Just a cheap graphics card

[ima_from_America]

Looking for one PCI-e compatible, less than $100, can run HL2 with good framerate at low settings. Just need something I can use before I buy a new pc, as the GMA-950 has failed me numerous times.

[itszutak]

Just a second-There was one recommended to me not long ago, I'm gonna see if I can find it again.

[Terin]

The GeForce 6200LE is nice. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121249) I got it for $15 as it was on sale, and I get a good 30-50 FPS with everything on high, minus AA, at 800x600 with HL2.

[Darkness]

HD 3850 (http://www.directron.com/100226l.html) Should run high settings for you as long as you're willing to fork out cash for shipping

[itszutak]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725

I haven't used it myself, but the reviews seem to see it positively.

70$.

[Darkness]

The 3650 Is about the same as the 8600. so the extra 29$ is really worth it

[kenney001]

Save up an extra $75 and buy the HD4850...It will last you a very long time...

[Xetsuei]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102715

That.

[Hotrod]

Well, I'd suggest getting the 4850 as a longer-lasting card, but since you want something inexpensive, and won't be used for very long, I recommend (like the others have) the HD3850.

[flibitijibibo]

What Xetsuei said. My cousin has the same card and it does wonders for its price.

[Jelly]

If it's just going to be a stopgap between now and your future computer, spend not-very-much on something like an ATI X1800/X1950 now and save the rest of the money for a proper card when you get around to building.

[Amit]

Since you just need something to hold you over until you buy your next PC, just get the HD 4850 right now and add that to your next computer build. Or if you're buying a computer...see if you can request no videocard be put in it and slap in your own HD4850.

[Abdurahman]

What? If you want to run HL2 at the HIGHEST settings with 4xaa at like 50+fps, just get an 8600gt. No need to get a $100+ card if you're just going to play HL2 with it. You can get an 8600gt for around $60-70

[Xetsuei]

Once again,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102715

[Abdurahman]

HA!!! For 99.99 you would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO better off with the 8800GS! It is like 5 times better than the 3650 or 8600gt.

Get this. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332

Here is a review of that card http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/GeForce_8800_GS/

You will not be sorry.

The performance is close to, and in most of the benchmarks better than the 3870.
It is faster than the 3870x2 in CRYSIS! It gets 48fps on the highest DX9 settings at 1024x768. I really recomment the 8800gs.

[Xetsuei]

Thats $110, smart one.

[Abdurahman]

Yeah, subtract the rebate smart one. The 8800gs KILLS the 3850 and it still is $10 cheaper than the 3850 after you subtract both rebates. Considering the 8800gs is basically an underclocked 8800GT, and at 192 bit instead of 256 bit, it still is an equal card to the 3870, and BEATS the 3870 when overclocked. I say go with the 8800gs, cause its gonna be 79.99 after rebate.

[Xetsuei]

Yeah, one problem. When you mail in the rebate it usually takes upwards of 6 months to get that money back. There's really no point in it. Also, this isn't a permanent card. He shouldn't have to waste more money than he needs to for something he is only going to use temporarily.

[InnerGoat]

Yeah it's just a temp card, so i'll agree with xet. Even a 7900gt would be fine if you can find any for cheap.

[Abdurahman]

Yeah, W/E it's just a $10 difference for sooooooo much power. Eh, maybe he should get a cheaper 3650 or 8600gt. There are lots under $99, like maybe $79 without rebate?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725 3650 for 69.99? can run HL2 nicely?

Or this 8600GT for 69.99?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500013

I have the 8600gt, and it runs HL2-EP2 at max settings with 1280x1024 and 2xaa-4xaf at 50+ fps! Gaming on the cheap!

And Xet? I know what I'm talkin about too so don't call me a dumbass k? If he doesn't want a permanent card whats the point of a 3850? Spend $30 less and play nicely on a 8600gt.

[Xetsuei]

Because the 3850 was the best for his price range. No need to get so defensive. Besides, it's not really OMG SO MUCH MOAR POWER, it's more like barely beating it by 5 or 10 fps. :/

[Abdurahman]

w/e I just say get the 8600gt. No need to pay $30 more.

[Terin]

It's so great how he wants a cheap card that can hold him over, but we'll soon be urging him to get a 9800GTX or something. :v:

[Abdurahman]

Hehhehehe you're right. He should get a GTX280, and be done with it :p

[Hotrod]

If he should get anything, it's the 4850, or the 4870, best cards for the price. I mean, sure the GTX280 is good, but damn, it's so expensive. I mean, sure, the 8600gt is good, but not the best for the price.

[Amit]

And Xet? I know what I'm talkin about too so don't call me a dumbass k?

Chill the fuck out, he's also trying to give the Ameri kid the best choice as well.


Hehhehehe you're right. He should get a GTX280, and be done with it :p

This thread is nearing it's end so that would be an awesome choice. Seriously. Why spend ≤ $100 for a video card and toss it out in a few months? Just spend the money NOW and get the best you can for as cheap as you can get it.


If he should get anything, it's the 4850, or that 4870, best cards for the price.

This is advice is as good as you're gonna get. Right now, the only card the makes sense to buy at all is the HD 4850.

[Abdurahman]

I totally agree guys!

[Amit]

I totally agree guys!

It's great to hear that but somehow I think that we kind of forced you to agree. We want to convince you and make you believe it is the correct decision to make, not just have to say, "Yeah, that's the way to go," when you don't actually believe it. Is this true?

[Abdurahman]

No, It's really true. You know, I just kinda turned into a Nvidia fanboy after I had gotten my 8600gt, and stopped caring for ATI and stuff. The funny thing is, I had this X800GTO and I LOVED IT. If I still had that card I would have gone with ati all the way!

:bandwagon:

I totally think that the 38xx and 48xx are really good deals for the price.
:p

I love you guys! What would i do without the Modacity community!:awesome:

[Xetsuei]

Guys this is just a temporary card. If he were getting a permanent one, sure go ahead with the 48xx. But this is just a low budget temporary card, he doesn't need more than a 38xx.

[Abdurahman]

Yep, Xet's Right. Or if you want to go even cheaper get an 8600gt.

[Terin]

Nvidia hit the mark with the 8000 series, but then they kinda milked it in the 9000 series. ATI took the lead there. Now, Nvidia is trying to get back in place, but they're expensive with the current cards.

But Ameri Kid really needs to reply to the thread and say "I don't want a $150 card" or "Thanks, these look good" or something.

[alby]

@ Terin, Nvidia still has the lead for now, but when the 4870X2 comes out then ATI will be the leader.

@ America, for $100 you should get an ATI 3850.

[Warsaw]

nVidia has the lead in power, not price/performance. As such, they are using sales.

And I concur about the HD3850. It'll let you play HL2 on max settings, and still remain cheap. :-3

[Amit]

It's official, ATi has won the current GPU battle, but not the war.

[Mr Buckshot]

Used DX9c cards should be enough. Pre-owned 7600 GT's can be found for under $30 USD these days. Like you said, it's temporary, and the fact that you only have 512 MB of RAM and a 2.00 GHz Pentium 4 (the fact that it's a P4 is already not good news) will create a serious bottleneck for better cards.

[Hotrod]

Nvidia still has the lead for now, but when the 4870X2 comes out then ATI will be the leader.
The HD4870 X2 is already out, so that means that they are the leader.

[Warsaw]

Where? I've not seen it on the major sites yet...:confused:

[InnerGoat]

Its not out yet. Review samples only.

[alby]

The HD4870 X2 is already out, so that means that they are the leader.Yeah okay... :rolleyes: It comes out sometime in August though.

[Warsaw]

That's what I thought...I saw the preview samples and the release date was like, "wut..."

[Hotrod]

Well, I did see them up for sale at TigerDirect.ca, but now that I go back, they're not there anymore. Must have been a mistake that they made.

Trust me, get the HD4850, you'll love it. I just picked mine up yesterday, and it's a very nice little baby, runs all my games at full, no problems whatsoever.

[itszutak]

Well, I did see them up for sale at TigerDirect.ca, but now that I go back, they're not there anymore. Must have been a mistake that they made.

Trust me, get the HD4850, you'll love it. I just picked mine up yesterday, and it's a very nice little baby, runs all my games at full, no problems whatsoever.
Gonna hijack this for a sec.

Does that card work with PCI-e 1.0?

How's the heat with it? (Compared to a 350W card)

Will I need a special case to get rid of the heat?

What PSU will I need for it?

How does it run Crysis?

[Xetsuei]

Gonna hijack this for a sec.

Does that card work with PCI-e 1.0?
Yes
How's the heat with it? (Compared to a 350W card)
It can get pretty hot if you don't keep the fan speed up. The fan also can get pretty loud.
Will I need a special case to get rid of the heat?
Probably not, depends how good the airflow in your current case is.
What PSU will I need for it?
You should get a decent 500W+ Corsair/PC P&C/OCZ/Thermaltake PSU, I'm not exactly sure if it would run with your current 375W but it'd be better just to get a more powerful PSU anyways.
How does it run Crysis?
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/powercolor_hd4850/7.htm
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/visionhd4850/8.html
Pretty fucking well.

.

[Hotrod]

Does that card work with PCI-e 1.0?
Yes, though it won't work as fast.

How's the heat with it? (Compared to a 350W card)
It's really fucking hot, like 80 degrees Celsius, though I heard there's a patch or something, still trying to figure out how to make the fan run faster.

Will I need a special case to get rid of the heat?
It's better, but not needed. I don't have a special case.

What PSU will I need for it?
450 Watts, or 550 if you're planning to Crossfire. Make sure that it comes with a 6-pin connector.

How does it run Crysis?
I don't know myself, since I don't have Crysis, but I've heard that it runs it beautifully.
So yeah, it's an amazing card for the price, and I recommend it to anybody that asks.

[itszutak]

How bad of a problem is the heat? I want to know because my computer is under a desk and might not have the best of a cooling strategy- Once I get home (in a week) I'll post some pictures

[legionaire45]

Newer drivers have turned the fan speed up so the heat shouldn't be as much of a problem anymore. These cards are designed to handle temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius under load so you should be fine =P.

[Hotrod]

Exactly, the heat isn't really a problem, it's just that it's much hotter than any card I've ever had (Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro was my last card, so yeah...), but it would tell you if it's in danger of over-heating, so, if it doesn't tell you that, then you're fine.