Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Polpolion on March 01, 2006, 02:36:07 pm

Title: Recomendations
Post by: Polpolion on March 01, 2006, 02:36:07 pm
My dad says that if I do good enough in school, he'd get me a graphics card. I want to know what cards are good.
Suggestions?

Keep in mind that it should be cheap, available in the US (perferably at a Best Buy), able to run FSO well, and able to run other 1337 games as well.

(I hope those don't restrict my options too much)

Thanks.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on March 01, 2006, 03:17:10 pm
My dad says that if I do good enough in school, he'd get me a graphics card. I want to know what cards are good.
Suggestions?

Keep in mind that it should be cheap, available in the US (perferably at a Best Buy), able to run FSO well, and able to run other 1337 games as well.

(I hope those don't restrict my options too much)

Thanks.

Anything and everything SLI.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: BlackDove on March 01, 2006, 03:25:53 pm
AGP or PCI-E?

Sounds like AGP.

In that case you don't want a Graphic card, you want a new motherboard.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Polpolion on March 01, 2006, 05:17:15 pm
I have... let's see... 1 AGP slot and 3 PCI slots. I think.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Mefustae on March 01, 2006, 05:34:06 pm
If - like me - you can't be arsed upgrading your aging AGP mobo, just go for an nVidia GeForce 6600GT, it'll run most things with gusto, and is easily one of the best [if not the best] 'bang for your buck' card out there. I picked mine up online about a week ago running at AU$250, and it's worlds apart from my previous card [but bear in mind I was upgrading from a GeForce Ti4200, so damn near anything would be better than that].

Edit: Damn I sound like a corporate whore...  :nervous:
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: MatthewPapa on March 01, 2006, 07:20:58 pm
7800gtx ftw!! :D

btw, does a AGP version of the 7800 even exist?
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: phatosealpha on March 01, 2006, 07:40:12 pm
An AGP 7800GS exists, but it is NOT the equivalent of the PCI-e 7800GT, much less the GTX.

Hate to do it, but for AGP, you should probably look at the X850xt.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Dan1 on March 01, 2006, 08:58:11 pm
My dad says that if I do good enough in school, he'd get me a graphics card.

First thing I would do is ask him what qualifies as "good enough" and see if it's feesable since most teachers use some kind of point system.  (Homework 10/10 points and tests X/100 points.)  Knew a guy in college and we figured that if he got a 100 in the final that he still would only have a B in the class and not the A he was wishing for so his parents would go 1/2 on a car.  So since he couldn't he didn't try as hard and got a low B anyway.  So might want to figure it out to see if you need to waste your time.

Barring the above, look at the suggestoins but I will warn you if you go with ATi get used to the idea of DL'ing new drivers for like different game that comes out.  *gotta love omega drivers* :shaking:


Oh, sometimes if you get one online it tends to be cheaper than best buy.  My DVD burner was like 20% cheaper than Fry's.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: CP5670 on March 01, 2006, 11:04:57 pm
What exactly is your price range and what do you have now?

You aren't going to get any card at a reasonable price at BB though. Internet resellers have much better prices.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Nix on March 02, 2006, 12:31:42 am
The BFG 6600OC AGP is a good value for what it's worth, and I've seen it at my somewhat local Best Buy in store, when thier shelves are actually stocked.  It's got a factory warrantied overclock (which aint much, but at least it's warrantied by the mfr.) and performs a tad bit better than most 6600's out there.  It IS in the $200 range though.. be aware. 
 
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: CP5670 on March 02, 2006, 12:39:35 am
$200 for a 6600 is an extreme ripoff. Those cards aren't even worth half of that.
Title: Re: Recomendations
Post by: Nix on March 02, 2006, 01:03:25 am
Scratch that, I meant the 6800, not the 6600.  Curiously, BFG is selling 6600's at 180. 
I guess if you're stuck in AGP, you have to take what you can get.