Parabellum Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Right, so the Missus has given me a gift card to Best Buy for my birthday, and with it I'd like to get a new video card. I've looked around at the ones in my price range -- no more than about $100. The one I've settled on is the HD2600Pro, 512mb version. It seems to be a good card, and would probably sit well w/ my system: AMD Athlon 64x2 4800, 2gb ram, etc. Anyone have any experience w/ this card, or recommend something else in my price range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutlink Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 You would be much better off getting a 8600GT for $100, $80 with a $20 mail in rebate. A 2600XT would also be a much better choice than the Pro version. You can find cheaper XTs for around $100 or so, but it would be better to get one that has memory and that will cost about $120. Unfortunately Best Buy prices on graphics cards are obscene and I would really not recommend going through them, but if you have no other choice that 2600Pro should be ok to play at 1024x768 medium settings for most games right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisper_44 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I really like my 8600GT if it matters, it'll run VBS1 & VBS2 nicely, Crysis chokes the heck out of it, but I don't think that's uncommon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CR6 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 I don't know anyone who has experience with the ATI Radeon HD 2xxx range yet. I'm running a X1950 myself, but the 2xxx series is a new architecture. In fact, ATI just released the Radeon HD 3xxx refresh (essentially 2xxx architecture shrunk down in size with DX 10.1 support) so if you get an ATI, look at the to see if you can find the "budget" HD 3850 around. As of this point in time, I'm recommending most people get an Nvidia 8xxx gen card as they are solid performers at a good price, and are well supported by almost everything out there. If you can wait a month, Nvidia's 9600GT should be out "soon" http://www.dailytech.com/NVIDIA+Details+Ge...rticle10218.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabellum Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 (edited) I don't know anyone who has experience with the ATI Radeon HD 2xxx range yet. I'm running a X1950 myself, but the 2xxx series is a new architecture. In fact, ATI just released the Radeon HD 3xxx refresh (essentially 2xxx architecture shrunk down in size with DX 10.1 support) so if you get an ATI, look at the to see if you can find the "budget" HD 3850 around. As of this point in time, I'm recommending most people get an Nvidia 8xxx gen card as they are solid performers at a good price, and are well supported by almost everything out there. If you can wait a month, Nvidia's 9600GT should be out "soon" http://www.dailytech.com/NVIDIA+Details+Ge...rticle10218.htm That's probably going to be way out of my price range. And speaking of price ranges, Best Buy's sale on the 2600 Pro ended, so the price is back up to $199. I won't be getting that one. Out of the few cards that they carry, the 8400 seems decent enough for about $100. I really liked my X1600 Pro, but it's an AGP card. I don't suppose anyone knows of some kind of adapter to convert AGP cards to PCI Express? Edited January 17, 2008 by Parabellum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CR6 Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I really liked my X1600 Pro, but it's an AGP card. I don't suppose anyone knows of some kind of adapter to convert AGP cards to PCI Express? Nope, there's no adapter that I've heard of There was a "bridge" chip that was developed which could be sodered onto the board that ATI (I believe) used to change PCI-E back to AGP, but that's the closest thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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