Upgrading Video Card

[Slade54]

Ok, i want to upgrade this computer (some of you must remember my post a few months ago)

But i just dont have the money, so now i just want to throw the best possible video card i can into it that it can actually take advantage of

Some of you might say just buy one piece at a time, so just buy a really good card now, and a new mobo later, etc...

But i alrdy know i wont have much money in the weeks...ok months to come

So i wanted to at least upgrade my video card so it can handle games better, but isnt really expensive (something under $100)

my computer

P3-500Mhz
128MB ram (i have a 256mb stick, my computer seems to have trouble using it)
voodoo3 3000 16mb
440bx motherboard
win98se

i just want a better card for now, then when i upgrade later, itll be a good spare card, or i will give it to a needy friend

I was thinking that something like a Geforce4MMX, they arent supposed to be good, but its cheap, and is better then my voodoo, right?

[BipolarBill]

Any GeForce beats that thing! :p

Your primary concern is what your current mobo can handle. I would suggest a GF2 GTS because they seem to work in every AGP board. They are available for <$50. Believe it or not, it performs as well as the GF4 MX!

http://queen.pricewatch.com/search/searchmc.idq?cr=gts&qc=%22GTS%22*+AND+%40totalcost%3E0+AND+%40ctd+37&i=37&ct=Computer&c=Video+Cards&mi=N&m=N&ne=7209&l=7163

Besides, your CPU is not able to use much more than ether of these. Another option is the ATi Radeon 7500.

[gibsinep]

I second everything Bill says,

:t

[Cee-W]

All in favor, the I's have it :)

GF2 GTS

[OpK Chowdy]

Ahh! The Geforce4MX series is a waste of money! Just get a Geforce2 GTS...if i were you i'd get a Radeon7500 AIW (they do have AIW of the 7500 don't they) for that nice TV thingie!

[gibsinep]

Yea the Geforce 2 GTS

[cheapster]

And yet another nod to the Geforce 2 GTS. It should match up well to the rest of your existing system. Should be able to find a 32 MB version for around $35 used, and will be a very nice upgrade from your Voodoo 3 3000. If you want to go a little better, try to run down a Geforce 3 Ti200 or original Geforce 3. Your CPU will bottleneck it somewhat, but it does offer a few features that the GTS doesn't. You should be able to find one for around $80 or so. Also consider upgrading your ram, with at least another 128 stick (since the 256 stick you have isn't playing nice with your motherboard). Heck, I think officemax had the Kingston Valueram PC-133 for about $13 after mir for a 128 MB stick last weekend.
:t

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Again, gf2 GTS would do the trick methinks :)

--Jakk:t

[sandeep]

Hello


Other do recomend a Geforce2gts But I would recomend a Geforce2ti.
The motherboard what you have will not support anything above a gf2.


The card you were planing to get the GF4MX will not work on your motherboard.

[OpK Chowdy]

oo i hate it when things aren't compatable with your mobo... i bought 2 kyro cards and neither worked in my old pcchips mobo. sucks to drive all the way to Fry's which is a 45min drive at the least...

anyway, get the best geforce2 then...that would be a geforce2ti! You're pretty much stuck with a gf2ti if you want to get the literal most out of your mobo. I change my vote from geforce2gts to geforce2ti. :D

[AllGamer]

why go for a GF2 when you can get a GF3 at the same price? :t :D

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by AllGamer
why go for a GF2 when you can get a GF3 at the same price? :t :D Where?

[AllGamer]

$69 - GeForce3 TI 200 64MB (fast)

$84 - GeForce2 Ultra 64MB (slow)

http://www.pricewatch.com/

[BipolarBill]

$15, when it's someone elses, seems small. When it's your $15, it's a little more dear.

If he can afford it, the GF3 Ti200 is a better buy, but the question remains as to whether:

1. It will work in his motherboard

2. He's going to see any real benefit with a 500MHz CPU.

[gibsinep]

Bill I think you mean $15. :p

[AllGamer]

if he goes for the Really Low end GeForce 2, then it's like $20 only

but i don't recomend it since the performance compared to a TNT2 is no much different :t

[BipolarBill]

Bill I think you mean $15. Nag!

[Bigjakkstaffa]

LOL :D

--Jakk:t

[gibsinep]

lol :p

[bubbalou32]

Similar situation

AMD K6-2 500 on
ECS P5SS-Me w/
192MB ram

MB has 8MB on-board AGP but no AGP socket. I want to upgrade the video to play less demanding 3d games.

Whats a good way to go without overtaxing the CPU or the wallet?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Well if you aint got AGP your limited to PCI really, in which case id suggest a gf4MX PCI card

..Just make sure its possible to disable the onboard AGP in the BIOS

--Jakk:t