Graphics Card Decision

[bleach]

I was kinda wondering which Graphics card i should buy. The Visiontek Radeon X1300 or the X1550 (PCI). I have the links:
X1300 PCI: http://visiontek.com/products/cards/retail/x1300_256pci.html

X1550 PCI:
http://visiontek.com/products/cards/retail/x1550_PCI.html

I need the new video card to upgrade to Windows Vista and to play Halo PC and Halo 2 Vista.

[kenney001]

neither would really run H2v. im on a Radeon x1950pro and it struggles.
Whats your price range? Also, do you have a PCI-E slot?

[Mr Buckshot]

He obviously lacks an AGP or PCI-e slot, otherwise he wouldn't be asking for PCI cards.

PCI-based video cards are not good for modern gaming at all because the PCI bus has too low of a speed. Heck, even modern INTEGRATED cards (Geforce 6150, Radeon X200/X1150) out-perform many PCI video cards except the best of the best PCI cards.

You can run Vista fairly well with either the X1300 or X1550, but don't expect to do much playable gaming, let alone H2V, which is a terrible port thanks to being overly demanding for so little. Even on my 7600 GT, I'm struggling to maintain 30 fps if I set the details to high (which don't look that great either).

[Syuusuke]

And what best of the best PCI cards are there =S

[Mr Buckshot]

the ones that are in the poll right now, plus the Geforce 6200.

[kenney001]

i personally would save your money, and get a new MB that supports PCI-E, and get a higher-end, because not only are those cards outdated now, but they will be even more in the enar future with more and more graphically intense games.

[Xetsuei]

Neither of them is better than the X700. So don't buy either.

[Mr Buckshot]

Do what kenney said. It may cost more and you'll have to save up a little longer, but it's more worthwhile than buying an overpriced crap-ass PCI video card.

Try to find a mobo with 16x PCI-e ports, that also supports whatever CPU and RAM you currently have installed. If you can transfer all your components except the video card to a new and better motherboard, including the hard drive and disc drive and whatnots, then you're good to go.

Then again, if you have a low amount of RAM and a low-end CPU, you might as well upgrade the entire thing.

[InnerGoat]

Yeah, don't buy either.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2098&page=5

That happens to be the PCIe version with more memory... which is superior to the PCI version in like, every way. :-3

[Teroh]

Both will fuck you over bigtime.

[legionaire45]

Save up money for a cheap motherboard with PCI-Express and buy a video card that doesn't blow chunks.

[bleach]

i have a dell dimension 1100...I don't really know much about computers and such, except for the basics. What mother board is there that has a PCI-E X16 Slot and has maybe a Pentium 4/AMD Athlon X2/Core Duo 2 and has a speed of 2.5 - 3.0 GHz and fits with the Dell Dimension 1100?

EDIT: And i would have to see if my dad is in a good mood during the summer to buy and swap Mobos and buy a new vid card.
I'm not rich either...something good at a price that is lower than 140$...good enough to run H2V.

[Mr Buckshot]

www.newegg.com

Motherboards almost never come with the CPU. You're looking for something that can FIT your current CPU, or the future CPU of your choice.

Most modern motherboards these days have PCI-express x16 slots - they are not difficult to find at all.

As for whether the mobo fits in your PC, you'll have to get out some measuring tape or a ruler.

[bleach]

Meh, I'll have to beg my dad. Also, i can't find one that is low priced, (at least Intel Core 2 Duo) and is 184 pins for the DDR RAM. I don't think there is a mobo that is good for the Dell Dimension 1100 and able to run Vista and H2V (at low - med specs).
They all have at least one PCI Express X16 Slot.

EDIT: Never mind, but will AMD Athlon X64 or x2 be better than the Intel Pentium 4? Can you please check this link? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138269

[Mr Buckshot]

amd > the old Intel pentium days.

Intel Core (2) Duo > amd

[bleach]

the new one i'm getting has the ATX AMD

[Amit]

Fuck man, you have to upgrade your whole PC. Sorry to start off liek that but you really are better off buying and customizing a new PC. First of all you PC case is kind of small, meant for business use, not gaming. You have a 250-Watt PSU, you need 420-Watts for a decent motherboard with a decent video card. You can probably keep your own ram if it's DD2 otherwise just shove it into some 3 year old pc you have. You need a bigger HDD. You absolutely need that DVD+/-RW Drive, you can't even get Vista or H2V unless you have one of those. There are other means but we will not talk about them here. Don't bother with a new LCD since you have a nice 19" one already. It would be murder to buy a new PC without a Core 2 Duo processor so don't skimp on that.

[Emmzee]

Get neither. The Voodoo2 (12 MB) is far better.

[Warsaw]

Intel 386 is far better than that Core 2 Duo crap, I don't know where you guys get your information from... :p

Seriously, I have to agree with Amit on this one.

[bleach]

i don't think my dad and mom parents will let me get another computer. They say gaming is bad...wtf...
so what computer should i get, if God gives me a miracle? cheap computer and doesn't blow shit.

[Warsaw]

Build it yourself. It's cheaper AND doesn't perform like a snail if you know what you are doing.

[bleach]

ya thanks. I already found a really good comp, selected the components myself. Made it the cheapest and best i could myself. :) Check my other thread...new computer.

[Amit]

Nice. Also, warsaw, I'm aware that the Intel 386 is better:rolleyes: but he wouldn't have the need or the money to spend on something that he doesn't need. All he wants is something t play H2V smoothly.(which is quite a bit)

[Warsaw]

Dude, the Intel 386 is a PRE-PENTIUM chip...one of the first chips using the x86 architecture...

AKA, it was a joke.


:XD:

[Amit]

LOL gotcha! I knew you would say that, I'm not some dumb idiot:lmao:

[Warsaw]

Bastage...nice one.

"ZOMG! +rep for malishuz intend!"

[bleach]

meh. I'm trying not to flame.:mad: I'm keeping my happy face on:D

[Warsaw]

Flame for what? This thread serve its purpose and is now moving on. As DTS once said, "Threads evolve."

[Amit]

Don't worry it's not for this thread, or any other thread. It's possibly towards an unusually divine being.