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n00b graphics question

S

starhawk

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
8,908
OK, I admit I rarely if ever pay any attention to graphics cards -- integrated generally does what I need, mostly because Corel is more CPU than GPU (at least what I have is, namely CorelDRAW X3) and 90% of my games require DOSBox to run on anything newer than XP ;)

Someone here on [H] up and gave me an XFX 8800GT "Alpha Dog Edition" with 512mb VRAM. The one system I have that can even RUN that card is down because the CPU upgrade I was going to do got a case of the sniffles and died on me. (I've got a replacement CPU on the way.)

In the meantime I'm hearing all kinds of horror stories about the 8*** series of cards from nVIDIA -- something about bad power regulators on the cards or something that almost bankrupted the company? Has me worried that my card might not work. Wouldn't bother me, except that the box this is going into has a super-weak integrated GPU (seriously, it's outperformed by a Dell OEM X300 card I have...) and the compy is destined for a friend who will be using it well.

In the event that the card is deceased -- what is a good equivalent? I can spend up to $30 at absolute most right now. Since that's in Paypal money, I'd prefer to either get it here on [H] or at eBay.
 
I wouldn't even worry about it, especially if you got it for free. That card was legendary in it's day and can still probably play most games with decent performance, depending on settings and resolution. You probably aren't going to find a better card for $30 used. For $30 I would buy a 8800GT or maybe a 4850/4870. It's going to be hard to find better performance for the dollar than those cards. Take a look here in the buy/sell forum or watch your local Craigslist, as these cards pop up almost daily in bigger cities.
 
As someone who has two defective 8800GT cards (which came from two different users with different hardware specs) sitting just ten feet from him, I think it's fair to say that there is something indeed wrong with the 8800GT cards. The closest equivalent to the 8800GT would be the HD 4850 512MB IIRC. New, the GT 440 is supposedly equivalent to the 8800GT.
 
Danny, how much is the HD4850 you mention going for right now, roughly speaking?

Source for the info I heard was my local tech shop. I'm friends with the owner and he's the only person I know who can make me sound computer retarded with ease.

TBH, this is going into a computer for my mother, who will be using it every evening for streaming video. I know it's overkill, and I *want* overkill -- Mom's current system has a Mount Washington D525 board in it, courtesy of Intel. She's okay with the size increase (the new system is a beefed-up Compaq SR2173WM) but I really want her to have a graphics card that won't even come close to breaking a sweat playing videos at whatever resolution MSNBC wants to shove down the pipe.
 
Ok, what you want doesn't make sense. Since your mom isn't gaming, I see zero reason to go for a 8800GT equivalent should that 8800GT die. Any video card circa 2010 and newer will be able to handle HD flash content with little issue. IN addition, streaming performance is also based on the internet connection as well.

But to answer your question anyway, I saw the HD 4850 for as low as $35 awhile back here on our FS/FT subforum.
 
OK, Danny, thank you for calling me on massive overkill.

Could you point me to some card model #s that would fit what I need? I want something that is NOT low profile or super low power, and I have a (very) mild preference for ATi over nVIDIA (reason below). Please remember that my knowledge of graphics cards is basically "monitor plug goes here", so I really don't know a thing at this point other than what slot I'm working with (PCIe). Again, I really do want at least a little overkill for this, Mom's desktop has been one disaster after another and I want this thing to be as bulletproof as I can get it within a small budget.

Reason for ATi over nVIDIA -- Mom is making noises about being willing to consider a move to Linux (from XP), and I'm quite familiar (user-level, not dev-level) with Puppy. Trouble is, two of the four newest mainline Puppies have issues with nVIDIA cards... something about buggy drivers is all I know. Those are Wary Puppy 5.5 and Racy Puppy 5.5. If she ever needs/wants to use one... she's gonna need to have a non-nVIDIA card. I don't know if these hints will go anywhere, but I do want to see what I can do if that happens.

Right-After-The-Submit-Button-EDIT: I do know that the XFX card I have now is nVIDIA. Slacko Puppy 5.5 and Precise Puppy 5.5 are unaffected, and I'll likely be giving her Slacko anyways, so it's not necessarily a huge thing, it's just... if the card is dead, then I have an opportunity to maybe do something a little different, should I want to, and that is an opportunity I don't want to miss.
 
Sorry to bump this, but I'd like some suggested card models. I'm sorry, but I just don't know enough to do it myself.

I can spend up to $20.
 
Not to complain, but...

The HD 5470 and 6470 appear to be laptop integrated chipsets, and the 48xx cards are nearly double my budget. I guess I don't need the same performance as an 8800gt, but I do want a card that will play videos all night without really even being stressed.
 
Err I meant HD 5450 and HD 6450.

EDIT: You know what you can do? Actually look in the FS/FT subforum Or eBay for cards that actually cost $20. Then post about said card here to see if it can handle HD playback.
 
I put HD5450's in the office desktops. They run 3 monitors, don't draw power, and have no fan.

IIRC, there is a AMD mobo chipset with integrated graphics that interfaces with the 5450 to enhance combined performance.

I think I pay about $20 for them.

And yes, AMD supports Linux. nVidia wishes Linux would just disappear.
 
I'm looking at these three right now --

ASUS HD3450 -- Fanless -- 256MB DDR2 VRAM -- $15.00 (Free Shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321098018614

Diamond HD4350 -- With Fan -- 512MB DDR2 VRAM -- $19.95 ($5.00 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130878971046

Sapphire HD4550 -- Fanless -- 512MB DDR3 VRAM -- $20.00 ($7.76 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181111933627

Which is the best for me? I realize that two of the cards are over my budget, but it's not an ultrafirm budget. I can go a little higher if I need to... but only a little.
 
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The last two cards are just too overpriced since the newer HD 5450 costs $30. The HD 3450 might be ok unless you are watching higher end HD video.
 
Quinsp, I'll get the card at your link, if it's still there when I find out whether or not the card I have works. If the link is bad, I'm sure --at this point-- I can find something similar.

Mods can close, thanks for everybody's help!
 
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