Need to upgrade my video card

[Cpt. Duke]

Here's my system -

Athlon Thunderbird 1.3
Abit KT7A
512 mb RAM
120 GB Maxtor
Radeon 9000 Pro


My machine is definetly getting old, but it does fine for what I normally do - email, chat, music, & web design. I'm getting a little sick of my Xbox, and want to start using my PC again for some games. Mind you, not the latest and greatest like HL 2. But some older games like Counter-strike Condition Zero, Sim City 4, etc.

Can anyone please tell me what video card they would get in my situation? Something like a Radeon 9600?

Your thought are much appreciated.
Ryan

 

[Munky]

Pretty much any current midrange or higher graphics card will be limited by the rest of your system. So, a 9600pro will be ok, but I actually had a 9000pro, and it was good enough for older games like CS.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Have you tried the 9000 pro for those games yet?

I'd have to agree with munky that it would probably be good enough to run those decently.

Otherwise if you're looking for a card for around $100?
A used radeon 9700pro would be a really nice card if you can find one in FS/FT forum. Otherwise a 9600pro is a good one too.

 

[Fenuxx]

Originally posted by: 1DJCherny
Here's my system -

Athlon Thunderbird 1.3
Abit KT7A
512 mb RAM
120 GB Maxtor
Radeon 9000 Pro


My machine is definetly getting old, but it does fine for what I normally do - email, chat, music, & web design. I'm getting a little sick of my Xbox, and want to start using my PC again for some games. Mind you, not the latest and greatest like HL 2. But some older games like Counter-strike Condition Zero, Sim City 4, etc.

Can anyone please tell me what video card they would get in my situation? Something like a Radeon 9600?

Your thought are much appreciated.
Ryan

Well, if your gonna try SimCity 4, then you'd be well due for a CPU upgrade. SC4 will chug on your system. See what you can do as far as a CPU upgrade with your motherboard.

As far as graphics go, a Radeon 9600 Pro\XT will be fine.

 

[Cpt. Duke]

Thanks guys.

Yes, SimCity does chug pretty bad on the current system ... I have not yet tried CS-CZ. In the next 6 months or so I am going to upgrade to an Athlon 64, just looking for something to hold me over until then.

One more question - are there any nVidia options for my situation? A 4600?

 

[Paktu]

I saw more of a benefit in Simcity 4 when I upgraded my CPU from an Athlon XP 1800 to an A64 3200, than when I upgraded my 9600 Pro to a 6800 Ultra. Especially on larger cities, the extra CPU power really helps things move along.