Best DIRT CHEAP video card

[J22]

I am building a PC for a friend of mine, and I have everything but a video card. The PC will have a Athlon XP2000+, 512 PC2700, 80 Gig HD, CDR and DVD. He is about as computer literate as my dog, so it doesnt really matter what I get for him, but I'm sure he would like to play as many games as possible even if the performance is marginal. Personally, I've never been in love with ATI, but I will take whatever I can get the best deal on. Radeon 9200, GF4 MX440, ???.

Please dont recommend $70-80 cards, I am giving this away, and dont want to spend much. $50 is the max, $35 would be preferable.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

You can't game with a card hat cheap but check the FSFT forums for a used Ti200.

 

[Auric]

Checkout newegg refurbs. I happened to get a 9200 64MB for $40 recently but more for movies than gaming. Pretty tough to recommend anything within that budget for current 3D games.

 

[Corporate Thug]

used ti4200

 

[Falloutboy]

go on the boards you should be able to get a used 64mb 4200 for aorund 50

 

[Auric]

Problem is the extra shipping...

 

[nitromullet]

He is about as computer literate as my dog,

Let's hope he never makes it to this forum - him or the dog... Nice that you are building him a rig though...

Search for ti4200 on ebay, you can find those all day long for under $50. If you're lucky, you might be able to get a ti4600 for that as well.

 

[Naruto]

Best Choice: If your really lucky, a good deal on a used ti4200 128mb

Next Best: If your lucky, a good deal on a used ti4200 64mb

Most Likely: If you look around, a 9200 128mb/64mb, 9000 pro 128mb/64mb, 9100 128mb/64mb, 8500 128mb/64mb, 8500LE 128mb/64mb

If All Else Fails: If you can actually find one, a geforce 3 Ti200/Ti500

 

[Avalon]

You want my gainward geforce 3 ti200 for $50 shipped?
It's been laying around ever since I got my radeon 9500. Used it for about a few months.

 

[konakona]

i just picked up a 8500LE for $35 shipped. as my gaming needs stay on fairly light sight, this should serve me pretty well while doing my research i noticed used 4200s go for about $60 at the lowest, 9500s and 9500pros for a wee bit more. cant find anything in between that performs better...

 

[orangat]

If you're looking for a totally dirt cheap card with games as a lesser priority why don't you take a look at the S3 or SiS chipset cards?. JMHO. Otherwise you could take up some offers for Ti200. I'm playing Far Cry with it now at 1078x768 LOW settings.

 

[Auric]

VanillaH, good deal. Nice thing aboot the 8500 is the relatively low hit from AF compared to the 4200. As far as S3 or SiS and such... I would rather get the cheapest Radeon for the drivers and IQ.

 

[konakona]

my current video card is integrated S3 unichrome. no major complaints except it cant do 1152*864@85 (75 is the highest it will go, so i am forced to stay with 1024*768) while video playback looks decent, making an objective comparison is a shot in the dark as my monitor is getting replaced tomorrow

 

[Jeff7181]

If you want to do things cheaply... get an nForce2 motherboard for him with integrated video. I just got an MSI for my aunt with integrated video, (GeForce4 MX quality) for $60 shipped from newegg. Not a bad deal at all for someone who just wants to be able to play a couple old games every now and then. Very cost effective too... kinda like buying a motherboard and getting a video card free. It's overkill for her cause she doesn't play games... but it's more cost effective than getting a cheap motherboard and cheap video card separately.

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
If you want to do things cheaply... get an nForce2 motherboard for him with integrated video. I just got an MSI for my aunt with integrated video, (GeForce4 MX quality) for $60 shipped from newegg. Not a bad deal at all for someone who just wants to be able to play a couple old games every now and then. Very cost effective too... kinda like buying a motherboard and getting a video card free. It's overkill for her cause she doesn't play games... but it's more cost effective than getting a cheap motherboard and cheap video card separately.

thats what i was gonna post at first, but the guy says he has everything except the vid card... i am assuming that pertains a mobo as well.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: VanillaH

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
If you want to do things cheaply... get an nForce2 motherboard for him with integrated video. I just got an MSI for my aunt with integrated video, (GeForce4 MX quality) for $60 shipped from newegg. Not a bad deal at all for someone who just wants to be able to play a couple old games every now and then. Very cost effective too... kinda like buying a motherboard and getting a video card free. It's overkill for her cause she doesn't play games... but it's more cost effective than getting a cheap motherboard and cheap video card separately.

thats what i was gonna post at first, but the guy says he has everything except the vid card... i am assuming that pertains a mobo as well.

Sell his current mobo and get the friend an nForce2 IGP

 

[viking66]

cheapest route and best deal can sometimes be to sale your existing card and upgrade yours. that is what i do.. I build a comp out of my old parts, sale it and use the money for my new computer.. granted you will alway loose some money but not as much as just setting the old parts on a shelf to collect dust..


maybe you can find a friend that wants to upgrade thier comp and will sale you thier old vid card for a great discount..

 

[Schadenfreudex]

I just sold my gf4 ti4200 128 for 50 shipped.

 

[Schadenfroh]

$14 video card shipped fedex retail boxed brand new

 

[Avalon]

He said his friend would probably want to play as many games as possible...I don't think he's going to be able to play much with that Savage 4. Get a geforce Ti already

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
$14 video card shipped fedex retail boxed brand new

BOOYEAH!

Originally posted by: Avalon
He said his friend would probably want to play as many games as possible...I don't think he's going to be able to play much with that Savage 4. Get a geforce Ti already

Gaming + $50 budget = take whatever you can get.

 

[Jeff7]

Geforce4 Ti4200 if you want to shop around awhile to find one for $50 or less.
Geforce3 Ti200 if you want one right now - there's a few in the FS/T forum for <$50 shipped. A full-text search for "Ti200" will reveal them.

 

[SneakyStuff]

AOPEN has a nice older video card for $36, can't argue with that