Recommend a video card for an aging box

[DaFunkyUnit]

At my parent's house, there sits a desktop (a P4 2.6ghz) which could use an upgraded vid card (currently has Radeon 9600). I have not been keeping up w/ vid cards for the last few years, so I have no idea how the various vid cards stack up on the totem pole these days.

So whats the best AGP vid card out there nowadays?

From nVidia, I see that the 6600GT, the 6800 card (which is what I have), or a 7600GS will be pretty good. I have no idea on the ATI lineup though.

Basically, the goal is to be able to play any Source-engine game well. :) (i like cake)

oh, and budget should be ~$100, give or take.

as always, tia, g|a? crew.
-daUnit

[DaFunkyUnit]

hmm.. so I think I'm looking at the nVidia 7600GS or an ATI x1650.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121064

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073

a lot of reviewers are complaining how these cards run super duper hot, which makes me worry... since the box its going in doesnt have much case fans, only has very basic ventilation. What say you?

[lindysd]

Go with the ATI and consider hooking up a couple of extra fans in the box! They are easy to install and cheap. If that is not an option, just leave the cover off the box - I had a roomie in college who did that and it worked fine.

[nate el bueno]

newegg has the 2600xt for under 100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102718

Really, what I think is the best option is going on ebay and buying a 7800 GS. Those are AGP, and often go for 80-100.

[attgig]

out of curiosity, what's wrong with the 9600 that it could use a new card? it's old, but... in terms of normal surfing/email's/music, is there something missing?

[DaFunkyUnit]

out of curiosity, what's wrong with the 9600 that it could use a new card? it's old, but... in terms of normal surfing/email's/music, is there something missing?

no, nothings wrong with the 9600. It works fine. But for games that require a decent amount of graphical "oomph" (Far Cry 1, HL2, Doom3), it gets bogged down. Plus at this point in time, the 6800+ type of cards are well below $100, which makes upgrading tempting.

its all just fancying at the moment, havent really bought anything... yet.

[zippyjuan]

I am playing through Far Cry original again with my Radeon X800XL AGP card. It is a bit noisier compared to my 9700 non-pro I replaced it with. I am stuck at one point where I am trying to get out of a building and there are at least six guys waiting for me. The video card has plenty of power for that game at 1920x 1600 resolution (26" widescreen LCD). My machine is five years old- Athlon XP 2400.

One list of recommendations: http://compreviews.about.com/od/video/tp/AGPVideo.htm

Check the power supply requirements on some of the cards too.