VERY budget video card recommendations

[barnett25]

I am looking at building a system for my sister in January and am unsure about what graphics card to get. This will be a budget system used for internet, light photoshoping, and light gaming. I am looking at a $60 sempron processor, a $36 socket A motherboard, and 256mb of pc3200. I want a video card that can play dvds at the very least, but I would like to be able to play as high-end a game as possible without spending more than $40-$50. I realize that is a very limited budget, but I didnt want to go with integrated graphics because that would take up RAM (right?). Thanks for any recommendations anyone can give me.

 

[Todd33]

Used Ti4x00 is the best buy. If the gaming is very light (little to no 3D) just get a new 9600se/5200.

 

[barnett25]

Will a Ti4x00 out perform a ATI 9200SE?

 

[Todd33]

Yes, by far.

 

[Sonic587]

Originally posted by: Todd33
Yes, by far.

Indeed.

Check the FS/FT forum here. A quick search turned up quite a few results for $50 TI4200's.

 

[dderolph]

How about a nVidia GeForce FX5200? For a good deal on one, see http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...mp;Tab=11&NoMapp=0

 

[Peter]

That's just the same kind of 64-bit RAM interface crippled slowie like the Radeon "SE" flavors. Only that it doesn't tell you so on the box.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

5200 isnt even worth it in a budget system

 

[Loki726]

any geforce 4 ti on ebay...

 

[PingSpike]

Gotta be the used gf4 ti. Any newer stuff available at that price range is pretty much crippled trash.

 

[barnett25]

Looking on eBay I see both 128MB and 64MB versions of the Ti4200, is the 128MB version worth paying a little extra?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: barnett25
Looking on eBay I see both 128MB and 64MB versions of the Ti4200, is the 128MB version worth paying a little extra?

IMO yes.. games thesedays like the extra RAM..

 

[barnett25]

Ok, if I got a Ti4200 128MB card, what, in your opinion, would be the most modern game that would be playable on it? (remember the 256MB system RAM and sempron 1.66Ghz processor)

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: barnett25
Looking on eBay I see both 128MB and 64MB versions of the Ti4200, is the 128MB version worth paying a little extra?

IMO yes.. games thesedays like the extra RAM..

Speaking of RAM, no less than 512MB. Even for "light usage."

Sidebar thought:

nForce2 IGP + 2x256MB DDR sticks. Sure, it's no Ti4x00, but it'll handle "light gaming" fine. Not HL2 or D3, but it should be able to slug through most others with the eye candy off.

- M4H

 

[Todd33]

Originally posted by: barnett25
Ok, if I got a Ti4200 128MB card, what, in your opinion, would be the most modern game that would be playable on it? (remember the 256MB system RAM and sempron 1.66Ghz processor)

The 256MB is the main problem, but most DX8 games on medium settings and even some DX9 at low. I'm sure HL2 would run fine if you had another 256MB RAM.

 

[Marsumane]

What do u have, what do u need to buy and what is your budget? I suggest that you reconsider your build. I agree with the above post on the ram issue. 512mb minimum. You also need atleast $100 to get a graphics card that will run the highest games with any real amount of eyecandy on.

But the ti series will play anything at medium to low settings. Just its not a dx9 card and that will definately be more important in the future for the sake of eyecandy

 

[halfadder]

Interesting thread. I've used the GF4 4200 Ti, but I wonder if maybe a 9600 would be a better buy for about the same money.

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: Peter
That's just the same kind of 64-bit RAM interface crippled slowie like the Radeon "SE" flavors. Only that it doesn't tell you so on the box.

No, the straight FX5200, which is what I was talking about, is 128 bit. The LE version is 64 bit.

He said $40-$50. Are some of the other cards mentioned here available in that price range?

 

[modedepe]

ti4200 is definitely the best choice in that range. 512mb of ram would definitely help.

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: modedepe
ti4200 is definitely the best choice in that range. 512mb of ram would definitely help.

I don't get it. If you look at the GPU guide for NVIDA video cards, the ti4200 is in the DirectX 8 section; the FX 5200 is in the DirectX 9 section. Why is the ti4200 a better card?

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: dderolph

Originally posted by: modedepe
ti4200 is definitely the best choice in that range. 512mb of ram would definitely help.

I don't get it. If you look at the GPU guide for NVIDA video cards, the ti4200 is in the DirectX 8 section; the FX 5200 is in the DirectX 9 section. Why is the ti4200 a better card?

Cause that doesn't mean anything. Have you seen the fx5200 try to run a dx9 game (or any game for that matter)? The 4200 will stomp it flat.

 

[barnett25]

Well, gaming isn't really suposed to be a major concern with this computer, but my sister likes a few of the fps games that I have (Command & Conquor Renegade, FarCry) and I thought it would be nice to build a system that could play these (well, maybe farcry is asking a bit much) and maybe the Halo and UT-2004 demos. Really the prime concern is that the computer is fairly snappy for basic stuff (web, mp3s, DVDs) and can handle some simple Photoshoping without slowing to a halt. Here are the specs I'm looking at so far...

ECS "KT600-A" KT600 Motherboard -$40 (no particular reason for picking this board, just one of the cheaper socket A's that support 333mhz FSB)

AMD Sempron 2400+ Processor - $63.50 (I'm assuming that these are faster than similarly priced Celerons)

Rosewill 256MB DDR PC-3200 Ram - $35 (I would like 512MB but I don't think I can afford it)

Lite-On 52X32X52 CD/RW Drive - $23

GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB Graphics Card - $40 (used on ebay)

WD 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive - $53

Zonet V.92 Modem - $7

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: dderolph

Originally posted by: modedepe
ti4200 is definitely the best choice in that range. 512mb of ram would definitely help.

I don't get it. If you look at the GPU guide for NVIDA video cards, the ti4200 is in the DirectX 8 section; the FX 5200 is in the DirectX 9 section. Why is the ti4200 a better card?

Cause that doesn't mean anything. Have you seen the fx5200 try to run a dx9 game (or any game for that matter)? The 4200 will stomp it flat.

The Ti4200 has double the maximum fillrate of the FX5200. Just search for the latter in this forum and notice that every time it's mentioned, it's in a negative context.

- M4H

 

[halfadder]

Does anyone have wattage figures for the Ti4200? Most have a pretty good sized fan, I wonder if a FX5200 would consume far less power?

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: dderolph

Originally posted by: modedepe
ti4200 is definitely the best choice in that range. 512mb of ram would definitely help.

I don't get it. If you look at the GPU guide for NVIDA video cards, the ti4200 is in the DirectX 8 section; the FX 5200 is in the DirectX 9 section. Why is the ti4200 a better card?

Cause that doesn't mean anything. Have you seen the fx5200 try to run a dx9 game (or any game for that matter)? The 4200 will stomp it flat.

The Ti4200 has double the maximum fillrate of the FX5200. Just search for the latter in this forum and notice that every time it's mentioned, it's in a negative context.

- M4H

Wish I had known this a 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'm not a gamer but I know a high school senior who is an occasional gamer. He'd never done any computer upgrades, but wanted to install a video card. He had been playing with onboard video, so you can imagine what that was like. We talked about some different cards and he got an FX5200 with 128MB memory for about $30 after rebates. I executed the purchase for him since he does not have credit card.

After installing it, he played a game while he still had his computer at my place. I'm not sure at the moment what game it was; I can only describe it as a military action game, one that he had played before installing the card. He was very pleased with the improvement; it was much smoother, no lagging like what he had experienced with onboard video. But, he has not seen how the game would play with a TI4200.