So many cards, don't know what to buy

RLT65 · 12-07-2002, 08:53 PM

Radeon 7000,8500,9000, Gforce4MX, Gforce3Ti etc.??? I have a duron 850, 256mb and voodoo3 3000agp. I want to spend $100 or less on a card that works decent for todays games & maybe would get me by another year or two. I mainly play castle wolfenstein & the voodoo is not cutting it. I am sure alot of people out there are also unsure what card to buy, so maybe this thread can answer others questions on the topic too.

Thanks, RT

BipolarBill · 12-07-2002, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RLT65
I am sure alot of people out there are also unsure what card to buy, so maybe this thread can answer others questions on the topic too.

Nope - we all have ours. Neener-neener-neener!

Pick yourself up a GeForce 3 (non-MX) or an ATi 8500LE. That'll hold ya!

Giblet Plus! · 12-07-2002, 09:47 PM

Bill's suggestions are good. If you want to go even cheaper, the Radeon 9000 will work fine.

omega31 · 12-07-2002, 09:58 PM

... What Bill said.

Aznmask · 12-07-2002, 10:13 PM

for a video card around $100 you should ignore the Radeon 7500 & Geforce Mx series. First thing you should do is go to Princewatch.com and check out Radeon 8500 or 9000 or Geforce 3 or Geforce 4 (but geforce4 ti is over $100+)..

RLT65 · 12-07-2002, 10:23 PM

OK, thanks, now I know where to start. I only have a duron 850 so I need all the help I can get.

Brian48 · 12-10-2002, 01:01 PM

True, a GF3 or R8500/R8500LE would be a good choice, but I wince when I look at your CPU. Any chance you spend just a little extra and get yourself a new CPU? The faster Durons or slower XP's are actually very cheap right now. You might have enough left over from your video card purchase to make the stretch.

AllGamer · 12-10-2002, 01:44 PM

I totally Agree with Aznmask, and Brian48

upgrading just the Video will not do you much good, if the CPU ain't fast enough

Anything Below 1Ghz is a bit under powered, thus, BottleNecking the Video power

now if you have no choice, or cash at all

then just get a new Video as Aznmask said, and that will help improve your game s a hell lot

Bigjakkstaffa · 12-10-2002, 02:16 PM

upgrade the CPU if possible, if you can then get a gf4 ti or Radeon 8500, if not get the gf3 ti200

--Jakk

Brian48 · 12-10-2002, 03:53 PM

ATI RADEON 8500LE 64MB OEM = $72 (free shipping)

1.3ghz Duron OEM = $42 (free shipping)

Total costs = $112 over newegg.com.

You can probably sell both your old 850 and V3 on eBay or the message boards to cover the difference.

RamonGTP · 12-10-2002, 05:19 PM

I'd go for the 8500/8500LE... More powerfull than the GF3's for the most part, and a GF4Ti will be way more than what your CPU can handle.

GrowingSlowly · 12-10-2002, 07:49 PM

I'm no expert but I did buy a PNY GeForce Ti 4200 with 64 M DDR at CompUSA last week. It listed at $150 but had an instant rebate of $20 and a mail in rebate of $30. It took a while to get it up and running (I had some device conflicts), but now it works like a champ.

It may be a bit much for your Duron though.

omega31 · 12-10-2002, 07:54 PM

I was using a Geforce3 ti200 in my p3 750 for most of this year, until I built a system with an Athlon XP 1600+. Get a good card, as discussed here, and when you upgrade, take the vid card out and pop it in the new system.