• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Need some help selecting a video card

S

starhawk

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Oct 4, 2004
Messages
8,908
I have an eMachines minitower that is soon to recieve a new PCChips motherboard courtesy of Catsonar.

However, I also want to upgrade my video card from the integrated one in my current computer to one that will fit my new board.

The motherboard has an AGP 4x slot, and I want a card with at least 128MB of RAM and support for DirectX 9.0, as I do not want to upgrade more than once for quite some time if I do not have to.


I don't play first-person shooters (yet...) as my reflexes are a joke and I like strategy games, so I don't need like a $450 wonder card or anything. In fact, I can spend a maximum of $50 on this card.

What is the best choice? Should I get a crap card now and wait until I have the $$ for one that is worth $100 or so? Is there a board that cheap that will do what I want?

Edit: the mobo will come with a video card, but it is old and I do not want to use it for any longer than absolutely necessary.
 
$50... a 9550...

I don't suggest you go for the 9600 series... the 9600 series is a joke and spending an extra 50 dollars on a 9600pro is like tossing money away, besides I don't know for sure but I have an inkling that the 9550 will be about equal to a 9600np.

~Adam
 
yea 9550 might be a little higher then 50 but it's worth it.

i've gotten some sweet overclocks on my friends 9550. almost 200mhz on the core with stock heatsink and fan!!!
 
my bank account has $90 in it.
i have $50 coming to me but i do not know when.

i am buying a mobo and (very) temp. graphics card from catsonar for $30.
i had planned on getting a $30 psu for a different comp but i will have to put that off (sorry crimandevil) i kinda hate to do that but i cannot afford to get it and the graphics card. getting a comp i already have working well takes priority over the mac se mod.

if i have to i can go with a directx 8.* card but i do not want to, because i will inevitably have to upgrade. if i get a directx 9 card then i won't have to upgrade for quite some time unless i get into fps's... when i will be selling my current comp to build a new one.
 
CleanSlate said:
$50... a 9550...

I don't suggest you go for the 9600 series... the 9600 series is a joke and spending an extra 50 dollars on a 9600pro is like tossing money away, besides I don't know for sure but I have an inkling that the 9550 will be about equal to a 9600np.

~Adam
Click to expand...

Why would you say the 9600 series isn't worth it? They overclock like a sonofagun.
 
:rolleyes: i'll answer that one.

i don't overclock. i have enough problems with my comps falling apart as it is, i can't afford any more cuz of the stress.
 
lopoetve said:
Why would you say the 9600 series isn't worth it? They overclock like a sonofagun.
Click to expand...

The 9550 is an underclocked 9600np, the 9550 will equally OC with a 9600np on gpu core clock because it is basically the same card renamed and maybe with slower memory.

Don't confuse the 9550 with the 9500 series they are two different things, the 9500 performs much better than the 9550, name game with ATi.

~Adam
 
The 9600 series is fine, especially the 9600 Pro and XT, and newegg.com has them for about $100, which is a good deal. Anybody who says otherwise is on the crack pipe.

I wouldn't get a video card cheaper than ~$100, you are really just getting a total turd for much less than that.
 
CastleBravo said:
The 9600 series is fine, especially the 9600 Pro and XT, and newegg.com has them for about $100, which is a good deal. Anybody who says otherwise is on the crack pipe.

I wouldn't get a video card cheaper than ~$100, you are really just getting a total turd for much less than that.
Click to expand...

This kid's sitation (he doesn't and probably won't play fps games) requires that he goes with a 9550, IMO. $50 dollars more for a 9600p?? Never, why would you upgrade from Crap to crap for 50 dollars? They're both crap.

~Adam
 
CleanSlate said:
This kid's sitation (he doesn't and probably won't play fps games) requires that he goes with a 9550, IMO. $50 dollars more for a 9600p?? Never, why would you upgrade from Crap to crap for 50 dollars? They're both crap.

~Adam
Click to expand...

hmmm... i am thinking of acquiring a copy of ut2k3 so as to have a chance of actually being able to shoot something in a pc game and have it impact w/in 3mi of the intended target... you do *not* want to hear my max score in ut2k3 (a+ cert prof let us use it once to test the comps we built) suffice to say that "abysmal" sort of begins to describe it.

that is the most i am likely to put on for quite some time, by the time i am ready to upgrade again (i.e. have the $$$ to), doom 4 will almost certainly be out.
 
starhawk said:
hmmm... i am thinking of acquiring a copy of ut2k3 so as to have a chance of actually being able to shoot something in a pc game and have it impact w/in 3mi of the intended target... you do *not* want to hear my max score in ut2k3 (a+ cert prof let us use it once to test the comps we built) suffice to say that "abysmal" sort of begins to describe it.

that is the most i am likely to put on for quite some time, by the time i am ready to upgrade again (i.e. have the $$$ to), doom 4 will almost certainly be out.
Click to expand...

5 years?
 
CleanSlate said:
This kid's sitation (he doesn't and probably won't play fps games) requires that he goes with a 9550, IMO. $50 dollars more for a 9600p?? Never, why would you upgrade from Crap to crap for 50 dollars? They're both crap.

~Adam
Click to expand...

Um, because one is alot crappier than the other, tough guy? Try reading the benchmarks, it might give you a clue. :rolleyes:

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-12.html

Since a 9550 is an under-clocked 9600np, a 9600 Pro is going to be about 50% faster.
 
What's 50% faster than 30fps? 45.

He'll be in 640by480 or 800by600 anyhow "tough guy", he'll be relying on his cpu to do the job, not the gfx card :rolleyes: .

~Adam
 
CleanSlate said:
He'll be in 640by480 or 800by600 anyhow "tough guy", he'll be relying on his cpu to do the job, not the gfx card :rolleyes: .

~Adam
Click to expand...

(1) actually, i prefer 1024x768 most of the time
(2) my proc is a 2.5ghz celeron, so i better *not* be relying on my cpu!!! >_< that would be horrendous.
 
starhawk said:
(1) actually, i prefer 1024x768 most of the time
(2) my proc is a 2.5ghz celeron, so i better *not* be relying on my cpu!!! >_< that would be horrendous.
Click to expand...

Well then you better spend the extra money then, otherwise it's cpu city.

~Adam
 
i don't have any extra money!!! after i pay for the new mobo i will have $60.80 to my name... i am getting $50 but i have no idea when, and i like to leave a $40 cushion at the minimum.
 
I think you will be fine with a 9550, the 9600np gets 40 some odd fps average in C&C generals in 1024by768 and what ever u play can't be worse than that.

~Adam
 
starhawk said:
I have an eMachines minitower that is soon to recieve a new PCChips motherboard courtesy of Catsonar.

However, I also want to upgrade my video card from the integrated one in my current computer to one that will fit my new board.

The motherboard has an AGP 4x slot, and I want a card with at least 128MB of RAM and support for DirectX 9.0, as I do not want to upgrade more than once for quite some time if I do not have to.


I don't play first-person shooters (yet...) as my reflexes are a joke and I like strategy games, so I don't need like a $450 wonder card or anything. In fact, I can spend a maximum of $50 on this card.

What is the best choice? Should I get a crap card now and wait until I have the $$ for one that is worth $100 or so? Is there a board that cheap that will do what I want?

Edit: the mobo will come with a video card, but it is old and I do not want to use it for any longer than absolutely necessary.
Click to expand...
I hope this is ok.I apologize if it aint. I have an FX 5700 ultra that is less than 1 year old. I upgraded my 2 systems recently. It is a good card. It handled Doom 3 well. My son used it on his rig to play starcraft, diablo and other such role games and it had no trouble. My daughter used it for Sims and the like. If you would like to work out some kinda deal just let me know. It does require a molex for extra fan power. Have a nice day. :D
 
you should have a reply. i an notorious for screwing up so if no reply let me know again.
:D
 
magoo said:
you should have a reply. i an notorious for screwing up so if no reply let me know again.
:D
Click to expand...

OOO, OOO, OOOOO!!! I KNOW!!! ALEX!!! THINGS I DON'T WANT A SELLER TO TELL ME RIGHT BEFORE I BUY HIS OLD GFX CARD??

GG

~Adam
 
time to go to bed, adam... that was a lousy one... and i really do not care.
 
*not funny*

i stockpile bad puns and horrendous jokes, the kind that ought to be illegal, they are so bad. any future failed attempts at humor will be met with a flurry of my awful jokes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top