Please recommend an inexpensive AGP video card that has the best 2D graphics

[jaytone]

Hi
I am putting together a system for my elderly father. It will have a P2B, P2 350, 64megs of ram, etc.
What is most important is the 2D graphics and text clarity. Can someone recommend the best AGP 2D/3D card with a maximum cost of about $60.00
The monitor he is using is a ViewSonic GS773 17inch.

 

[PeAK]

I have a bias for Radeon cards but
take a look at what others have said about ATI's video quality both from a 2D and
a 3D perspective.

 

[novice]

Given your budget target, I would look at the ATI Expert 98 card which I believe BestBuy has for $39.95. Although it may be the PCI version. Speaking of PCI versions, the Voodoo 3 2000 is generally available for $70 or so and would also provide decent 3D performance for when you visit your dad
I have also heard that the Trident Blade cards provide pretty good 2D performance and they are dirt cheap. Check compucheap.com for the Trident 9880 8mb AGP card for $43.95 plus shipping. Count on Russ for support if you need it.
Chuck

 

[Maverick2002]

if you can squeez $80, you can get a matrox g450....or a g400 (single output) for $5 less hehe

 

[lifeguard1999]

Go to techbargains or Cnet or some place like that. They have a search engine to find the prices on items. Put in your zip code and you can even have S&H calculated for you at some places. This makes for a great comparison. I use them and pricewatch to find the best prices.

I went to the video card section and put in your $60 ceiling. It came back with about 28 results. A quick scan shows:

ATI Expert 98 (AGP, 8MB) $30
ATI Expert 128 (AGP 16MB) $48
Matrox G250 $53
Diamond Stealth 3 (AGP, 32 MB) $55
Viper 2 $60

I run with ATI Expert 98 and it works fine for me (though I am upgrading to a Radeon as soon as it arrives). It is not great for 3D gaming (21 fps is what you will get with a P2 350 under Quake III). But for 2D clarity, it is very good.

If you want my advice, make sure your system for your elderly father is 100% stable. Cutting corners on generic memory is a bad idea, for example. Otherwise you will have to go back and buy more parts to make it stable.

 

[cmaMath13]

I would go with the OLD Diamond Stealth video card OR any TNT/2 video card. Both would have very good 2D. Of course you can't go wrong with a G400 either, but too pricy for your conditions.

 

[slatt01]

Cards that you may want to try are any based on the SIS 6326 chipset which in the UK are available for £30 for 8mb AGP with TV out.
The 2D performance is ok but the 3D performance is non-existant.

But it is very cheap!

 

[AndrewR]

I'd look for an older Matrox G200 or even a Millenium II with at least 4MB of RAM. You could easily find those secondhand for less than $50 (the second for much less). The G200 has excellent 2D and would be perfectly adequate. For more up to date cards, I'd go with whatever Matrox has and perhaps the ATI Xpert 128 series. The only problem with ATI is their Win2K support is awful, if that's a consideration. Radeon is too expensive.

TNT2 does not have very good 2D in comparison to the G200 or the ATI. I've used them all, and the difference is noticeable.

 

[skay]

I have a Matrox G200 for sale here:

link

I agree with Andrew, excellent 2D quality.