Video Card for the computer illiterate

[Toksik1]

Okay, here's the problem. I am completely, and utterly, technology illiterate. I know nothing of the inner workings of a computer. It would really help if someone told me a good video card for a good price, without telling me all this gibber-gabber about benchmarks and cooling fans.

Sorry for being so harsh, but it helps to be blunt when you are asking this kind of stuff. :bombfuse:

[Natoksane]

Radeon X800XL

Great price for a mid-range card.

[KilZo]

A great bang-for-your-buck GPU is the GeForce 6600GT, very affordable.

[Zombawa]

If the Radeon 9800 PRO (256) is any cheaper than the above, I reccommend it. I can play any game at good graphical settings, even with my processor bottlenecking (or slowing down) the card. I got mine for about 300 bucks, but that was a while ago and it should have dropped a bit by now.

[Toksik1]

Thanks for the help.

[bu11eTJuNkiE]

All of those are great mid range cards. Im just gonna say make sure you have a fast processor. This computer has a P4 1.8GHz and 768mb ram and radeon 9800pro. Because of the processor speed it kill my performance.

Seriously, people have told me that they can reach near high settings in bf2 with a 9800pro. I have to run everything on low though :(

I just ordered a new pc Friday, so it should be arriving soon though. :biggthump

[Zombawa]

I can play it on maximum settings with my 9800. Though I play it with shadows to medium settings for online gaming to ensure no lagging at all.

[bu11eTJuNkiE]

People have told me that the shadows look not different on high. And the performance really gets bad.

[Toksik1]

All of those are great mid range cards. Im just gonna say make sure you have a fast processor. This computer has a P4 1.8GHz and 768mb ram and radeon 9800pro. Because of the processor speed it kill my performance.

Seriously, people have told me that they can reach near high settings in bf2 with a 9800pro. I have to run everything on low though :(

I just ordered a new pc Friday, so it should be arriving soon though. :biggthump

I have no idea what my processor is. :(

[Vars]

I have no idea what my processor is. :(

You can check it by going to your control panel -> performance/maintenance -> basic information about your computer, assuming you have XP...

My computer is pretty mid to low range now. I have a Radeon 9600, 256 MB. $76 at newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102320). My processor is 2.0 GHz and runs games like HL2, Doom 3 and Far Cry fine on medium. Too bad no BF2 for me, runs pretty poorly. :(

[John Clabo]

Nice to see some help given out to the needy :D

Good work guys.

[claypidgeon]

Roger that I have a Radeon 9700 Pro 128 MB and I have no trouble running anything and cranking it up pretty good!

2.4GHz P4 HyperThreaded ... Cheers!

[BioRebel]

I say find a 6800 series card.

[KilZo]

I've got a 6600GT 128, 1gb dual channel pc3800 (because of overclock), AMD Athlon 64 3000+ overclocked to 2.2ghz (essentially a 3500+).

All of my BF2 settings are on high, including dynamic shading or whatever its called and I'm always at 60fps.

[D3TON8R]

6600GT

No further questions you honour.....

[Natoksane]

7800 GT. 6800 is past its prime and a waste of money. You can get a 7800 GT for around the same price I believe. It is 400.

[KilZo]

There is no way the 7800gtx is cheaper than the 6800gt...

[Natoksane]

I said 7800 GT. Do your homework.

[D3TON8R]

I said 7800 GT. Do your homework.

Oh it's on.......

Give it time, they'll drop in price severely in the next few months.....it's called price on demand.....

[Natoksane]

GTX is fairly expensive. But they even dropped about 50 dollars since release. the GT starts at 400 I believe.

[D3TON8R]

And like i say, they'll drop again. They'll also drop when ATi finally gets closer to releasing it's equivalent. nVidia will have won tonnes of sales by then.....

[Natoksane]

Yeah. I believe the ATI card will be a monster though. Have you seen the thread I posted with the specs on their newer, yet cheaper ones coming out? They have higher clock speeds than Nvidias top ones.

[D3TON8R]

No, haven't yet, but i shall look and see! Good work!

[Natoksane]

Yeah. I don't remember where I put it actually. Just advance search my name and you'll find the thread. Tell me what ya think.

[CUatTHEFINISH]

I agree with what bu11eTJuNkiE said ealier

It really depends on what games you play, I find that CS is a CPU hog and this ATI AIW X800XT (first and prolly last ATI video card for me) is worthless when my CPU can't handel the game.

So if you're gonna go big, the processor has to go with it.

[noobman]

Depends on your pricerange dude.

I got a 6600GT... good for current games but it's low bandwidth will struggle for next-gen games.

It's about $225CDN rite now...

... if you're looking for more performance... the next best card ur gonna get is the GeForce 6800 (normal) or X800XL

The X800XL performs better but doesn't have SM3.0 or 32bit FPP for HDR rendering (sorry bout techy crap) meaning you won't be able to run games like Unreal 3 with the fanciest effects turned on (although the X800XL might score you a higher resolution or smooter framerate).

Above that the 6800GT is the next best buy, and beyond that it's the 7800GTX

[TheTaxidermist]

I'm cheap. I won't spend more then 200 dollars for a video card. 9800 fit right into my budge :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:. I'm so cool... someone hand me a blanket.

[Sam Raven]

Some good info here. Good job guys.

[Natoksane]

I highly recommend a EVGA 7800 GTX KO

Best card on the market. You wont be let down.

[Spaztik_Ferret]

I just did a custom build, AMD 64 X2 4200+ Runs at 2.2Ghz, 2Gb Dual channel RAM, and a XFX 7800 GTX..........................what is lag? All BF2 settings on high. Although im about to turn off shadows because its hard to shoot mofos in them. Go top dollar on your video card Toksik, you wont be disappointed.

[Celeron Gamer]

I would recommend BFG 6800OC if there is any still existing, they're less than $200US (around $180), and they have 12-pipes, and could be flashed to 16. Which is mostly the same as a ASUS V9999GT 128MB. My friend clocked his 6800OC at 400/900 16/6 broke 10,0003dmark03 score then died :D

Most videocard these days lack vertex shaders. So you may have bad performance with shadows, and if you disable it. You can turn on 4XAA, and 4XAF, and would still have better fps.

If you're cheap get the 6800OC, if you're rich get a 7800GTX. Many games are based on shading these days that it murders your cards. Like F.E.A.R, it eaten my friend's X850XT-PE alive.

[Xires]

Okay, here's the problem. I am completely, and utterly, technology illiterate. I know nothing of the inner workings of a computer. It would really help if someone told me a good video card for a good price, without telling me all this gibber-gabber about benchmarks and cooling fans.

Sorry for being so harsh, but it helps to be blunt when you are asking this kind of stuff. :bombfuse:
Radeon 9200SE, extremely good card. I'll sell it for $250.

:hihi:

[noobman]

Radeon 9200SE, extremely good card. I'll sell it for $250.

:hihi:
Pfft... I've got this groundbreaking new card... from an up-and-coming company called "3DFX"... the "Voodoo" as they call it. Boy, does that baby pack a punch. Street value is $750, but I'll give it to you for a mere $400, since I've got an extra one. 3Dfx people... remember that name. They're gonna be big =D :)