Video Card Upgrade Question

[Canuklehead]

I figured the lot of you would probably know your stuff when it comes to computers, so I'm posting here hoping you can help.

I need to upgrade my Video Card. Currently, I'm running a GeForce 4 MX440. It's been running alright, but it's serriously out of date. So, I want to find a good card that's not too expensive, will run with my motherboard and will run FFXI in high resolution like a charm.

My motherboard does not have PCIE. (Reading directly from the manual) it supports 4x/8x 1.5v AGP card. When I look as system requirements for a lot of newer GeForce cards, they all say AGP 2.0 required... I have no idea if that means anything for mine, but I figure it's not for me. Some ATI cards say AGP 8x, which I can do. Is there anything else I should look for? Or can you recomend some good cards that I can look into? Something under the $200 range (Canadian) and not ordered online. I get some nice discounts at local shops that can order faster than any online store can, so that's the route I'm taking... I'd just like to have an idea of what to look for.

Anyway, hope you can help. Thanks.

[Delson]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

the new 6800gs is a great agp card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130264

it may be a little more than you want to spend... but its worth it

[Canuklehead]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

the new 6800gs is a great agp card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130264

it may be a little more than you want to spend... but its worth it

Except for the $200+ USD price tag... I'm trying to stay somewhere under $200 Canadian. I think that translates to about $150 USD.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, is there anything else I need to look for when making a video card purchase? I was looking over the features and I'm not sure if my system is even fast enough for that card... what should I be looking for in terms of compatability?

[Delson]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Except for the $200+ USD price tag... I'm trying to stay somewhere under $200 Canadian. I think that translates to about $150 USD.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, is there anything else I need to look for when making a video card purchase? I was looking over the features and I'm not sure if my system is even fast enough for that card... what should I be looking for in terms of compatability?

i would think it'd be fine... as long as your mobo can handle agp 8x

whats your system specs?

edit: good deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102666

[Canuklehead]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

AMD AthalonXP 2500+
1.84 Ghz
1 GB RAM

running on a MSI KT4V Series MS-6712

(Don't really know what it all means, to be honest... hope that helps)

The board is definately AGP 8x supported.

[Delson]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

AMD AthalonXP 2500+
1.84 Ghz
1 GB RAM

running on a MSI KT4V Series MS-6712

(Don't really know what it all means, to be honest... hope that helps)

The board is definately AGP 8x supported.

you dont have that outdated of a system... youll be fine

[Canuklehead]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Cool, man. Thanks for the help! I was just worried that there was something I was overlooking. Hopefully by mid February I'll be able to make the upgrade... It's good knowing that I have some options.

[kvant]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Ati Radeon 9800pro is nice 140~ish card.

[forster]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Ati Radeon 9800pro is nice 140~ish card.

Absolutely, it's what I was running 18 months ago, but more than adequate for FFXI.

Id definately say invest in a modified 9800 with additional fan, or get a new one instead of the stock, as the stock cooling whines after a while.

[kvant]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Id definately say invest in a modified 9800 with additional fan, or get a new one instead of the stock, as the stock cooling whines after a while.

Wise advice, I had the fan die on my radeon after couple of months, as the radeon is rather heating specimen, the dust that gathered in the fan made it kind of smell funny.

Though, I know people who run r98pro just fine with stock fans, depends on ones case air-flow and all that.

[forster]

Re: Video Card Upgrade Question

Due to where my machine was situation in my front room (the floor - eeek!) mine got very dusty too, I've now vowed to keep my machine as high as possible, and is a lot better - but yeah, I remember the smell.