What should my last AGP video card be, ala $100

[mikeford]

I think I am using a Ati 9200 right now, not really suffering, but thinking I might get one last AGP card before moving on to Pcie towards the end of the year (but we are a many PC family, so a new AGP will ripple down to the smallest child). Missing out on the clearance Evga 6600 at CC for $85 has me tuned up for something like that as AGP slowly fades into the sunset. Anything special to look for, or just wait for bargains as the PC deadtime of summer approaches?

 

[Kromis]

Your 9200 will be sufficient. No need for another AGP card. I have an ATI All-In-Wonder 8500DV 64MB (discontinued product) and I can still games like HL2 on medium settings and BF2 on low settings. Doesn't really framerates for BF2 don't really bother me much...but your mileage may vary (YMMV)!

 

[Aznguy1872]

I'd wait till you do a full upgrade of your whole system. Buying an AGP now would be a waste of money IMO.

 

[Raduque]

If you do a $75-120 AGP search over at newegg, you'll find abunch of 6600s, and a handful of ATI cards (X1300, x1600pro, x700). If you look around the FST forums, I bet you can get a 6600gt or 6800nu in your budget.

 

[mikeford]

If it was just me, I would wait, but when I get a new card, son gets mine, wife gets his, etc etc.

Worse as a real online game addict I play a few games using two PCs, one being ancient 98se, and KVM between them so a strong char can help a weak, or I can move items between two accts etc. When I play on the older system though, I tend to DIE a lot due to some lag issues, so adding a better vid to main and moving vids down the line would help it.

Guess I will just keep looking at hot deals and try to jump faster next time.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

well if the pc's gotta be a hand me down when you upgrade, then maybe its worth it to give it one last heave ho in the graphics department. your best bet is to buy used...you can get some good deals

ive seen used 9500's, 9500pro, 9700, 9700pros go for less than £50 on place like ebay. (9500pro i was looking at went for a mere £26) and you know, they are good cards. my buddy still got his 9700pro, plays HL2 just fine, doom3, quake 4, BF2 all at decent settings too.

my brother still plays on my old 9500pro, and hes a regular CS:S, guild wars player. BF2 punishes it abit, but i think thats just because of the rest of the machine not being up to par.

since its AGP, i probably would try go as cheap as possible, while getting a decent upgrade. i think a used 9700pro will be a good choice, you may even get hold of a 9800pro....who knows!

6600GT or something with similar power will be a heft upgrade, should prolong the computers life somewhat, but id bet your gonna have to shell out the 100 bux for that

 

[RussianSensation]

Asus 6600 - $91
HIS x1600Pro - $127
Powercolor X800GTO - $155

Unless you have a P4 3.0ghz or faster or A64 3000+, I wouldn't recommend getting anything faster than X800GTO/XL. Either way, from your current card any of these will be at least 2x faster.

 

[Ika]

depending on your computer, you could get a 9550 Pro (and then use ATITool to unlock the clock lock and overclock it to 9600Pro speeds and up), or a 6600GT.

 

[Praxis1452]

6800nu for 130 after mail in rebate. Unlocks to 16/6 I think. at newegg

 

[Wolfshanze]

You might even consider an E-Bay purchase (depending on how you feel about a 2nd-hand card)... you'll get a beefier AGP card for the same price that way... if not, then I would probably spring for a 6600GT and leave it at that, since this card is going to also be a "hand me down" as time goes on, that would be a LOT better card for the long haul then a POS 9200.

 

[Ika]

6800nu would also be a good choice, especially if you can unlock pipes.

 

[Wolfshanze]

A 6800NU is also a good card, but VERY HARD to find... I mentioned the 6600GT mostly because of availability and price.

 

[Extelleron]

X1600 PRO is a good choice, or the 6600GT.

 

[mikeford]

I have no fear of ebay items, half a dozen car bits are on my watch list now, but many items like video cards frequently sell for more used than what they do brand new in a clearance at someplace like newegg. Hot deals people buy stuff all the time and turn around and sell it on ebay for a fat profit.

My main problem is that the numbers are just so confusing right now, and the SE, GT, XT even worse some mean lite, some mean faster, some mean sort of like the old one only slightly this or that.

I "almost" bought a X800 in a outlet store last week for $35, but I was checking it first and it was a product return with a Rage II video card inside. I didn't bother checking the 9550 box.