Sub-$200 video card recommendations

DuplexEmotions · 04-December-04, 04:26 PM

I'm looking at getting my brother a new video card to replace his Radeon 9000 Pro (can't even play Doom3 on minimum settings on it), but I only have $200 MAX to spend on him. What is the best value card, in your opinion, for that price range? He prefers ATI, but he's not going to get pissy if I get an nvidia for him.

I was thinking either 5900XT here : http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-119&depa=1

Or the AIW 9600 XT here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-352&depa=1

Any suggestions? He doesn't need anything uber performance (as evidenced by his current card, which is an upgrade to the 7500 he had in there a month or so ago), but it would be nice if he could play current games.

Edit: also looking at the 9800 non-pro here: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-412&depa=1

I'd like to save as much money as I can here so I can afford to eat after christmas

Rob · 04-December-04, 04:37 PM

Hey, I feel for your brother with that 9000 Pro....that's what I had up until a few weeks ago when I picked up a 9800XT.

Just a thought...I'd go for the AIW card. I'm sure that he'd get a kick out of watching TV on his computer.

Rob

DuplexEmotions · 04-December-04, 04:44 PM

doing more looking, a non AIW 9600XT can be had for as little as $155.50 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-344&depa=1

also found the 5900XT for $180 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...164-018&depa=1

Edit:

Yeah, he'd probably get a kick out of it. That used to be my 9000 Pro, so I feel his pain quite a bit. Then I got a 9700 Pro and gave my oldie to him, along with a AthXP 2600+ (to replace his 1.8ghz celeron), another 512 MB of ram (bringing him up to 1.5gb), and a new case I custom-painted a shiney black, which has now been chipped to hell because he has his case on his desk with a couple blocks of wood and a printer on top of it. I also gave him an 80gb hdd.

Sometimes I think about how great it must be to be my family :-P

gorked · 04-December-04, 04:45 PM

9800 Pro's are selling for $175 locally for me. Check the sales.

DuplexEmotions · 04-December-04, 04:48 PM

it's selling for $250 over here. Then again, since I'm in wisconsin all I get is best buy and circuit city.

Cyno01 · 04-December-04, 05:05 PM

AIWs rule! And IIRC the AIW9600XT also has a radio tuner and all the time shifting/recording capabilities of the tv stuff for radio. Pretty neat.

$SOLID$ Necro · 04-December-04, 06:58 PM

Nevermind..I posted a PCI Express card

gorked · 04-December-04, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro


	190$ or less if you look around on Pricewatch http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...TT=Video+Cards

The AGP models are still $240.

Iateronmly · 04-December-04, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorked


	The AGP models are still $240.

Wow - I got my XFX the first day available for 230. Prices goin' up, pure craziness. But 240 or not, they rock for the price. Twice the performance of my 9600XT.

khellandros66 · 04-December-04, 10:33 PM

Get the 5900XT or a cheap 9800Pro, either way its alot better then a 9600XT, trust me I thought I ided and went to heaven when I got my 9800P from a 9600XT

~Bob

DuplexEmotions · 05-December-04, 01:48 AM

okay, looks like the Rosewell 5900XT for $180 or the AIW 9600XT for $185. I need to decide if he'd use a TV tuner, but I'll probably go with the 5900XT.

gorked · 05-December-04, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions


	okay, looks like the Rosewell 5900XT for $180 or the AIW 9600XT for $185. I need to decide if he'd use a TV tuner, but I'll probably go with the 5900XT.

You could just wait for a sub-$200 9800 Pro from NewEgg to come in stock. They go from $180-$190.

aaronrkelly · 05-December-04, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions


	okay, looks like the Rosewell 5900XT for $180 or the AIW 9600XT for $185. I need to decide if he'd use a TV tuner, but I'll probably go with the 5900XT.

Good choice - the 5900xt makes a great midrange budget card. I upgraded from a ATI 9600xt to a eVGA 5900se (same as xt) and noticed a BIG difference.

3dmark03 was 3700 with the 9600xt and 5200 with the 5900se(xt) - gained a good 15 to 20 fps in need for speed underground. I still like my card, its not the fastest but I get 50 to 90 fps in CS:S at 1280x1024 with all the goodies turned on.

Grim_Reefer · 16-December-04, 04:12 PM

dude, go with a non aiw 9600 xt. rosewill has one w/ 256mb memory @ 128bit, and it kicks. only around $160, get one at newegg.com I just got one and it is great. 5900xt is good too, but they come around $180

TekXoID · 16-December-04, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions


	okay, looks like the Rosewell 5900XT for $180 or the AIW 9600XT for $185. I need to decide if he'd use a TV tuner, but I'll probably go with the 5900XT.

I would have gone for a 9800 Pro if I was on a $200 budget, they are about that or less nowadays.

Supersteve9219 · 16-December-04, 09:56 PM

I got a 9600 xt 256 and i can run Doom 3 and half life 2 on high

DuplexEmotions · 17-December-04, 12:14 AM

I already ordered a week ago, got a Rosewill 5900XT for him. I figure it'll more than suffice as an upgrade from a 9000 Pro.

RavingNutsack · 17-December-04, 06:48 AM

I think I may go for a 6800LE (around ~240 if i recall correctly) and try to softmod it to the full 16 pipes. I've heard of such things working with the 6800NU, so who knows, I might get lucky.

04-December-04, 04:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,563	Sub-$200 video card recommendations I'm looking at getting my brother a new video card to replace his Radeon 9000 Pro (can't even play Doom3 on minimum settings on it), but I only have $200 MAX to spend on him. What is the best value card, in your opinion, for that price range? He prefers ATI, but he's not going to get pissy if I get an nvidia for him. I was thinking either 5900XT here : http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-119&depa=1 Or the AIW 9600 XT here: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-352&depa=1 Any suggestions? He doesn't need anything uber performance (as evidenced by his current card, which is an upgrade to the 7500 he had in there a month or so ago), but it would be nice if he could play current games. Edit: also looking at the 9800 non-pro here: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-412&depa=1 I'd like to save as much money as I can here so I can afford to eat after christmas __________________ I wrote a haiku but it is not very good so I won't share it. "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." -Albert Einstein Last edited by DuplexEmotions; 04-December-04 at 04:32 PM.

04-December-04, 04:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Home of the world's greatest race... Posts: 6,660	Hey, I feel for your brother with that 9000 Pro....that's what I had up until a few weeks ago when I picked up a 9800XT. Just a thought...I'd go for the AIW card. I'm sure that he'd get a kick out of watching TV on his computer. Rob __________________

04-December-04, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,563	doing more looking, a non AIW 9600XT can be had for as little as $155.50 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-344&depa=1 also found the 5900XT for $180 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...164-018&depa=1 Edit: Yeah, he'd probably get a kick out of it. That used to be my 9000 Pro, so I feel his pain quite a bit. Then I got a 9700 Pro and gave my oldie to him, along with a AthXP 2600+ (to replace his 1.8ghz celeron), another 512 MB of ram (bringing him up to 1.5gb), and a new case I custom-painted a shiney black, which has now been chipped to hell because he has his case on his desk with a couple blocks of wood and a printer on top of it. I also gave him an 80gb hdd. Sometimes I think about how great it must be to be my family :-P __________________ I wrote a haiku but it is not very good so I won't share it. "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." -Albert Einstein

04-December-04, 04:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
gorked Apex Tech Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 1,797	9800 Pro's are selling for $175 locally for me. Check the sales. __________________ ______________________________ Counter-Strike Pimps Idle and Perform #SbK on IRC!

04-December-04, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,563	it's selling for $250 over here. Then again, since I'm in wisconsin all I get is best buy and circuit city. __________________ I wrote a haiku but it is not very good so I won't share it. "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." -Albert Einstein

04-December-04, 05:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cyno01 Apex Tech God Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Whitewater, WI Posts: 3,869	AIWs rule! And IIRC the AIW9600XT also has a radio tuner and all the time shifting/recording capabilities of the tv stuff for radio. Pretty neat. __________________ Facebook me!

04-December-04, 06:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
$SOLID$ Necro Mastah Overclocker Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lima, Ohio Posts: 7,217	Nevermind..I posted a PCI Express card __________________ Join the PC Apex "Overclock and Benchmark" team today! Click Here! Necro's "Ultimate Links" Collection Click Here! Last edited by $SOLID$ Necro; 04-December-04 at 07:05 PM.

04-December-04, 10:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
khellandros66 Apex Master Tech Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Posts: 420	Get the 5900XT or a cheap 9800Pro, either way its alot better then a 9600XT, trust me I thought I ided and went to heaven when I got my 9800P from a 9600XT ~Bob __________________ My Equipment HT Gallery Format Neutral List My Reviews

05-December-04, 01:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,563	okay, looks like the Rosewell 5900XT for $180 or the AIW 9600XT for $185. I need to decide if he'd use a TV tuner, but I'll probably go with the 5900XT. __________________ I wrote a haiku but it is not very good so I won't share it. "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." -Albert Einstein

16-December-04, 04:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
Grim_Reefer Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: oh, man. I forgot Posts: 173	dude, go with a non aiw 9600 xt. rosewill has one w/ 256mb memory @ 128bit, and it kicks. only around $160, get one at newegg.com I just got one and it is great. 5900xt is good too, but they come around $180

16-December-04, 09:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
Supersteve9219 Box of Chocolates Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,136	I got a 9600 xt 256 and i can run Doom 3 and half life 2 on high

17-December-04, 12:14 AM	#17 (permalink)
DuplexEmotions Bi P-Hoe-lar Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,563	I already ordered a week ago, got a Rosewill 5900XT for him. I figure it'll more than suffice as an upgrade from a 9000 Pro. __________________ I wrote a haiku but it is not very good so I won't share it. "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." -Albert Einstein

17-December-04, 06:48 AM	#18 (permalink)
RavingNutsack Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 143	I think I may go for a 6800LE (around ~240 if i recall correctly) and try to softmod it to the full 16 pipes. I've heard of such things working with the 6800NU, so who knows, I might get lucky.