Need new video card, but which: PCIe or AGP? (1 Viewer)

[Timon Russo]

I have a Dimension 4600 with a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 that I want to replace. It says its on PCI bus 1 in the Device Manager. I haven't bought a video card in a while. Does this mean that I need a PCI express card? I am looking at the mother board, and I don't see any other slots but regular PCI.

Best Buy has the Radeon 9250 on sale for $100 this week and I might get one tomorrow, unless someone tells me not to.

 

[Diallo B]

not talking down to you. just trying to be helpful.

do you know what an agp slot looks like???

it is HIGHLY unlikely that your dell supports pci-express. if you have a budget of around 100 bux there are better options than a 9250.

If you do a lil' "easter hunting" you might be able to come up with a 9800 pro (agp) for around 130 bux. if you don't mind fast reliable shipping anyway.

 

[Diallo B]

based on this this you have an agp slot and 2 legacy pci slots.

get the 9800pro and call it a day.

that 9250 although "on sale" is old technology that is even overpriced "on sale". go on a spring easter hunt and get that 9800pro. after you get it then download ati tool.

you will be a happy camper.

 

[Timon Russo]

I've always assumed it was AGP until I looked in the Device Manager and it said it was occupying the PCI bus. But it doesn't look the like the other 3 (yes, three) PCI slots. Thus the confusion. Honestly, I can't even afford the 9250 right now, so the 9800pro is right out.

Can anyone comment on the performance boost I will see coming from my current card? I play mostly shooters, HL2, DOOM3, COD, etc.

 

[Ken Chui]

Performance-wise, the FX 5200 isn't much different than a GeForce 4 MX (i.e. not good, from a gamer's perspective); it is also a poor overclocker. If you're looking at a Radeon-based card, a 128MB 9600 should be the lowest level card under consideration for gaming (the 92xx line, much like the FX 5200, is suitable for everyday tasks and 'net surfing, but not much else). A 9600 can be had for ~$52 (incl. shipping; check PriceWatch).

 

[Mike Fassler]

it always says its on the pci bus no worries there. I still run a 9800 pro and have no problems playing any current game even at 1600x1200.

 

[Timon Russo]

Thanks for all the advice. I looked at some 9800pros with 256 meg and they were over $200, which is more than twice what I want to spend. And it sounds like some of you consider THAT an old fashioned card. So I think I may be a different class of gamer than most of you. I am very happy with res. and frame rates on HL2 and COD with my 5200FX. Doom3 is playable at lowest resolution, but frankly, I don't enjoy the game that much, so it's not a big deal.

I also play Falcon4, which does stutter quite a bit when there's a lot of action, but I only have 512ram, so maybe more memory is my answer there.

So no new video card for me this week. Thanks again.

 

[Jesse Blacklow]

I wouldn't give up yet. What about the nVidia 6200 or ATI X300? I don't know much about them (so read up if you want), but they're both based off of the newer chipsets--which means they're DX9-compatible--and I know there are AGP versions of the 6200 that go for about $100 over at newegg.com. Just remember to get the 256MB DDR versions with 128-bit memory interfaces.

 

[Diallo B]

the only reason to get a 256mb 9800pro is for the r360 core. with that core it can be softmodded and overclocked to to a 9800xt.

otherwise a 256mb 9800 that is not altered will LITERALLY offer the same performance as a 128mb 9800pro.

the 256mb version 9800pro costs what it costs because of the abilty it has to be altered. if and when you do decide to get a card find a good deal on a 9800 for around 120-130 bux and be happy.

i have my 128mb 9800pro softmodded/overclocked to a 9800xt running dual 19 inch crt's. and although it runs a little hot i can run any game i want at 1280x1024 and watch tv on my other monitor using windvr with no crashes or artifacts.
i probably need to upgrade the stock cooling on the card but i don't want to void my warranty. (it is 3 years)

long story short, i get twice the performance out of my card for half the price of a 9800xt.

 

[Mike_J_Potter]

Agreed I see 9800 pro 128 megs going for 100-120 on newegg. I had one and it worked good, I was even happy with my 9600 pro but I need a little more to run some games at high resolution, with my flat panel (going all out and getting a 7800GT). I am looking to get rid of the 9600 pro if you are interested send me a PM if you are.