Best Budget Card

[Blinkme323]

What is the best card under $85. Don't say to spend more becuase I am on a very strict budget. The games I will be playing are Doom 3, HL2, and Halo. I don't care if it is used or refurbished. I was thinking a 9500np L-shaped memory or a 9600 pro. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, I would appreciate it if you could post a link to where I could buy it at that price. Thanks.

 

[imverygifted]

thats a little tight budget for doom3, hl2 and stuff but if you can get your hands on a 6200 agp that would be the best- you can mod it to a 6600 pretty easily. you can find 'em around 120 bucks new

 

[Blinkme323]

I found one for 103. But my budget is $85. I might be able to put out a few extra dollars if I can sell my old card for a decent amount. Would the 6200 really out perform a 9600pro.

 

[bcoupland]

There's a regular leadtek 6600 at newegg right now for $109. It would be a great card for that amount of money and should run all of the games that you mentioned fine.

 

[imverygifted]

get that 6600 for 109 bucks they overclock well too

 

[CHfan4ever]

Save a bit and get that 6600.It really worth it. easily 2x better than the 9600pro...if not more.

 

[Blinkme323]

There is no way I am paying for a 6600. I am going to get a new pc in a year that is pcie. Do you know where I can find a used or refurbished 6200.

 

[CHfan4ever]

ebay?

 

[Sweeper]

R9550 128MB 128-bit

Nice overclockers !!!!!!!!!!!

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=45&threadid=1539000

 

[happy medium]

Offer this guy 85$ I'm sure he'll take it
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=45&threadid=1534368&enterthread=y

 

[Malak]

Budget cards are $200. For less than $100, you are getting straight trash. You won't be able to run D3 or HL2 well on anything for that little, and games that come out tomorrow won't run at all. Save the money you aren't spending on the new games(which you can't play anyway), and in a few months you have a good video card.

 

[Blinkme323]

My old 9100 runs Doom 3 on 800-6400 on low at 35fps and CSS at 1000-768 on medium at 40fps. Those are decent and the 9500pros and such are much better than that card. Don't say I CAN'T play games with a video card under $100. I can probably play all my games on high except Doom 3 with a softmodded 6200. A $50 could even play most new games on low-medium.

 

[Sweeper]

I can play Doom3, run D3 & HL2 very well thank you............... I'm running a R9550 modded to R9600 '350/250(500DDR)'.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: Sweeper
I can play Doom3, run D3 & HL2 very well thank you............... I'm running a R9550 modded to R9600 '350/250(500DDR)'.

Very well at the lowest settings. There's a difference between very well at highest settings and very well at lowest settings.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

For under $85...

Consider a Radeon 9550, but make sure it's 128 bit. I've seen decent brand names starting at $66 shipped. For $15 over your budget ($100) look at a Radeon 9600 Pro. Also, if you can find an nVidia 6200 for under $110, go for it, but make sure it's 128 bits (be careful--some of the 6200s and 6600s are borked).

 

[Sweeper]

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Sweeper
I can play Doom3, run D3 & HL2 very well thank you............... I'm running a R9550 modded to R9600 '350/250(500DDR)'.

Very well at the lowest settings. There's a difference between very well at highest settings and very well at lowest settings.

I leave the settings alone. Screen resolution 1280x1024. They run fine. I'll add there are cards out there that will produce much higher frame rates but Doom3 which I play alot runs with no problems. . . . . . .

 

[bradyapba]

dont know what card you have now is... but i dont think your thinking long term. You talk about within a year getting a PCI-e system.


The card you have now, or whatever card you plan to buy for $85 is going to be pretty worthless in a year. But if you spend the extra $24 you can buy a 6600. Not only will you get better gaming for a year, the 6600 will have a higher resale value in a year. In a year, what ever you buy for $85 probably wont sell for more than $40 in a year. But your 6600 will probably get you $65 in a year. So you will recoup your $24 back, plus have had a better gaming experience for a year.

Thats my 2 cents at least.

Chris

 

[Topochicho]

Not to be thread theif but I am also looking for a cheap card.... something under a $100.... how does the Radeon 9600 Pro compare to the Nvidia 6600? And I see no mention of used card... how do the Radeon 9600 Pro & Nvidia 6600 compare to a 4600/4800ti? Any used cards better than the 4600 to be picked up under 100?

 

[CALIKUSH]

You'll be able to buy a Geforce 6200 AGP card soon. I heard they are showing some at Cebit.

 

[Blinkme323]

I got a 9700 pro for $90. I am going with that. What do you think? A 6600 is better than a 4600 but are a lot more expensive. I got a lucky deal on the 9700. If I were you, I would buy one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...tem=5174335533&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...tem=5174355141&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[hans030390]

NOO!!!! get a 6200 at newegg for $100!!! easily outperforms that especially when you OC it and unlock the pipes (making it better then a 6600!!!)
and it has Shader model 3.0

get the 6200!!!!

 

[Blinkme323]

Really, a 6200 beats a 9700. Is the $100 one a sure fire softmoddable card.

 

[hitmanx2]

AFAIK, all the 6200 softmod flawlessly.

 

[Blinkme323]

Still, i just saw a benchmark of the 9700 and 4600 beating a 6200. BTW, that 6200 is sold out so I can get a 6200 or 6600 for $122.

 

[Sweeper]

benchmarks