Good Graphics Card

Published on January 13, 2006 By Patriots In Personal Computing

hey all, I'm looking for a better graphics card...any thoughts?

Comments (Page 3)

kona0197

on Jan 14, 2006

Po' I have a brand new 256mb dimm chip for you, never used. I'll have to check what else I have

Thought you just said you don't have any DDR 2700 sticks.

Patriots

on Jan 14, 2006

never heard them called that...I have some more if your interested.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

PoSmedley

on Jan 14, 2006

I just found out my graphics card (Intergrated Via/S3G UniChrome IGP) doesn't support the WB5 per pixel stuff...so I need to know of an inexpensive one that will.

yrag

on Jan 14, 2006

Patriots: You had it right: PC-2700 Double Data Rate (DDR)

Po' Smedley: With that onboard, I hesitate to ask, but what motherboard is that? If the computer is a brand name, what is it and what model number?

PoSmedley

on Jan 14, 2006

Motherboard Description Mb manufacturer name: ASUS A7V8X-LA

HP name: Kelut-GL6E
CPU Socket A

AMD Athlon XP

Core frequency up to Athlon XP 3200+
Chipset VIA KM400A

VIA VT8237
Front Side Bus (FSB) 400 / 333 / 266 MHz
Memory 2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets

Support up to maximum 2 GB memory (PC manufacturer's maximum memory may differ)

Supports unbuffered PC2700/2100 non-ECC DDR SDRAM memory
Expansion Slots Three PCI slots

One AGP 8x/4x (1.5V)
Storage Two UltraDMA 100 IDE connectors

Two Serial ATA connectors
Integrated Graphics VIA UniChrome graphics

The older PC has an Nvidia in it but it's going bad...lines on the screen. I got this one after my surgery cause I knew I;d be home (but not for 8 months and counting..ugh) and got what I could afford considering I wasn't going to be working. But I keep entering the Alienware Contests when they run...hoping.

One of the reasons I settled for this was that it was VERY upgradable...but I never thought it would be so lacking, being so new. Just got it back in May.

yrag

on Jan 14, 2006

Well, for starters....you can get any graphics card and it will be better then that onboard w/ that board (the board is a good one, as are the other specs). As a guess as to what other hardware is in that (and if you're not planning on updating the whole computer anytime soon), I would get a 5700/6600 nVidia or any ATI 9000 series. If you look around (and can find them), you can get them dirt cheap.

yrag

on Jan 14, 2006

But I keep entering the Alienware Contests when they run...hoping.

Keep trying...

but I never thought it would be so lacking, being so new. Just got it back in May.

The only downside to this machine is the 256 memory and the graphic card...change them and I think you'll be quite satisfied

PoSmedley

on Jan 14, 2006

It's not bad for what it cost and all. Not much extras...CD-Rw/DVD drive and five ports for USB, flash and stuff that I nevr use. I put an extra hard drive in the open slot you might put a DVD-RW. It's easily upgradable which is why I settled for it. (The wife and I ...I had my eye on something else....you know how it goes

)

I'll look around for those cards. I've seen some when I was window shopping as it were, but most are out of my range under the circumstances. Thansk for all the help, and looking over the info I posted. You all are the best.

scorpio-logic

on Jan 14, 2006

I use an XFX geForce 5500, here's what I paid: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?MfrId=1439&Nav=|c:318|&Sort=3&Recs=10

I jsut asked in your thread, PO, what your northbridge is, but ignore that; I see it's a KM400A. But I left a link you may find helpful, for 4 in 1 drivers.

PoSmedley

on Jan 15, 2006

But I left a link you may find helpful, for 4 in 1 drivers.

I checked it out but I don't know enough to know if I can use them...which one..or if it'll help with the not seeing perpixel problem.

kona0197

on Jan 15, 2006

Patriots: if you have any PC-2700 Double Data Rate memory let me know.

PoSmedley

on Jan 15, 2006

Based on what I posted in #35..can anyone tell me specifically which 'model' graphics card I would need. I don't know much about the slots and what fits and all. If you need more info, let me know. I currently have 256MB shared memory which I am hoping to increase

I would get a 5700/6600 nVidia or any ATI 9000 series.

I have been searching the web for these locally, but there are quite a few 'versions' in those series. Just want what will allow what I need for WB5 (I'm not a gamer and I don't do anything terribly demanding on my PC) and relatively inexpensive.

Corky_O

on Jan 15, 2006

One AGP 8x/4x (1.5V)

This is the slot you want (usually dark brown on top of the three white PCI slots).

If you go with the ATI card, then I would suggest the 9800 Pro version for the 9000 series, or go with the X700 Pro if you can afford $200.

For the 9800 Pro version, you can either pick-up an ATI card, or one made by another manufacturer with the 9800 chipset. The other manufacturers usually use the "Pro" naming also. Some other manufacturers = ASUS, PowerColor, MSI, Gigabyte. I would opt for either an ATI card, or an ASUS card here.

I have not used nVidia, but I do know they make the chipsets only - so you will be looking for a card manufactured with their 5700 or 6600 chipset. Some manufacturers = ASUS, BFG, eVGA, MSI.

Hopefully someone will chime in on the better manufacturers using nVidia chipsets.

Off-hand, I think you are looking at about $90 - $200 depending on which chipset you choose, and whether you find a deal or not.

PoSmedley

on Jan 15, 2006

Here is what I am finding and looking at....
ATI Radeon® 9550 Video Card (100-437105) 69.99...256mb AGP

EVGA e-GeForce 6200 Graphics Card (256A8N341DX) 99.99
ECC 256A8N341DX
• 256MB DDR memory
• AGP 8X interface
• 350MHz GPU

Diamond Stealth ATI Radeon 9250 AGP 128MB Graphics Card 69.99

I see some cheaper, but they are only 64MB, though they support 3d graphics..I'm assuming there is a minimum of MB I want to go with. I think I understand that what I have is 64MB that it draws from my RAM, since it is an intergrated graphics card? Do I need more MB in a card I purchase to get what I want (WB5 capability)? Is there that big of a difference between 64, 128, 356 as far as the graphics card go?

Apreciate the help. I think this will be the last annoying question.

Corky_O

on Jan 15, 2006

The ATI 9550, or the EVGA 6200 would both be decent cards.

I would steer clear of the Radeon 9250 for the simple fact that it is becoming obsolescent.

The 64 MB shared RAM for the integrated graphics means that the chipset allows up to 64 MB of RAM to be utilized by the graphics adapter (usually 48 MB RAM are dedicated to the adapter, with the balance available). This means that the RAM comes from your physical RAM sticks, and therefore reduces the system RAM available for the OS and applications, which will force use of the page file (virtual memory) sooner.

Minimum suggested memory on the new video card would be 128 MB, with 256 being the option to take if you can afford it.

There is a thread around somewhere in which people have posted their video cards, drivers, and compatability with WB5.

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