Graphics Card Question

[Larry_OHF]

I need a new card because the Undermountain mod is cooking my NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 (64 MB). I want to know what is the best card I can get that actually will work on my motherboard. I know that some of the newer cards will not work on my board, but I do not know how far back to start looking.

Here are the specs.

CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 1800 MHz (4.5 x 400)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville 2 D850EMV2 (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850E
System Memory 1024 MB (RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (03/28/02)

[T-D-C]

Do you know what speed your AGP slot is ? either x4 or x8 ?

[Zebodog]

I'm pretty sure that board is stuck at AGP 2.0, i.e. 4X.

Most AGP cards that support 8X are also backwards compatible with 4X so you do have some choices.

I'm not sure if I would blow a whole bunch of money on a video card for that hardware since your CPU is very soon going to be holding you back on not your video card.

I'd probably be tempted to go with an old ATI 9800pro or some such until you can afford to upgrade the whole system. Even though the 9800pro is slightly older, it'll still handle most games.

[Larry_OHF]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I know, my motherboard and CPU need replacing, but I am not allowed to replace them until I have a job. Currently, I have gone back to school to get a degree while my wife pays the bills. This was her idea of course and not mine. I am allowed to upgrade the card since I have had it longer than any other piece of hardware in my PC. (Its the only thing that was saved from the old system).

Therefore, I just need something to make things better for me and is cheap enough to warrent the effort...

Oh...what TDC asked is something new to me. I have never heard of AGP slot speed. I'll see if I can locate info on that.

Edit: AGP connector supporting 1.5 V 4X AGP cards only...

What does that mean? .

[ 06-14-2006, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Hivetyrant]

I would do as Zebodog says and go for a Radeon 9800pro or SE(but try to get a pro) as they are cheap these days and will give a nice power boost to your PC.

[Albromor]

As has been suggested 8X cards are backwords compatible which means an 8X AGP card will work in your motherboard but only at 4X capabilities because your motherboard is designed that way.

The ATI 9800 PRO should do you well.

[T-D-C]

The above recomendations get the thumbs up from me.

[Albromor]

Larry, I checked both NewEgg and ZipZoomFly and neither have the 9800 PRO but there are the 9600 that should do you well.

Here is one from ZZF:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=326805

[Larry_OHF]

Thanks for the link, and that is a great price range for me right now.

However...I have been an Nvidia man for a long time, and am having a difficult time with the idea of switching. I think I'll do some benchmark test searches tomorrow and see what comparisons I can make between the two.
I usually take a long time to decide on what to buy.
I may take two weeks just researching!

[ 06-15-2006, 12:29 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[T-D-C]

If your looking for a Geforece stay away from the Fx5200. Its a nice card but not quite what I expected I have had few problems in other games but it runs NWN well enough.

Its cheap and nasty (picked mine up for $45AUD)