Best video card for older machine

[Valheruxx]

I have an aging machine and am looking to put a new video card into it. Since it is older, I realise that most newer cars probably will not be worth buying. Which video card might offer the best performance increase before the other components (ram/cpu) slow it down? I was thinking maybe a radeon 9200 or 9600. How high can I go before my CPU/RAM hold me back?

AMD xp 1700
512 MB PC2100
Geforce 2 ULTRA

Yes, I realise i'm aging here. Bust honestly this machine so far is doable for almost every game I play, even newer ones. I'm just looking to be able to maybe go a higher resolution, have steady FPS, and maybe use some of the newer effects.

Thanks

 

[hooflung]

On that machine the best choice would be a ATI based 9600 WITH 128bit Memory Bus from Roswill. I have a friend with a similar machine and he upgraded to a X800PRO - up from a TI4200 - and he didn't get very much performance out of it. Thus, don't expect too much and don't pay too much. You can get a resonable, noticable upgrade for about 75bux. Even a Geforce 5200/5500 WITH 128bit Memory Bus is a very solid performer for a machine such as that.

Hope that helps.

 

[Generic42]

I'm in almost the same boat
Althon xp 1600
1 Gig Micron PC 3200
GeForce 3 Ti 500 64MB

Same recommendation I'm guessing? An ATI 9600 based card with 128?

Murdock

 

[christopherzombie]

A 9800pro would be good. It'll have a 256bit memory interface and an 8 pixel pipeline that the 9600 and 9200 are missing. I had a system close to yours a few years back (AXP 2000+ 512MB PC2100 Leadtek nForce1 and a Powercolor 9800np) and I saw a huge performance increase when I upgraded from my Leadtek ti 4400! Do you play many games?

Take your pick

Sapphire 9800 pro $130.00
ATI 9800 pro $155.00
Rosewill 9800 pro $130.00

 

[Generic42]

Originally posted by: christopherzombie
A 9800pro would be good. It'll have a 256bit memory interface and an 8 pixel pipeline that the 9600 and 9200 are missing. I had a system close to yours a few years back (AXP 2000+ 512MB PC2100 Leadtek nForce1 and a Powercolor 9800np) and I saw a huge performance increase when I upgraded from my Leadtek ti 4400! Do you play many games?

Take your pick

Sapphire 9800 pro $130.00
ATI 9800 pro $155.00
Rosewill 9800 pro $130.00

Thanks for the info. For me, at least, I'm looking to upgrade to play more games.
Oh, also, I need dual head support. Currently I'm running two cards (AGP and PCI) for the 2nd monitor, I'd like a single AGP solution.

Thanks.

Murdock

 

[RussianSensation]

9700Pro/9800Pro/9800np or 6600 (possibly overclocked to 6600GT speeds) are best bets for both of you without spending too much money. But those cpus are lagging big time nowdays. Perhaps you guys can pick up A64 2800+ s754 + mobo combo for $120 or so + $150 AGP Leadtek 6600GT on Newegg (after MIR).

9600 np is slower than geforce 4 ti 4200. So it pretty much puts it in the ballpark speed of geforce 3 ti 500 (not worth it!!!).

 

[coomar]

while you may not be getting the most of it, anything from a 9800pro upwards is the way to go, only the newest games are very cpu intensive, i remember hl2 showing a difference when I went from 2.2 to 2.6, but still the videocard is the cheapest way to improve performance

 

[kurt454]

Another vote for 9800 Pro. Too cheap not to buy now.

 

[VIAN]

I wouldn't go more than a 9600 Pro. Like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102409

I've seen a 1900+ with a 5900 and it isn't pretty.

 

[Generic42]

I'm assuming the 9800 Pro would be better than a 9600XT later down the line if I upgrade the CPU/MB correct?

I'm looking for something sub $150 (closer to $100) that I can get that would be totally worthless if I build a new system in a year.

Thanks for all the help, I've ben out of the loop for a bit.

Murdock

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: VIAN
I wouldn't go more than a 9600 Pro. Like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102409

I've seen a 1900+ with a 5900 and it isn't pretty.

Yah...I've seen this combo too, mine. And it wasn't pretty. The fx5900 is perhaps the biggest disappoints in a video card I'd ever purchased. Go for the 9800 Pro at ~$120 and be able to play newer games with good FPS.

Which mobo do you have? I've heard of older mobos being able to use mobile 2400+ (e.g., Abit KG7 Raids). If you could use a mobile chip, perhaps you could get some new life out of your aging box. I'm running 2 2400+ chips at 2.3 GHz which tops out my 9800Pro's.

 

[Generic42]

Originally posted by: Budarow

Which mobo do you have? I've heard of older mobos being able to use mobile 2400+ (e.g., Abit KG7 Raids). If you could use a mobile chip, perhaps you could get some new life out of your aging box. I'm running 2 2400+ chips at 2.3 GHz which tops out my 9800Pro's.

Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe

 

[BobDaMenkey]

I'd definatly recommend something like a 9600 Pro/XT or 9700/9800Pro. I've got a few friends running Socket A Semprons that use them to come to my LAN parties(HL2, CS S, Rise of Nations ect type games) and they don't do too badly, granted at lower resolution and quality settings than some of the better machines.

 

[JASANITY]

i have a 1.4ghz amd with a an ati 9600. any diff if i upgrade to a 9800?

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: VIAN
I've seen a 1900+ with a 5900 and it isn't pretty.

I have a GF 5900 in my son's 2400+ Sempron/KT-600 rig. A 2400+ Sempron isn't much faster than a 1900+ AXP (1.67ghz/333fsb vs 1.60ghz/266fsb). His rig runs fine. He can play all current games with good frame rates.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: JASANITY
i have a 1.4ghz amd with a an ati 9600. any diff if i upgrade to a 9800?

Tons. And to the OP: 9800pro is the way to go dude. Providing your AGP slot is 4x/8x