Video cards

[Sava]

So my video card just died while I was typing a reply in another thread. That was fun.

It was a BFG 6800 Ultra 256 OC AGP card.

I'm now in need of a replacement. I'm currently running on a backup card I have... a 5900... it's not going to handle my games very well.

I've not kept up on hardware lately so I thought I'd ask around before doing a little research... you know, see what people thought. Maybe someone has some hardware they have had good luck with. I don't think I'm going to buy BFG again. This is the second BFG card that died. The first one I had replaced less than a month after I bought it. This is the replacement. It has lasted since March of 2005 I think. What a piece of crap.

Anyways, I'm in the market for an AGP card. I've got an Athlon 64 3500+ processor running on an Asus A8V Deluxe mobo with a gig of RAM. I doubt I'm going to be able to upgrade that hardware any time soon, so I just need a replacement card at this time. Maybe something a little bit better than what I had if it will do me any good. I realize that my RAM or my processor may then be my bottleneck if I get a much better vid card, but it sucks to have to spend like $150 - $200 just to get a replacement. I usually want to get something a little better, you know?

It doesn't have to be nVidia, I'm open to ATI. But I'm familiar with nVidia, so I will need someone who knows ATI products to let me in on the models and such that ATI offers if I'm going to get an ATI card.

I'd prefer to get the best bang for my buck. In the past that's been nVidia. But at this point, reliability does factor into it. The last to nVidia cards I've had from BFG Technologies have not lasted long.

[SlowwHand]

http://www.thetechzone.com/?m=show&id=385

[Sava]

I need something a little more powerful than that.

[Sava]

Hmmm... how's this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161032

HIS Hightech H165PRQ512AN-R Radeon X1650PRO 512MB GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X IceQ Video Card - Retail

Core clock: 600MHz
Memory Clock: 800MHz
PixelPipelines: 12

$169.99

[Sava]

The nVidia cards seem to have a higher memory clock but a lower core clock than the ATI cards. I wonder which is better.

[SlowwHand]

One of the tech geeks will come by shortly, I imagine.
I was also more concerned over spending your money than you are.

[Asher]

The clock rates don't really compare with eachother.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

[Sava]

Interesting.

Thanks Asher.

Although it appears as if I have a lifetime warranty on my video card. I guess I won't be buying one after all.

I seem to be creating a lot of threads lately that live out their usefulness pretty quickly.

[alva]

I'm not following cards lately either so my input here is going to be very limited.
What I do know, is that ATI is going rebrandish/rename some of it's older cards to give them new sexy names. Same cards, bigger price tag, so be carefull.

[Sava]

Judging from some of the benchmark results of the cards I was looking at, that seems to be the case. I was looking at the 1650 which supposedly had more memory and a higher speed that my 6800 ultra, yet it performed worse in every single benchmark test. It also costs a little more than my card does now.

There really wasn't a lot a choices from either chipset that looked promising. I mean... nothing that was under $300. Although there was a 7800 card that was around $200 after mail in rebate that looked good. The benchmarks on it were nice.

But it's moot now since I have a warranty on my card. I guess BFG Technologies isn't all bad after all.

I might be having to get my 2nd replacement card, but at least they are free!

[LordShiva]

Get a cheap one now and a DX10 card in a few months once they come down in price.

[Sava]

I'm thinking by the summer time I should be able to buy a new mobo, processor, and vid card... DX10

[Nostromo]

I just bought a Leadtek GeForce 7600 GT. Its fairly cheap and a good performer.

[Stuie]

If you want this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150071061165

I'll pull the auction and negotiate a decent price.

Edit: oops - nevermind. I see your problem has already been solved.

[LordShiva]

OMG stuie is teh spambot

[Stuie]

Originally posted by LordShiva
OMG stuie is teh spambot

Hey - I was just trying to help.