On my 386 in the ISA days. I had an OAK 256k VGA and a school computer had an OAK 512k SVGA.
Shamefully, I swapped them when playing around inside the machine....
My first video card upgrade.
The second was 1MB that had big words on the box sayong 150% faster(!!!) I wanted faster desktop redraw so I spent $80 for it. I should've known better since I saw little or no difference.
I would go through several cards after that, from ATI to Trident.
Then came my first PCI 2MB card, Cirrus Logic. Much nicer.
Then a 4MB S3 Virge.
Then the Riva128 (fast but TERRIBLE image quality - returned)
Then the Rendition Verite (Diamond Stealth II) fast but terribly fuzzy... must have beend defective. Returned, though I should have tried again because I would not get another 3D card until Voodoo2 was just coming out...
I wanted the Voodoo2 but the shop wouldn't get them in for a while yet, but they DID have the awesome Canopus Pure3D. I foolishly got that, but wouldn't keep it long.
Then came the Real3D Starfighter (i740) Free with promotional package, still have the T-shirt! (Thanks Chris @ Real3D!)
Next was the Voodoo Banshee... nice overall, but still not enough speed.
Finally I would settle with the Creative TNT1. That had good speed and kept me going a LONG time!
Then I tried a V3, saw no benefit, returned it.
Bought an Asus GF2MX a year later, worthlessly fuzzy, returned it...
bought an ELSE GF1-DDR. Very nice, lasted quite a while.
Then led a Voodoo5 group buy (the last one ever allowed on Anandtech!) and had that a while, went back to ELSA card.
Sold whole PC, got Rage128 (thinking I would try and not play any 3D games)
I started playing games again and got a Radeon VE SDR - too slow
Bought a Radeon 64MB DDR VIVO. Very handy card, did some video clips. Never should have sold it, even if I did make a profit... lasted over a year. Great card.
ATI Radeon 8500LELE, lost job - needed money, sold it almost immediately.
Matrox G400 (which I still have) on the cheap for working. I love the 2D.... 3D is pretty slow.
Hercules 8500LE, bought at super price, lost job again, had to return before even opening it.
Back to G400.
Quite a history... wonder if I forgot any?