Cheapest graphics card...

[PBAsydney]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

Radeon X300, what i have, its really cheap and it runs BF2 fine at medium settings.

[Skeptic-Chief]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

it is possible to play with a 9200 SE (AGP only) but you have to tweak the settings a little. I wouldn't recomment it, because it looks like crap and can stutter sometimes. I agree that a 6600 GT would be good.

The 9200 SE or other models of it's kind (9200, 9200Pro, etc) would not run the game to acceptable levels. That line is the cheapo line....and cannot keep up with this game, much like the 9000 cards. Not worth the money that it's bought with.

The mid-range and top-range models will do you fine in the area of video cards. Remember, the CPU/Ram/FSB and overall quality of the parts bought (don't buy name-brands that no one has ever heard of)....including the video card's performance, will determine the overall performance of the computer!

Mid Range models:
ATI
ATI9600 Chipset cards (last generation)
ATI9800 Chipset cards (last generation)
ATI X600 Chipset Cards (current generation)
ATI X800 Chipset Cards (current generation)

Nvidia
5700 Chipset Cards (last generation)
5900 Chipset Cards (last generation)
6600 Chipset Cards (current generation)
6800 Chipset Cards (current generation)

Here and coming very soon:
ATI X1000 chipset cards
Nvidia 7800 chipset cards

All the above mentioned cards will have small, various extra stuff added to them (Ultra, Pro, GT, 5950, etc). Those 'extras' determine performance within a range that includes the chipsets mentioned above. For example, "Ultra" might consist of higher clock speeds for the ram and VPU on the grapics card. It doesn't mean the card without the "Ultra" is a cheapo card....it just means it can't perform as many fps (frames per second) as the "Ultra" model can (in some cases).

Stay clear of the x300's, the 6200's, the 5200's, and the 9200's/9000's. These cards are 3d performers, but not on the level that these games perform. They WILL run the game, but 7 out of 10 gamers will find the running of the game unacceptable.

And this concludes today's lesson.

[Crashlander]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

Yeah wot he said :)

[phen0m]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

i got my fx 5200 for free :) but thats cuz i knew the person who was selling ...but i suggest u should go for a 6600 gt or something like that...bf2 needs a powerful video card but under my system specs and a lot of optmizing i can run bf2 okay at medium textures and medium effects and about 80% visiblity but i keep it that high since im a sniper but if ur looking on the low end...73% is enuff

I dont believe this. When I had to send my ATI x850 XT PE back in to NewEgg to get a new one I used a FX 5200 with everything on the lowest setting (1024x768) and visibility on 100 and it lagged to high hell. Was unplayable with any kind of effect like an explosion. There is absolutely no way you can run Medium settings. I call Shenanigans.

[wbcninjaofmist]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

I dont believe this. When I had to send my ATI x850 XT PE back in to NewEgg to get a new one I used a FX 5200 with everything on the lowest setting (1024x768) and visibility on 100 and it lagged to high hell. Was unplayable with any kind of effect like an explosion. There is absolutely no way you can run Medium settings. I call Shenanigans.

before i gave a friend my 9800pro he had a 5200. Could only play on everything low settings , view distance 50% no aa. so i agree with ya on that ^^ i highly doubt anything was set on medium. Actually I love the visuals im getting but when he played it on that 5200 I couldnt belive how much of an advantage he would have over me or other players who have high settings on. For example - I lay in the grass and blades of grass are everywhere and i think im concealed ..... NOPE not if hes running that 5200 with all settings on low theres no grass and I stick out like a turd in the punch bowl.

[Koof]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

I'm running BF2 on a 9200.

[Super Six Three]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

The 9200 SE or other models of it's kind (9200, 9200Pro, etc) would not run the game to acceptable levels. That line is the cheapo line....and cannot keep up with this game, much like the 9000 cards. Not worth the money that it's bought with.

The mid-range and top-range models will do you fine in the area of video cards. Remember, the CPU/Ram/FSB and overall quality of the parts bought (don't buy name-brands that no one has ever heard of)....including the video card's performance, will determine the overall performance of the computer!

Mid Range models:
ATI
ATI9600 Chipset cards (last generation)
ATI9800 Chipset cards (last generation)
ATI X600 Chipset Cards (current generation)
ATI X800 Chipset Cards (current generation)

Nvidia
5700 Chipset Cards (last generation)
5900 Chipset Cards (last generation)
6600 Chipset Cards (current generation)
6800 Chipset Cards (current generation)

Here and coming very soon:
ATI X1000 chipset cards
Nvidia 7800 chipset cards

All the above mentioned cards will have small, various extra stuff added to them (Ultra, Pro, GT, 5950, etc). Those 'extras' determine performance within a range that includes the chipsets mentioned above. For example, "Ultra" might consist of higher clock speeds for the ram and VPU on the grapics card. It doesn't mean the card without the "Ultra" is a cheapo card....it just means it can't perform as many fps (frames per second) as the "Ultra" model can (in some cases).

Stay clear of the x300's, the 6200's, the 5200's, and the 9200's/9000's. These cards are 3d performers, but not on the level that these games perform. They WILL run the game, but 7 out of 10 gamers will find the running of the game unacceptable.

And this concludes today's lesson.

Boring!!! Do a fun lesson!

[FireKingX]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

I have a 6600GT 128MB and can run everything at high except textures(medium) with 1152*something res and 2xQ AA + 4xAF pretty good.

Never goes below 30FPS.

[Dethshoot1]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

What's the cheapest graphics card that will play BF2?

Visiontek Xtasy 9250. I got it for $70 and I can run it with textures high, geomotry high, effects medium, and texture filtering medium. Lighting Low, and Dynamic lighting Low, and everything else off. Oh yea terrain low. You need to lower the AGP settings to 4x so it can work.

[Ligan]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

i got my fx 5200 for free :) but thats cuz i knew the person who was selling ...but i suggest u should go for a 6600 gt or something like that...bf2 needs a powerful video card but under my system specs and a lot of optmizing i can run bf2 okay at medium textures and medium effects and about 80% visiblity but i keep it that high since im a sniper but if ur looking on the low end...73% is enuff

I have a 6600GT and it runs BF2 on med/hi settings with aa and 1152x864 res

[GameWizard]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

The cheapest video card that will run BF2 decently I would recommend an Nvidia Gerforce 6200. It will run the game usually at all Medium settings, depending on the rest of your specs.

The card usually goes for about $70-110.

[DakotaDoc64]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

before i gave a friend my 9800pro he had a 5200. Could only play on everything low settings , view distance 50% no aa. so i agree with ya on that ^^ i highly doubt anything was set on medium. Actually I love the visuals im getting but when he played it on that 5200 I couldnt belive how much of an advantage he would have over me or other players who have high settings on. For example - I lay in the grass and blades of grass are everywhere and i think im concealed ..... NOPE not if hes running that 5200 with all settings on low theres no grass and I stick out like a turd in the punch bowl.

Yes I agree, there is something to this. You can't hide in the shadows verses someone running everything on low. There are no shadows. Weeds are broken up. I just enjoy the visual of High/Med settings. I used to run Med and some low and I could see the advantages those players have.

It is almost a cheat in a way.

There are a couple people in our group that play with an FX5200 and one with an ATI 8500 on all low settings and play with no problems.

There is even one with an FX5200 PCI card (not PCI-E) and 512 mem. Can't believe it plays great but she still gets acceptabl scores. She has an e-Machine that has no AGP slot. And no it does not have PCI-E. I could not believe it.

[Karl]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

Iv just bought a 7800 GT , should get it on monday

[Big2firzX]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

Nvidia geforce 5500

[Blak_Phoenix]

Re: Cheapest graphics card...

I have an Radeon 9550 256MB and it can run BF2 with some settings on med and view length on 100%.