Per-chasing a new graphics card

[Ste150]

Ok, here’s the deal:

I've had this computer for coming up to 2 years, having self built it, and haven’t upgraded the graphics card yet. At the moment, i have some spare cash and thought it might be a good idea to take the plunge.
However, I’m really out of touch with the rate of development of graphics cards and what's actually decent these days.

My current card is, and i quote from system information: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600XT

I would like one of you lovely people to recommend me a card that’s substantially better than the one i currently have (as i most probably wont upgrade again for a while) at as cheaper price as possible. My max is £140, but as i said, i would prefer it to be cheaperer. :)

Notes:
My motherboard has AGP8x, and I don’t want to/cant afford to upgrade this at the moment.
I couldn't find the specs for my current card, but I’m told it's equivalent to a Fx5200, as the XT range were budgets, cut down versions
I'm not fussy about the Nvidia/Raidon debate, either is fine really.
Feel free to tell me I’d be better to stick with the one I have
My system specs, if they will help, are:
Athlon XP 2500+ (over-clocked to 3000+)
1gb ram
80gb hdd

Thanks in advance,
Stevo
:)

[monhay]

Wow.. I was just looking for the same thing the other day, and my card IS a NVIDIA GeForce FX5200...

What was the chance of that?

So i'm going to leech from this thread. Although i did spot this...

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3SGW&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=Geforce+6800+AGP&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

any good?

[Ste150]

Feel free, leech away :)

Edit: Removed my comment because it was stupid.

I've looked at that card too, though on ebuyer, it seems good, but with no context, or knowledge i would have no idea really

:cool:

[Bloopo]

Instead of a 6800LE I would recommend you have a crawl around the web for an AGP x800gto, which I'm pretty sure will be faster, and has 12 pixel pipelines instead of the 8 on a 6600gt and 6800LE.

[Playbus]

posted by Ste150
as the XT range were budgets, cut down versions

Not true. The letters XT on the end of an ATI card indicate that it is a better version of the card, not cut down.

Buy this (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=274560) .

It will do everything you need.

:D

[Ste150]

Okies, i've found a x700 in sweet agp:
Linky (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12360412095&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=97988)

I've also found an x800, but cant tell which slot its for, can someone tell bynthe picture?
Serious Linkage (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12360412095&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=97827)

EDIT:

Cheers m8, but i'm talking about the XT Nvidia cards, which im sure were cut-downs. :p

Anyways, i will check out that card and investimagate.

Any other sugestions?

[Stringy Pete]

Not true. The letters XT on the end of an ATI card indicate that it is a better version of the card, not cut down.

He's referring to nvidia, and as such he's right, the XT did mean it was rubbish.
Instead of a 6800LE I would recommend you have a crawl around the web for an AGP x800gto, which I'm pretty sure will be faster, and has 12 pixel pipelines instead of the 8 on a 6600gt and 6800LE.
I wasn't aware such a card existed (in AGP that is)...

Try and get a 6800nu (a non-LE 6800), as this has 12 pixel pipelines, for better performance than an LE, and better than a 6600GT at higher resolutions. Nothing in the ATI range for AGP competes at the price. What Playbus has linked would work nicely.

[Ste150]

I'm not sure what you mant by the Non-LE bit, but i've found this one (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12371618957&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=98265)

How does that compare to playbus'?

:) Thanks

[Bloopo]

Unless they've mislabeled it, it apparently does (http://www.lowestonweb.com/products/displayinfomain.asp?e=79FA375A-7C55-4E08-8B65-27A1D4222D9E)