Video card conundrum (need advice)

[slirp]

Okay so here's where I am:

I'm building a new rig for my little brother for Chistmas. ( I say little , he's 25 and weighs 270lbs, but anyway) I've had an MSI K8N neo2 plat sitting under my desk collecting dust for about 9 months now. I love the motherboard as I'm running one myself. When it comes to the graphics cards I'm stuck with this choice:

1) Stay with the motherboard (saves me $100) and try to find something in the X800, 6800 range in AGP (but AGP seems to be costing more).

2) Get a new MB with PCI-e and go that route (sell the MSI). The only reason I'm thinking about this is from my shopping around, it looks like PCI-e cards are cheaper than AGP.

I have sort of a mental block with the PCI-e option because I have trouble shilling out money for a board when PCI-e offers no performace advantage over an 8x AGP slot. I'm looking to future proof the machine for atleast a couple years and in my estimation x800 and 6800 lines should last that long.

Can someone give me a crack on the head the tell me which is my best option?

Thanks for taking the time.

 

[wanderer27]

From what I'm seeing and hearing, AGP is going to be harder and harder find. As it is, it's getting to be a challenge to find one of the newer MB's that support AGP.

If you're really looking for some future proofing I think PCIex is the best way to go.

I've got two MSI MB's running in the kids Systems (266 & 333), so I agree, they're great MB's. I haven't upgraded the Video Cards in them though, and have no plans on buying new AGP cards for them. When they finally reach a point of uselessness, I'll probably sell them to someone that justs wants to make a small file server or something.

 

[slirp]

Bump cause I'm still looking for reassurance.

 

[Chiller2]

If you have the funds go for the PCIe as AGP is a dead socket.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Will your brother ever actually upgrade the video, or just buy a whole new system later?

If he won't upgrade, a 6600GT is a nice and reasonably priced card. Sure he might have to game at 1024x768 instead of a higher resolution, but that's perfectly acceptable for the non-snobby.

 

[leigh6]

I would keep the board and go for a 6600gt AGP. Even if you upgrade at a later date you can always sell the vid card. (Even if you build a new system later with pci-x in a year or 2 you will still get $60.00 for the 6600gt) So using the mobo you have, buying a 6600gt, ends up a $60.00 upgrade.

Here are some 6600gt's at VERY reasonable prices.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=17&Go.y=27

 

[Malladine]

You can get perfectly decent AGP video cards, there are many to choose from.

Get him a 6800GS when agp flavour is released and save that $100.