discreet integrated solution, IIRC.

Anyway with some searching the Radeon 7000 can be found for
around $15 & up.
http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=FG&item=31547
but you could find nForce2 IGP boards for around $45,
http://store.yahoo.com/uricom-com/msik7mnfsppa1.html

 

[Mike Barnard]

Hi Kony and thanks.

In the video card world, cheap=crap

All other worlds, too.

It is crappiness that makes a card cheap. Even when gaming
performance doesn't matter, there's still 2D quality that
commands a higher price - enter Matrox.

Gaming not relevant for these boxes.

IMO, either find a used card somewhere or a Radeon 7000,

Good point, I'm off to browse uk.adverts.computer!

something like that "made by ATI" which in a lower-end card
can potentially mean better output filtering components for
a better analog output. I find it hard to swallow ATI's
drivers for a low end card though, prefer nVidias but the
cheap nVidia cards seldom seem to have very good analog
output, though anything newer than Geforce2/MX/4 MX is a
little better. Another potentially cheap alternative is an
ATI 128 _PRO_.

On the other hand, having just bought them you might
consider seeing if returning them is cost-effective. Even

On my list of things to do today.

if there is a restocking fee it might be cheaper to do so
then buy boards with integrated video, depending on what
your definition of "crap" is, which can't be too strict or
demanding else you wouldn't have been planning the ATI 128
cards... which are fine for 2D but don't have anything

Already had them hanging around. Just thought it'd be good to get all
the bits I have and use them rather than junk them.

particularly redeeming about them. Even in a server a
better choice would be the older, less power hungry and
cooler running Rage XL series. Unfortunately they too are
3.3V only, unless ATI has tweaked them since inital
offerings as they are still on some server boards as a
discreet integrated solution, IIRC.

Anyway with some searching the Radeon 7000 can be found for
around $15 & up.
http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=FG&item=31547

This link doesn't respond for me this morning.

but you could find nForce2 IGP boards for around $45,
http://store.yahoo.com/uricom-com/msik7mnfsppa1.html

Too much, the whole systems won't be worth much.

Thanks for some useful input. Have a good day.