Building my PC-Video card advice

If you're mainly looking for gaming, you've underbudgeted on the video card
IMO.

The Barton 2500+ is probably the current sweetspot for price/performance,
but you could get a retail one for a little more ($5) and then not bother
with the $20 for the heatsink/fan (although you can get reasonable
aftermarket ones for plenty less anyway).

If you can therefore increase the graphics budget to $85-$100 you'd be into
the low-midrange of 64MB Ti4200s or possibly even the Radeon 9500/9600
non-pros.

Otherwise, I would still advise against the MX440 - DX7 is not going to cut
it in modern games. The FX5200 is very similar speed to a Radeon 9100, and
a bit more expensive. It does have DX9 compatibility, which may mean it
will perform better in newer games. However, in general ATi cards come with
better 2D quality, especially for DVD playback, and often the cheap ones
still have dual display outputs, and come bundled with DVI-VGA adaptors and
TV-out cables (at least my 9000 Pro did and it was the cheapest I could
find).

"JJ" <whatsmyname1978.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9b4dbe86.0307091242.3ddddc40@posting.google.com...
 > I'm in the research phase of (re)building my PC. I will get probably a
 > 2400+ processor and 512 ddr and ect. I'm basically only doing this so
 > I can play Half Life 2.
 >
 > questions:
 >
 > My budget is $50-$75 wich video card should I get? I'm looking at ATI
 > Radeon 9000-4x/9200-8x or GeForce fx5200-8x/Geforce4 MX440 (all 128
 > mb).
 >
 > Is it better to get a faster 4xagp card or a slower 8xagp card (keep
 > in mind it'll cost an extra $20 for a mother board with 8x
 > capability)?
 >
 > I'm replaceing all of the guts of my PC except the audio card and
 > drives. What all would you get that would total less then
 > $300(includes=motherboard(must have 5 PCI slots),CPU,fan,Video card,
 > RAM)?
 >
 > Here is my Idea:
 >
 > Mother board = ECS L7VTA (5 PCI, 8xagp, 3DDR, 333/400fsb) = $55
 >
 > CPU = AMD 2500+ (333fsb)= $85
 >
 > fan ? = $20
 > RAM = 512DDR-2700 (333fsb)= $60
 >
 > Video Card = ATI Radeon 9200, 128mb, 8xagp = $70
 >
 > total $290
 >
 > see any flaws?
 > thanks for the advice
 > JJ<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

"Andy Cunningham" <asc99c DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bei57c$nlf$1$830fa7a5@news.demon.co.uk>...
 > If you're mainly looking for gaming, you've underbudgeted on the video card
 > IMO.
 >
Andy's right about the video card. For gaming, it's the single most
important component (assuming an adequate CPU and RAM). The FX 5200
and Radeon 9200/9600 are all crap from all the reviews I've read.
They're slower than their DX8 counterparts. If you want a good DX9
card, I'd go with an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro (about $150). That card
seems to offer the best bang for the buck. The GeForce Ti4200 is also
a good value ($75-100 on ebay), but doesn't support all DX9 features.
It is an 8x card, though, and plenty fast to run most of the eye candy
in even the latest games. If you are upgrading for HL2, though, don't
skimp on the video card or you'll be very disappointed.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

This shows how much I know, but if I get a Barton core it will be safe
and efficeint to run with no heatsink/fan? Just to make sure I dont
screw anything up.

Thanks much
JJ


"Andy Cunningham" <asc99c.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bei57c$nlf$1$830fa7a5@news.demon.co.uk>...
 > If you're mainly looking for gaming, you've underbudgeted on the video card
 > IMO.
 >
 > The Barton 2500+ is probably the current sweetspot for price/performance,
 > but you could get a retail one for a little more ($5) and then not bother
 > with the $20 for the heatsink/fan (although you can get reasonable
 > aftermarket ones for plenty less anyway).
 >
 > If you can therefore increase the graphics budget to $85-$100 you'd be into
 > the low-midrange of 64MB Ti4200s or possibly even the Radeon 9500/9600
 > non-pros.
 >
 > Otherwise, I would still advise against the MX440 - DX7 is not going to cut
 > it in modern games. The FX5200 is very similar speed to a Radeon 9100, and
 > a bit more expensive. It does have DX9 compatibility, which may mean it
 > will perform better in newer games. However, in general ATi cards come with
 > better 2D quality, especially for DVD playback, and often the cheap ones
 > still have dual display outputs, and come bundled with DVI-VGA adaptors and
 > TV-out cables (at least my 9000 Pro did and it was the cheapest I could
 > find).
 >
 > "JJ" <whatsmyname1978.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:9b4dbe86.0307091242.3ddddc40@posting.google.com...
  > > I'm in the research phase of (re)building my PC. I will get probably a
  > > 2400+ processor and 512 ddr and ect. I'm basically only doing this so
  > > I can play Half Life 2.
  > >
  > > questions:
  > >
  > > My budget is $50-$75 wich video card should I get? I'm looking at ATI
  > > Radeon 9000-4x/9200-8x or GeForce fx5200-8x/Geforce4 MX440 (all 128
  > > mb).
  > >
  > > Is it better to get a faster 4xagp card or a slower 8xagp card (keep
  > > in mind it'll cost an extra $20 for a mother board with 8x
  > > capability)?
  > >
  > > I'm replaceing all of the guts of my PC except the audio card and
  > > drives. What all would you get that would total less then
  > > $300(includes=motherboard(must have 5 PCI slots),CPU,fan,Video card,
  > > RAM)?
  > >
  > > Here is my Idea:
  > >
  > > Mother board = ECS L7VTA (5 PCI, 8xagp, 3DDR, 333/400fsb) = $55
  > >
  > > CPU = AMD 2500+ (333fsb)= $85
  > >
  > > fan ? = $20
  > > RAM = 512DDR-2700 (333fsb)= $60
  > >
  > > Video Card = ATI Radeon 9200, 128mb, 8xagp = $70
  > >
  > > total $290
  > >
  > > see any flaws?
  > > thanks for the advice
  > > JJ<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

rchorse.DeleteThis@networld.com (Racehorse) wrote in message news:<125a5b9c.0307100705.1219e36c.DeleteThis@posting.google.com>...
 > "Andy Cunningham" <asc99c.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bei57c$nlf$1$830fa7a5@news.demon.co.uk>...
  > > If you're mainly looking for gaming, you've underbudgeted on the video card
  > > IMO.
  > >
 > Andy's right about the video card. For gaming, it's the single most
 > important component (assuming an adequate CPU and RAM). The FX 5200
 > and Radeon 9200/9600 are all crap from all the reviews I've read.
 > They're slower than their DX8 counterparts. If you want a good DX9
 > card, I'd go with an ATI Radeon 9500 Pro (about $150). That card
 > seems to offer the best bang for the buck. The GeForce Ti4200 is also
 > a good value ($75-100 on ebay), but doesn't support all DX9 features.
 > It is an 8x card, though, and plenty fast to run most of the eye candy
 > in even the latest games. If you are upgrading for HL2, though, don't
 > skimp on the video card or you'll be very disappointed.

Well, I've got a $300 budget. What should I "skimp" on. Can you
add/remove something to make it under $300? I have changed my list a
little though:


Mother board = ECS L7VTA (5 PCI, 8xagp, 3DDR, 333/400fsb) = $55

CPU = AMD 2500+ (333fsb) (Barton Core)= $87

RAM = 512DDR-2700 (333fsb)= $60

Video Card = Geforce FX 5200, 128mb, 8xagp, DX9 = $62
  (or Geforce4 TI 4200, 64mb, 8xagp, DX9 $82)

Power supply = 350 watt = $12

total $276 ($292 with G4TI4200)

Thanks,
JJ<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

On 10 Jul 2003 12:33:12 -0700
whatsmyname1978 RemoveThis @hotmail.com (JJ) wrote:

 > This shows how much I know, but if I get a Barton core it will be safe
 > and efficeint to run with no heatsink/fan? Just to make sure I dont
 > screw anything up.

Any contemporary CPU, even the low-power Cyrix and Transmeta chips,
needs a heat sink. High-power chips like the Athlon and P4 also
usually need one or more fans.

 >
 > Thanks much
 > JJ
 >
 >
 > "Andy Cunningham" <asc99c RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:<bei57c$nlf$1$830fa7a5@news.demon.co.uk>...
  > > If you're mainly looking for gaming, you've underbudgeted on the
  > > video card IMO.
  > >
  > > The Barton 2500+ is probably the current sweetspot for
  > > price/performance, but you could get a retail one for a little more
  > > ($5) and then not bother with the $20 for the heatsink/fan (although
  > > you can get reasonable aftermarket ones for plenty less anyway).
  > >
  > > If you can therefore increase the graphics budget to $85-$100 you'd
  > > be into the low-midrange of 64MB Ti4200s or possibly even the Radeon
  > > 9500/9600 non-pros.
  > >
  > > Otherwise, I would still advise against the MX440 - DX7 is not going
  > > to cut it in modern games. The FX5200 is very similar speed to a
  > > Radeon 9100, and a bit more expensive. It does have DX9
  > > compatibility, which may mean it will perform better in newer games.
  > > However, in general ATi cards come with
  > > better 2D quality, especially for DVD playback, and often the cheap
  > > ones still have dual display outputs, and come bundled with DVI-VGA
  > > adaptors and TV-out cables (at least my 9000 Pro did and it was the
  > > cheapest I could find).
  > >
  > > "JJ" <whatsmyname1978 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
  > > news:9b4dbe86.0307091242.3ddddc40@posting.google.com...
   > > > I'm in the research phase of (re)building my PC. I will get
   > > > probably a 2400+ processor and 512 ddr and ect. I'm basically only
   > > > doing this so I can play Half Life 2.
   > > >
   > > > questions:
   > > >
   > > > My budget is $50-$75 wich video card should I get? I'm looking at
   > > > ATI Radeon 9000-4x/9200-8x or GeForce fx5200-8x/Geforce4 MX440
   > > > (all 128 mb).
   > > >
   > > > Is it better to get a faster 4xagp card or a slower 8xagp card
   > > > (keep in mind it'll cost an extra $20 for a mother board with 8x
   > > > capability)?
   > > >
   > > > I'm replaceing all of the guts of my PC except the audio card and
   > > > drives. What all would you get that would total less then
   > > > $300(includes=motherboard(must have 5 PCI slots),CPU,fan,Video
   > > > card, RAM)?
   > > >
   > > > Here is my Idea:
   > > >
   > > > Mother board = ECS L7VTA (5 PCI, 8xagp, 3DDR, 333/400fsb) = $55
   > > >
   > > > CPU = AMD 2500+ (333fsb)= $85
   > > >
   > > > fan ? = $20
   > > > RAM = 512DDR-2700 (333fsb)= $60
   > > >
   > > > Video Card = ATI Radeon 9200, 128mb, 8xagp = $70
   > > >
   > > > total $290
   > > >
   > > > see any flaws?
   > > > thanks for the advice
   > > > JJ


--
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

 > Well, I've got a $300 budget. What should I "skimp" on. Can you
 > add/remove something to make it under $300? I have changed my list a
 > little though:
 >
 >
 > Mother board = ECS L7VTA (5 PCI, 8xagp, 3DDR, 333/400fsb) = $55
 >
 > CPU = AMD 2500+ (333fsb) (Barton Core)= $87
 >
 > RAM = 512DDR-2700 (333fsb)= $60
 >
 > Video Card = Geforce FX 5200, 128mb, 8xagp, DX9 = $62
  > (or Geforce4 TI 4200, 64mb, 8xagp, DX9 $82)
 >
 > Power supply = 350 watt = $12
 >
 > total $276 ($292 with G4TI4200)
 >
 > Thanks,
 > JJ

If the $300 is your absolute cap, then I think what you have laid out
here is pretty good. If you have any flexibility with the $300, I'd
advise you to spend $100 more on a better video card. If you buy the
5200 or the 4200, you'll just have to upgrade it in a year or so
anyway, and it really won't give you much of anything in HL2. If all
you're worried about is being able to play Half-Life 2 (even with all
the settings turned down), there's no point in even upgrading. Valve
has said the minimum specs will be a 700 Mhz CPU and a TNT2 video
card, although I'm sure it will look like crap with that setup.

But like I said, if $300 is your absolute limit, what you have listed
looks like about the best setup you could get for the money.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

On 9 Jul 2003 13:42:56 -0700, whatsmyname1978 RemoveThis @hotmail.com (JJ) wrote:

 >I'm in the research phase of (re)building my PC. I will get probably a
 >2400+ processor and 512 ddr and ect. I'm basically only doing this so
 >I can play Half Life 2.
 >
 >questions:
 >
 >My budget is $50-$75 wich video card should I get? I'm looking at ATI
 >Radeon 9000-4x/9200-8x or GeForce fx5200-8x/Geforce4 MX440 (all 128
 >mb).

Skimp on the processor and spend a little more on your card. No less
than a GeForce4 ti4200 will do. Avoid that MX!<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

On 10 Jul 2003 08:05:20 -0700, rchorse RemoveThis @networld.com (Racehorse) wrote:

 >a good value ($75-100 on ebay), but doesn't support all DX9 features.
 >It is an 8x card, though, and plenty fast to run most of the eye candy
 >in even the latest games. If you are upgrading for HL2, though, don't
 >skimp on the video card or you'll be very disappointed.

Upgrade time is soon... Flight Sim 2004, Half-Life 2, Doom III....
I'm looking at nothing less than a Radeon 9700 PRO... probably get a
9800 PRO by the time I upgrade.

jw<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

On 10 Jul 2003 15:59:07 -0700, whatsmyname1978 RemoveThis @hotmail.com (JJ) wrote:

 >Power supply = 350 watt = $12


Hruumm?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice 

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:57:48 +0000, "J.Clarke" <jclarke RemoveThis @attglobal.net>
wrote:

 >Any contemporary CPU, even the low-power Cyrix and Transmeta chips,
 >needs a heat sink. High-power chips like the Athlon and P4 also
 >usually need one or more fans.

If I were this guy - I'd wait until my budget hit $400 or so. No
heatsink/fan? $12 power supply? Hmmmm....<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Building my PC-Video card advice