Getting a cheap video card, maybe MX440 or R8500

[Ionizer86]

I helped diagnose someone's computer and their vid card is gone, so I'm selling them my Geforce 2 GTS. I'm in for a cheap vid card, and I've noted some stuff:
there's this cheap chipset called a MX440SE. What's the difference between that and an MX440? I know the 440's are dx7 parts that are similar in performance to Geforce 2 Ultras or so, so is this a chipset with different clocks?

I'm also considering getting a R8500 or R9100 as these are about $20 more and give a lot more performance.
I won't be doing much gaming, so the important things are low noise fans (or complete passive cooling) and good 2d quality (my Gf2 blurs a bit at 1024x768@85hz). Are pretty much all cards with one chipset similar in fan noise and 2d quality?

Anyone recommend anything in the $40 to $70 range?

 

[TROGDORdBURNINATOR]

there's this cheap chipset called a MX440SE. What's the difference between that and an MX440?

Who cares? They're both garbage.

I'm also considering getting a R8500 or R9100 as these are about $20 more and give a lot more performance.

Yeah, look into a radeon 9000, 9100, 9200.

and good 2d quality (my Gf2 blurs a bit at 1024x768@85hz

Yeah, the problem with nvidia cards is that some manufacturers have extremely poor analgue quality. One manufacturer can have a great card lined up with a really poor one.
When you buy a built by ati card, you know what you're getting.
Of course, it could just be your monitor. Generally image quality issues aren't too noticable until 1600x1200.

 

[Megatomic]

Ionizer86, make sure to take the advice in the above post with a grain or ten of salt. look in the sig...

 

[Ionizer86]

Lol, it looks like Newegg has a R8500LE for pretty cheap.
I agree, on my GTS, the image quality is not great at 85hz but it's sharp at 75hz.
Sapphire Powered by ATi cards seem to get good reviews, so it looks like I might be getting their 8500LE tomorrow. It's got DVI and TV-out too

The fans on these lower-end cards are all very quiet right?

 

[xSauronx]

love my 8500le
dx8 too, the gf4mxs are just what, dx7? easily worth the extra few bucks and if you get the sapphire at 250/250 you can likelye oc it to or beyond stock 8500 speeds of 275/275

w00t

 

[Corporate Thug]

dont waste your money on the 440 (MX) series

 

[JZilla]

As a GF4 MX man, my advice is to stay clear. If you are worried about the 8500 fan, why not get a fanless R9000/9100/9200.

 

[spanky]

the 2d of the mx440 isn't that bad. just my opinion. the mx440se is a lower clocked mx440... kinda like what the 8500le is to the 8500. have u considered the original radeon (7200), or the radeon 7000? those should be like $25 to $30.

 

[Ionizer86]

It looks like Newegg's R9100 bulk with S-Vid and DVI is a good go at $65. There's a fan, but if I went fanless, the cards would also be around $65 and wouldn't be nearly as good (they have FX5200 ultras and R9000 non-pro fanless).

The fans on these cards don't look bad anyway since they all look like small cooling solutions like the one on my GTS.

 

[Ionizer86]

It looks like Newegg's R9100 bulk with S-Vid and DVI is a good go at $65. There's a fan, but if I went fanless, the cards would also be around $65 and wouldn't be nearly as good (they have FX5200 ultras and R9000 non-pro fanless).

The fans on these cards don't look bad anyway since they all look like small cooling solutions like the one on my GTS.

On the R7200 or 7000, they're kinda too cheap and low-performing. Since I get to pass my GF2 GTS on, I'd make sure I'm getting some kind of upgrade over what I have. Thx anyway tho.

 

[Ionizer86]

It looks like Newegg's R9100 bulk with S-Vid and DVI is a good go at $65. There's a fan, but the passive cards are also around $65 and have lower-performing chipsets like the R9000 non-pro.

The fans on these cards don't look bad anyway since they all look like small cooling solutions like the one on my GTS.

On the R7200 or 7000, they're kinda too cheap and low-performing. Since I get to pass my GF2 GTS on, I'd make sure I'm getting some kind of upgrade over what I have. Thx anyway tho.

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Ionizer86, make sure to take the advice in the above post with a grain or ten of salt. look in the sig...

"** Not speaking for my Employer **"

Although he has a point about analogue quality. And why would you want to buy a DX7 piece, even if not gaming much?

 

[Chaotic42]

If gaming really isn't an issue, I'd at least consider this: Matrox G450