StarDestroyer.Net BBS

It seems my current video card is dying on me so I need a new one. Anyone have a suggestion for a video card in the $150 range? My current one is a Asus Nvidia Geforce 4 Ti4200 128mb ddr card. I am looking for something comparable (or somewhat better), but it needs to be reliable and a good workhorse card (handle good graphics but also last a while). And it has to be around $150. Suggestions are welcome.

You might be able to find a GeForce FX 5900XT or Radeon 9800 if you shop around. Failing that, a Radeon 9600XT is your best bet, as it runs cool, overclocks well, doesn't need a PSU connection and is a pretty good performer for the price.

FYI, I do plan on getting games like Half-Life 2 and such, so I take it I won't be having any problems like I've heard some graphics cards might?

In that case a Radeon 9600XT would definately be your best bet.

Turns out I seriously underestimated how much a 9800/5900XT costs, and the best cards you can get in the $150 range are the 9600XT and the 5700 Ultra. They're about the same in pre-DX9 games, but the 5700 Ultra falls behind whenever DX9 units are called into play (Far Cry currently, and HL2 in the future), and it's (generally) more expensive.

Comparison of GeForce FX 5700 Ultra and Radeon 9600XT in DX9 games

On Newegg I found a 9600XT going for $165. Damn, its really to bad how expensive those other cards are.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 362&depa=1

Would you call that a good card and a good deal?

Alyeska wrote:On Newegg I found a 9600XT going for $165. Damn, its really to bad how expensive those other cards are.

Not a good price. I just checked Pricewatch and both the Radeon 9800 and GeForce 5900 are availible for $170. Those would be my first choices quite honestly.

Not sure which one you mean, but I found one for $146 that also has faster memory than most other 9600XTs have.

Sapphire 9600XT

While the 9600XT won't compete with an X800 or a 6800 Ultra, it's a worthy card, and it'll hold up so long as you don't try and run it at insane resolutions and/or detail levels.

Alyeska wrote:http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 362&depa=1

Would you call that a good card and a good deal?

Yes, $210 for the Pro model is a good price, but if you don't want to spend that much, the regular 9800 is only $170 like I said.

The Kernel wrote: Not a good price. I just checked Pricewatch and both the Radeon 9800 and GeForce 5900 are availible for $170. Those would be my first choices quite honestly.

My confidence in Froogle just dropped a great deal.

But yeah, those would be a better choice if your budget extends that far.

I'd say go for either one of the Radeons, either the 9600xt or the 9800.

If you want to hit things right on the balance between Price/Performance, go for the 9800 pro. It usually goes for about $50 more than your budget, but every benchmark I see says that you definitely get a good chunk of added performance for that... whereas the difference between a Pro and an XT is not nearly worth the cost.

Honestly, I'd stick to an nVidia card, mainly for compatability reasons. You won't have to play driver boogaloo when you try to stick it in, which is always a plus.

This looks like a decent 5700, and should be more than enough to handle HL2. If it wasn't for your dying GF4, I'd say wait until the 6800 is released and then go for a 5900.

Well after talking to another friend its possible my card is working, its just overheating. I get it to play 3d accelerated games, but after no more then 10 minutes of play it crashes. The more intense the graphics, the faster it crashes. I am going to take the sides to my case off and see if that changes anything. If thats the case, I just need a new computer case.

Alyeska wrote:Well after talking to another friend its possible my card is working, its just overheating. I get it to play 3d accelerated games, but after no more then 10 minutes of play it crashes. The more intense the graphics, the faster it crashes. I am going to take the sides to my case off and see if that changes anything. If thats the case, I just need a new computer case.

If you do get another computer case, think about one of these. I just ordered one and it looks like a great solution to the cooling problem.

I'd also check to see if the GPU fan isn't clogged up and/or faulty. Do you notice an increase in artifacts before the crash?

DaveJB wrote:I'd also check to see if the GPU fan isn't clogged up and/or faulty. Do you notice an increase in artifacts before the crash?

Artifacts like the screen going all green and grainy while still kinda seeing the image you had right before the crash?

Alyeska wrote: Artifacts like the screen going all green and grainy while still kinda seeing the image you had right before the crash?

Yeah, those would qualify. Clean out that GPU fan and make sure there isn't anything blocking the fan blades. You may also want to check and see if the GPU heatsink is still firmly in contact with the GPU slug.

I am going to take the sides to my case off and see if that changes anything.

Get a PCI slot cooler, like this one. Well, maybe not THAT EXACT one (that looks like El Cheapo), but place it under the graphics card to get cool, fresh air right onto it.

The Kernel wrote:

Alyeska wrote: Artifacts like the screen going all green and grainy while still kinda seeing the image you had right before the crash?

Yeah, those would qualify. Clean out that GPU fan and make sure there isn't anything blocking the fan blades. You may also want to check and see if the GPU heatsink is still firmly in contact with the GPU slug.

Well I was inside it recently swapping out some HDs and I didn't notice massive dust buildup, but then again I wasn't really looking either.

Alyeska wrote: Well I was inside it recently swapping out some HDs and I didn't notice massive dust buildup, but then again I wasn't really looking either.

The problem is most likely inadaquate contact between GPU and heatsink if you are indeed overheating. Check the space between the heatsink and the GPU slug and be sure to clean out the fan just in case.

As far as I can tell the heatsink is right on the CPU.

I checked my bios for temperatures and it says my CPU is running at 46 degrees while my motherboard is running at 25 degrees.

I got the side panels off and I still got a freeze up on the game. Next time it happens I will get a digital camera shot so you can see what I am seeing.

Alyeska, not the CPU, the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The GPU has a heatsink and if you are artifacting, that means it is probably overheating. So check the heatsink on your video card and make sure it has a good connection.

Well thats going to be tricky since unlike the CPU, the whole thing is kinda meant to be not touched. I will have to disasemble my computer some more tonight or tomorow to check that one out.

Alyeska wrote:Well thats going to be tricky since unlike the CPU, the whole thing is kinda meant to be not touched. I will have to disasemble my computer some more tonight or tomorow to check that one out.

Just pull the Graphics card out of its slot, turn it on its side and see if the heatsink appears to be firmly on top of the graphics chip. Also wiggle it a little bit to make sure it is firmly in its locked position.

EDIT: Wiggle the heatsink that is.

Most GPU heatsinks are epoxied on from the factory so that shouldn't be an issue. I'd be more worried about the fan dying than contact between the heatsink and the GPU.