Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

[iamthekiller]

I must keep all video settings at "low" in order to have smooth gameply - and even sometimes it still does hiccup. My motherboard does not support Pci-e. Here are my current system specifications:

Pentium 4 2.4GHz
1.0GB Kingston DDR 333 (PC 2700)
Radeon 9600XT 128MB
Generic Asound Pro CMI8738 PCI sound card
Antec TruePower2.0 380Watt ATX12V power supply

If I stick with this motherboard, I'm thinking of getting the 6600GT 128MB - would I be able to use high video settings with this card? Are there any other AGP cards that would give me nice "high" video results?

If I go with a PCI-e motherboard, what mobo and video card would you suggest? I'm looking to spend $150 max on a video card, and $100 max on a motherboard if I were to do this.

thanks!

[scorer_uk]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

A 6600GT is a good card, had one for a while with no complaints. Try and go for a 256Mb if possible. Motherboard wise go for a nforce chipset.

[_SilentXScope_]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

you will not be able to go high with that video card and 1 gig or PC2700. you need atleast two gigs of Pc3200 or 1 more gig of 2700. An X1600 Pro is an alternative to the GT. It perfrorms a little better for the price and its good for high settings. (providing that you have 2 gigs of ram)

I think the GT should be good for high settings but maybe textures to medium because of memory size onthe card.

X1600 Pro 256MB AGP

His Hightech http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161003

Sapphire http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102666

Buy whatever you like, whatever you feel comfortable with.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

x800xl also offers good price/performance, w/no need to upgrade MOBO. x800xt is better still (16 pixel pipelines versus 12, and MUCH faster core and memory clock speeds), but is more expensive.

oh...wait. this xl has 16 pipes... you'll have to get one of the real tweaks on the forum to tell you whether or not the four-pipe difference between the x1600 and the x800xl would make a big difference, given that they have the same memory speed, but the x1600 has a faster core clock. (o/c'ing can get you alot out of the xl).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814241010

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161003

gee, and the only x800xt i could find in stock (newegg and tigerdirect) was an AIW edition. i have it; it's a super card if you like doing more with your pc than gaming--but it is $299. uggh. i didn't pay that much for it last year when i bought it!

the only problem with the x800xl is that the x800's are already getting to be a "legacy card" (albeit with a 500mhz core and 1080mhz memory in the xt). it doesn't support shader model three--which means you don't get to turn HDR on in Oblivion... Still a middling screamer of a card, but the "eye candy" is beginning to leave it behind.

but i'm rambling...too much coffee...

best of luck...

[iamthekiller]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

X1600 Pro 256MB AGP

His Hightech http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161003

do you use this card? if so, is it quiet? the amount of noise is important to me. the box advertises being less than 20dB, but I'm not sure how that even compares to my current 9600. I may wind up getting this card and another 1GB of my current memory - $126 after rebate + the cost of more memory isn't bad

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

just one more suggestion:

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505R&CMP=OTC-Froogle&ATT=SAPPHIRE+100106SR-RD+Radeon+X850XT+256MB+GDDR3+PCI+Express+x16+Video+Card

here is a really good video card, refurbished, for $158. Yes, you would need a new MOBO (it's pci-e), but a fresh MOBO and a great graphics card for ~$250 is still a great deal.

Take a hard look at the x1600pro before you buy it: the x1600pro has 12 pixel pipelines, a 500/800mhz core/memory clock, and the memory interface is 128bit. The x850xt has 16 pixel pipelines, 520/1080mhz core/memory clock, and twice the memory bandwidth (256bit). AND they both support shader model 3. (HDR in Oblivion, if that matters to ya')

the agp version of the x850xt card (same specs) sells for $390-590.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=x850xt+agp&btnG=Search+Froogle

you might get a decent gaming experience from the x1600pro. but it is a low/medium end current video card, and it is not going to knock your socks off like a top-of-line last generation (six-eight months ago) card from either ATI or nVidia would.

[WildLegba]

Re: Please recommend a new video card and possibly motherboard

Before suggesting options I would love to hear more about your priorities, budget, etc.

The reason is that if you are a dyed in the wool gamer, you're going to want to migrate from AGP to PCI-E sooner rather than later. If that is the case, I would argue for dumping the mobo now and replacing it, and even considering moving over to AMD while you are at it. If you are an occasional gamer then AGP should be serviceable for a couple more years (Max, at best I would say).

At a certain point it is actually cheaper to just part out your system and start from scratch. Right now you could put together a semi-killer AMD-based system for $1000, provided you reuse some components that you currently have like your PS, case, and soundcard.

If I were you I would spring for a EVGA mobo, an AMD 3500 Venice, and a 7800GT, but that is just me. I would scoop up the 7800GT off eBay as folks upgrade to the 7900 series. There are already some deals there to be had.