[Polpolion]

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.

[Jetmech Jr.]

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.

[BlackDove]

AGP or PCI-E?

Sounds like AGP.

In that case you don't want a Graphic card, you want a new motherboard.

[Polpolion]

I have... let's see... 1 AGP slot and 3 PCI slots. I think.

[Mefustae]

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... 

[MatthewPapa]

7800gtx ftw!!

btw, does a AGP version of the 7800 even exist?

[phatosealpha]

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.

[Dan1]

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*


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.

[CP5670]

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.

[Nix]

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. 
 

[CP5670]

$200 for a 6600 is an extreme ripoff. Those cards aren't even worth half of that.

[Nix]

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.