Video Card help - AR15.COM

Posted: 3/29/2006 10:00:22 PM EDT

I had to rebuild my home system recently and ended up with an AMD sempron 3 ghz processor with 1 gig of ddr ram with my old Geforce 4 4200Ti video card.

Well, I thought I would try an nvidia 5500 256 meg agp card since I had to buy everything else.

My 4200Ti 128 meg agp card smokes the 5500!

I have flipped them back and forth and the 5500 just plain sucks compared to the 4200. I just can't believe that this card sucks that bad!

I have correctly switched drivers and what not back and forth 3 or 4 times with always the same results. 3dmark 2003 shows that the 4200 gets almost a third more points then the 5500. I am talking 9800 marks to 6800 marks.

What am I don't wrong?

Or can someone recommend a good agp card that is that much better then the 4200?

patsue

Posted: 3/29/2006 10:15:06 PM EDT

[#1]

Just about any AGP you could buy right now would be better then that card.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:32:26 PM EDT

[#2]

Yeah, don't know why I didn't do more research. I can't really return it to the small time computer store where I got it as I opened it up and used it. Nothing really wrong with it, except it sucks. I will just move it to the office computer which uses some sort of geforce 3 32 meg card. Should be better then that at least.

Any suggestions for an agp card that is substantially better then my 4200Ti for a reasonable price? Like less then 200 bucks?

patsue

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:38:23 PM EDT

[#3]

Go to Tomshardware.com it's a great place to find side-by-side charts.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:39:54 PM EDT

[#4]

Try a GeForce 6800GT or so card.

Has pretty good specs, and will do ok for gaming.

At least 256MB ram would be good also.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:41:56 PM EDT

[#5]

For ATI look into the X800 XT and X850 XT

For nvidia I'd go 6600GT or the 6800GS.

These 4 cards are the most popular, best performing and best priced AGP cards out there.

Keep in mind the X800XT and X850XT are almost the same card.

The 6600GT and the 6800GS will have a notable difference in performance and the 6800GT is slightly better then the 6800GS.

I'd personally stay away from nvidia cards right now, ATI's offerings currently offer a better price vs. performance bargain.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:46:50 PM EDT

[#6]

AGP cards are slim pickin these days.

The only one that newegg.com had in stock was this Apollo 6800 for around 150 beans.

Probably time to go PCI-E anyway ... as far as I know nVidia and ATi are not coming out with any more AGP cards for their next generation (e.g. 7900GT) cards. Can you get a new mobo?

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:47:50 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

For nvidia I'd go 6600GT or the 6800GS.

I just installed the 6800 GS yesterday in my machine. Damn what a difference.

Can run doom 3 and battlefield 2 on high no problem.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:51:26 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
AGP cards are slim pickin these days.

The only one that newegg.com had in stock was this Apollo 6800 for around 150 beans.

Probably time to go PCI-E anyway ... as far as I know nVidia and ATi are not coming out with any more AGP cards for their next generation (e.g. 7900GT) cards. Can you get a new mobo?

You didn't look hard enough I think.

They're there, I had to suffle the newegg views around before I got the 6800GS AGP and 6800GT AGP's to show at the top but they're there.

Posted: 3/30/2006 12:52:30 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Quoted:

For nvidia I'd go 6600GT or the 6800GS.

I just installed the 6800 GS yesterday in my machine. Damn what a difference.

Can run doom 3 and battlefield 2 on high no problem.

I hear good things about those GS cards. Some can be unlocked so that they're actually GT's and not GS's.

Nvidia just came out with the fastest AGP card, the 7800GS. I have to give them props for that.

Posted: 3/30/2006 1:00:29 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

For nvidia I'd go 6600GT or the 6800GS.

I just installed the 6800 GS yesterday in my machine. Damn what a difference.

Can run doom 3 and battlefield 2 on high no problem.

I hear good things about those GS cards. Some can be unlocked so that they're actually GT's and not GS's.

Nvidia just came out with the fastest AGP card, the 7800GS. I have to give them props for that.

I read they overclock real well even with stock cooling.
One guy got his to like 550/1250 (stock 425/1000 i think)
just with stock cooling. I think putting one of those zalman units on it could push it even farther.
I've only had it for a day, so when I get bored i'll start tweaking.

ETA:

Plus It was only $160 for the Evga PCI-e flavor @ newegg.

Posted: 3/30/2006 1:10:07 PM EDT

[#11]

I just up graded to a ATI Radeon X1300 it rocks. Had a ATI radeon X300Se before. Anyone need a 128 meg ddr card with tv out?

Posted: 3/30/2006 1:16:20 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

You didn't look hard enough I think.

They're there, I had to suffle the newegg views around before I got the 6800GS AGP and 6800GT AGP's to show at the top but they're there.

Maybe so. I could not find a 6800GS or GT that was in-stock and under $200.

Posted: 3/30/2006 2:12:27 PM EDT

[#13]

O I see what you're saying.

Ya, its hard to find any good agp card under $200 but they're out there.

Posted: 3/31/2006 3:27:42 PM EDT

[#14]

Well, I ordered an MSI Geforce 6600 256MB 128-bit DDR VIVO AGP 4X/8X Video Card. It was only 133 bucks and had good reviews. I didn't want to spend $200 for a card for a computer I am probably going to majorly upgrade in the not too distant future.

It isn't the GS or GT model so I am sure it isn't as good.

Patsue

Posted: 3/31/2006 5:14:23 PM EDT

[#15]

X850 XT

Posted: 3/31/2006 6:35:00 PM EDT

[#16]

Too much dinero...

patsue

Posted: 4/5/2006 1:56:22 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Well, I ordered an MSI Geforce 6600 256MB 128-bit DDR VIVO AGP 4X/8X Video Card. It was only 133 bucks and had good reviews. I didn't want to spend $200 for a card for a computer I am probably going to majorly upgrade in the not too distant future.

It isn't the GS or GT model so I am sure it isn't as good.

Patsue

Installed it, it rocks!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Video Card help

General » General Discussion

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us