Cheap Video Card recommendations

[Lytech]

I bought my boys one of those really nice Dell Poweredge 400 Servers a few months back. It is their first non-hand-me-down computer ever, and the nicest one they have ever had. It came with an ATI RAGE XL PCI video card (I beleive that's 8MB of RAM) but has an AGP slot.
While I had never really used my PowerEdge 400 as a gaming machine (I use mine for work, and it's been great), it did run half life with no problems, so I went ahead and bought Medal of Honor Allied Assualt for the boys when they asked (ignoring that nagging voice of doubt in the back of my mind)

By now you can see where I am going with this. It does not run AT ALL! Nothing but errors, and while ATI RAGE 128 is listed on the supported hardware page, ATI RAGE XL is not. Not being much of a follower of the Video card industry (at least not since Monster was the name to buy), I am left only to assume the ATI rage 128 was a better card than the XL.

I have been ever since looking for an inexpensive video card to buy. I have traditionally been, and will continue to be of the opinion that it is better to be 6 months to a year behind on this technology, and not buy a $400 card today that will be worth $40 in 6 months.

In my search, the "GeForce4 MX440 8X AGP 64MB DDR W/TV" (for about $43) comes up a lot. While it is also not listed on the supported video cards page (the GEforce 3 is) I beleive it is because the page was written before it came out. Do you guys think this would be a good card for about $40 for my kids to play games on, and if not, any alternative reccomendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Matthias99]

The GF4MX is essentially a GF2MX with some enhancements. It should be quite adequate for MOH:AA, and it's my usual advice as a 'dirt-cheap' card. However, it's already becoming obsolete (and so will have issues running newer games acceptably). If that doesn't bother you, you can just stop reading now.

A GeForce4 Ti4200 or Ti4600 would last considerably longer, but will also run you closer to $100 (and you'll probably have to find a used one). A RADEON 9600 (not a 9600SE) is also around that price, although the GF4Ti cards are probably better all around. The next step up would be a RADEON 9600Pro or GeForceFX 5700Ultra ($120-150), then a GeForceFX 5900/5900XT/5900SE or used RADEON 9700Pro ($160-180ish), then a RADEON 9800Pro ($220). The 5900 and 9700Pro/9800Pro cards are really top-notch, though also most likely overkill for your system. I wouldn't advise spending any more than that on any video card right now.

 

[jswjimmy]

ya you can get a 9600 for just about $100.............. under $100 128mb over $100 256mb THAY BOTH HAVE 400MHZ RAM. the 256mb is not underclocked

 

[Matthias99]

Um... I said that. Also, don't buy a 256MB RADEON 9600/9600Pro/9600XT; the memory is underclocked compared to the 128MB versions, and the cards aren't fast enough to really use 256MB of VRAM anyway.

 

[jswjimmy]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Um... I said that. Also, don't buy a 256MB RADEON 9600/9600Pro/9600XT; the memory is underclocked compared to the 128MB versions, and the cards aren't fast enough to really use 256MB of VRAM anyway.

i hate to tell you this but both cards have 400mhz ddr ram the 256 is not slower

 

[Maximilian]

Id have to reccommend any of the Geforce 4 TI series. The GF4 TI 4200 is an excellent card and can even beat some of its newer FX cousins in certain games (most games for the FX 5200 ) so the TI 4200 is an excellent buy.

 

[labrat25]

one alternative if you don't mind older/used cards is a Geforce 2 GTS or Pro (~$40)

better than a Geforce 2 MX (by far)... I don't know of benchmarks comparing it to the Geforce4MX

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: labrat25
one alternative if you don't mind older/used cards is a Geforce 2 GTS or Pro (~$40)

better than a Geforce 2 MX (by far)... I don't know of benchmarks comparing it to the Geforce4MX

geforce4mx destroys a geforce2 pro

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Pick up a Ti4200 128MB for $75 used if you can find one!

 

[computer]

AnandTech did a review of budget cards and said the 9600SE was the best bet. Only $71 shipped right now at Newegg.

 

[Lytech]

Thanks guys,
I appreciate all of the valuable feedback. Sounds like the Ti4200 or Ti4600 is my best bet. I ATI because I have had horrible past experiences with their techical support, which is only available via a long distance Canadian number. I have also read other threads here imploring us readers to avoid anything with an SE at the en of it. Thanks!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: jswjimmy

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Um... I said that. Also, don't buy a 256MB RADEON 9600/9600Pro/9600XT; the memory is underclocked compared to the 128MB versions, and the cards aren't fast enough to really use 256MB of VRAM anyway.

i hate to tell you this but both cards have 400mhz ddr ram the 256 is not slower

This is apparently no longer true for the R9600! They've all got 400Mhz RAM.

There are still R9600Pro 256MB cards that have slower memory than a regular 9600Pro, though:

9600Pro 128MB (400/330)

9600Pro 256MB (400/200)

Though, to be fair, the Sapphire 256MB card is clocked at 400/330. I still wouldn't pay extra for one, since the 9600 core doesn't really have enough horsepower to use 256MB of VRAM, and the 128MB cards are likely to overclock further.

 

[computer]

Yes, ATI's support sucks, that's why I have to learn all I can about them before getting one! I use an ATI AIW Radeon 7500 right now, and they won't answer anything on it, never have. Ti4200 costs a lot more though, all the cheap places listed at pricewatch are bogus, and OEM IF they have it. $101 was the best retail box price I found. Review link. . Vendor card roundup.