Graphics Card Advice

HelterSkelter

Hi Lads,

I have no idea about graphics cards so I need some advice! At the moment I have a 3dFX Voodoo 2 card. I want to get something better but I don't need anything too spectacular. I play games like MS Flight Sim 2004, Sim City 4, etc. I saw someone selling a ATI Radeon 9000 AGP for €15. Will this suit my needs? What about a Gainward GeForce FX5200 128MB DDR, AGP8X for €45 from Komplett?

My system is about 3 years old - AMD Duron 1.1Ghz, 512MB RAM, 120GB HD.

Thanks.

HelterSkelter

bump

TerrorFirmer

HelterSkelter wrote:

Hi Lads,

I have no idea about graphics cards so I need some advice! At the moment I have a 3dFX Voodoo 2 card. I want to get something better but I don't need anything too spectacular. I play games like MS Flight Sim 2004, Sim City 4, etc. I saw someone selling a ATI Radeon 9000 AGP for €15. Will this suit my needs? What about a Gainward GeForce FX5200 128MB DDR, AGP8X for €45 from Komplett?

My system is about 3 years old - AMD Duron 1.1Ghz, 512MB RAM, 120GB HD.

Thanks.

Be careful not to get something too powerful that will be wasted on your spec. Your spec as it is is pretty poor anyway, a 1.1 duron is not going to be playing much that requires anymore more then a Geforce 3 or 4. Look around on the FS forum, try pick up a Geforce 4 for about 15 euro. The Radeon 9000 would also be fine. I definately wouldn't go any higher then a 64mb card, as crap as it is, even an fx5200 would be wasted on a 1.1 Duron.

Are you sure you have the specs right? a 120gb HD and 512mb ram are generous resources to base on a 1.1 duron. A computer thats 3 years old should definately not have a 1.1 duron or anything like it- unless you built it yourself that way on purpose. Where did you get it?

HelterSkelter

Yeah build it myself. Bought one of those upgrade packs that includes the motherboard, CPU & RAM from Peats. Thinking about it now it could be nearer to 5 years old.

Tempus Fugit

Try and pick up a 2nd hand GF4 Ti4200, Ti4400 or Ti4600.
They were legends when they were released and should do you proud on that spec pC.
Probably get one for about £10-20

HelterSkelter

Thanks for the replies lads.

Just another question, how do you know if a graphics card is too powerful for your system? Is there some rule of thumb?

gamer

I THINK 1ghz pc ,spend no more than 60euro for a card, but say you get a 256meg video ram agp card , you cud buy a second hand 3.ogigahertz cpu pc on boards.ie with an agp graphics interface ,so it might be worth spending 100 on a geforce 9600 card ,if u think in future i will buy a 3.oghz pc in a year with an agp slot on the motherboard.they stopped making agp pcs about a year ago, the graphics card standard is now pci- express interface.MOST PCS NOW JUST HAVE pci-express slots on the motherboard/ mainboard.

DemonOfTheFall

I'd agree with all the advice to pick up some kind of GeForce 4.

Theres no point in buying a directx 9 card, a processor that slow will just choke a directx9 card. Saw it in action myself on our old pc. Went from a Geforce 2 GTS to an FX5200 and performance got no better in a few games, possibly even worse. Of course it did get better in a few aswell.

HelterSkelter

Thanks for the advice lads. Have picked up a Geforce MX440 64Mb. Will let you know how I get on.

DemonOfTheFall

I hope you only payed about 20 euro for that!

HelterSkelter

DemonOfTheFall wrote:

I hope you only payed about 20 euro for that!

Yeah paid €20 for it (including postage!)