Video Card Upgrade

Baxter · #1 05-11-2006, 05:27 PM

I need to upgrade my video card (among other things). My computer is a HP desktop with AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.10 GHz, 512 MB of RAM. My current video card is a VIA/S3G KM400. I have 64MB of VRAM.

My question is, what should I upgrade my video card to? I'm sure there are video cards that are "too much" for my computer to handle, even though they might be the best out there, so I'd just be wasting money. I'm looking at both of these:

Geforce 4TI Series
Radeon 8500 Series

Thoughts?

lastchance · #2 05-11-2006, 09:26 PM

I don't think you can buy a GeForce 4 TI now, same with the 8500.

Question 1: What do you need the GFX card for?

Baxter · #3 05-12-2006, 12:14 AM

I got a game and it wouldn't work. I checked out a message board from the parent company and they gave a list of video cards that were compatible and not. I know I need a new system, but I've been thinking about a new video card for a little while. I'm hoping for some ideas as to what will work well with my current system. I know it's risky, but I can find each of these on Ebay. Which cards should I be looking at?

thedustbustr · #4 05-12-2006, 12:48 AM

what game? (it makes a big difference)

I own a gf4ti4400, I can comment on its ability to run modern games. (no not for sale)

fwiw, I just spent $2k on a new rig to play oblivion. no way the current 2006 fps games run on a gf4ti.

Baxter · #5 05-12-2006, 01:29 AM

The game is City Life, but I'm also looking at getting Sims 2 and Elder Scrolls IV. Should I post a list of cards that was on the message board and get your input on what would be a good upgrade, what wouldn't be enough, and what would be too much? I'm a fish out of water here, and so I turn to my trusty 2+2 group to lead me in the right direction.

Baxter · #6 05-13-2006, 04:48 AM

So what video card would be a good fit for my computer?

newb1 · #7 05-13-2006, 08:43 AM

edit: first, check to make sure your computer will actually take a new video card. Some with built-in video facilities have neither an AGP or a PCI-E slot which really limits your upgrade path

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics/charts.html

Remember that you're probably after an AGP card NOT a PCI-E one, so don't get them confused.

This one is probably what you should be aiming for, but I'm more of an nvidia fan than an ATI one, so get another opinion:-
http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/02/14...better_buy_uk/

newb1 · #8 05-13-2006, 08:51 AM

For Oblivion, Firing Squad did a series of articles on dual-core processors, high-end video cards and low-end cards:-

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/

thedustbustr · #9 05-13-2006, 08:25 PM

oblivion doesn't even support the GF4 ti series.

Baxter · #10 05-14-2006, 03:43 AM

Newb1, your second link was broke. Could you put it up again?

Out of this list, what would be a good choice for an upgrade?

ATI X1900 series
ATI X1800 series
ATI X1600 series
ATI X1300 series
ATI X850 series
ATI x800 series
ATI x700 series
ATI x600 series
ATI Radeon 9800 series
ATI Radeon 9700 series
ATI Radeon 9600 series
ATI Radeon 9500 series
NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 series
NVIDIA GeForce 6200 series
NVIDIA GeForce FX series
*From Here