Video Cards

[Coleman]

I'm gonna go ahead and assume this forum is okay to post this in. I'm looking to get a new graphics/video card. Mine is onboard and a piece of crap.

From what I've read about this computer (haven't gotten around to opening it up yet), I have a normal PCI slot, not PCI Express or AGP. In talking to Leandros, he suggested this card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103031

Other than it being more expensive than I'd like, it's also online which presents more issues given that I don't have (or have access to) a credit card.

I was wondering if you guys could give me input on the following ones. Tell me if they're all equally as good to the newegg one, and if they'd do what I need/want them to do. Which is mainly be able to play assorted Half-Life 2/Source Engine games. (CS:Source, DoD:Source, CSPromod, etc.) If they'd do the trick and do them well, please help me out. :D

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&search=video+card&N=200105&search_redir=1&Ns=display%5Fprice%7C0&product_code=335350
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&search=video+card&N=200105&search_redir=1&Ns=display%5Fprice%7C0&product_code=338091

Any tips or advice on any of the above cards (or other stores where I can get a good card for under 100 dollars) would be absolutely awesome and put you forever in my debt!

Oh, just in case it's necessary.

RAM: 512MB
Processor: Intel Celeron D, 2.93Ghz
Microsoft XP Home

If you need anything else, tell me what it is (and how to get it...)

Had to remove a couple of them, as I said I don't have a credit card and those ones weren't carried in the store...

[Sombra]

I understand your reluctance to pay high prices, however, I would not recommend any standard PCI video card if you have AGP available. They may be more expensive, but you'd be getting more for your money and it would probably last longer. Second, if you intend to do more intensive gaming, you might also want to consider a RAM upgrade in the near future.

The main question comes down to this: What do you primarily use your computer for? If it is not anything that is graphically intensive, that will probably change (somewhat) our responses.

[Coleman]

From what I've read about this computer (haven't gotten around to opening it up yet), I have a normal PCI slot, not PCI Express or AGP.I don't have AGP.

And as I said, the main reason I need a new one is for gaming, Source engine games.

And RAM will have to wait, this is the most important part for now.

[Sombra]

Man, I just read the whole thread again. Where was my brain when I replied last night? I apologize....
Okay, well, now I'm going to say that Leandros was definitely on the right track with that Diamond recommendation. GeForce FX 5200's are NOT going to cut it for games of HL2's caliber. CompUSA has a comparable VisionTek card for one hundred thirty dollars. You will always pay a little more in retail stores, but trust me, if you try to play HL2 or similar games with anything less than a hundred dollars, you'll likely regret it.

[snakebite]

i have a FX5200 that was bought like 3 years ago. It barely cuts the mustard on CSS, let alone any other graphical-intensive game. so yeah, get a better card.

[dr_st]

You will not be able to get any good video card for PCI, but that X1550 might be your best bet after all.

You can always get a friend with a credit card to order it for you.

[Coleman]

I don't doubt you guys at all, but I'm wondering if you can explain why the X1550 is better than the FX5200.

What makes one better than the other?

[Tim!]

I don't doubt you guys at all, but I'm wondering if you can explain why the X1550 is better than the FX5200.

What makes one better than the other?
Why would you want a FX5200? You can get the FX5500 for $50 on newegg. I honestly dont get why you think you need a credit card to get something there. I mean if you have a debit card with a VISA logo on it you can use that just fine... only if you dont wanna use it there but I dont see why not...

heres the link to the FX5500 link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130255)

[Sombra]

Basically, the X1550 is a more current chipset. It has a faster core clock speed; the memory clocks faster; it has more pixel pipelines (which means more multitasking during rendering) and most importantly, it conforms to more current OpenGL standards (2.0 as opposed to 1.4). Quite often, it is a certain type of shader or other sort of texturing methodology that newer games require, which is why it is important to have a card that supports newer standards.

[Ford Mustang]

Man, I just read the whole thread again. Where was my brain when I replied last night? I apologize....
Okay, well, now I'm going to say that Leandros was definitely on the right track with that Diamond recommendation. GeForce FX 5200's are NOT going to cut it for games of HL2's caliber. CompUSA has a comparable VisionTek card for one hundred thirty dollars. You will always pay a little more in retail stores, but trust me, if you try to play HL2 or similar games with anything less than a hundred dollars, you'll likely regret it.


It might be that I have AGP, but I can play HL2 just fine with a GeForce 6200 LE (paid $68 for it). [SETTINGS ON MEDIUM]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143110
GeForce 6200 PCI card for $70. Not sure if that is going to work for you, but it works fine for me.

[dr_st]

A 5200 is a very old card which was very low-end when it came out, so you can imagine how it performs today. I had a 5200 for a while, at it sucked big time.

A 6200 is much better than a 5200, because even though it's low end in its generation, this is one generation ahead of a 5200, so it outperforms it by quite a margin, and it also outperforms the 5500 (which was mid-end in its time).

Now, an X1550 is a mid-end card, one generation ahead of the 6200, so its performance is going to be noticeably better (even though it will be limited by the slow PCI bus). But you can still get along with the 6200, just not on high settings, as Ford Mustang said.

All in all, there's no magic here - you get what you pay for.

[Coleman]

I have onboard graphics now, I get about 10FPS running Source engine games. The problem is, all my advanced video settings in Source engine games are defaulted to Medium - High, I don't know why... but they are. However when I try to change them, the game crashes. I assume because of the onboard graphics.

My computer is a piece of sh*t, not just graphics, but RAM, Processor just about everything. Upgrading RAM, and processor, and a whole new PC is simply not an option right now. Whatever graphics card I get, I don't expect it to be marvelous.

My question is this: if I were to get the cheap 5200 from CompUSA, would I A: be able to change the video settings in Source Games, and B: get enough FPS (say 30-40) so Source would be playable.

Again, I know if I had the choice right now, the X1550 would be the way to go. But will the 5200 be useable at all, or would it result in no different than what I have now?

[Sombra]

The simple fact that you would no longer be using onboard video MIGHT make the settings a little easier to deal with. The 5200's performance would be so sub-par, however, that even being able to control the settings better would be a very moot point. You might be able to get a frame rate that would be just barely playable, but it would likely have to be on bare minimum settings anyway.

[Coleman]

I wouldn't mind running it on the minimum settings.

When I got my broadband connection (last December) a bunch of people wanted me to get CS. I was at Target with a gift card for the holidays, so Counter-Strike: Source and grabbed it, not knowing of course, that it wasn't the same as regular Counter-Strike. Long story short, I paid 50 bucks for a game I can't even play. If it looks like crap so be it, but as long as I'm getting 30-40 FPS that I can play most maps, I'll live with it.

[Ford Mustang]

I wouldn't mind running it on the minimum settings.

When I got my broadband connection (last December) a bunch of people wanted me to get CS. I was at Target with a gift card for the holidays, so Counter-Strike: Source and grabbed it, not knowing of course, that it wasn't the same as regular Counter-Strike. Long story short, I paid 50 bucks for a game I can't even play. If it looks like crap so be it, but as long as I'm getting 30-40 FPS that I can play most maps, I'll live with it.

I can play CS:S easily on medium settings on my GeForce 6200 LE, but that's AGP 8x. Perhaps you would have to play it on low settings, but it would be playable if you got the 6200.

[Sombra]

Very well then, Coleman, if you want to try the 5200, be my guest, so long as you set your expectations pretty low. Ford, I understand what you're saying. The issue, however, is that I highly doubt the 6200 LE is available in PCI form.

[dr_st]

No matter how crappy your computer is, I'd get the 6200 at least. Which may not be such a bad compromise. Just don't touch the 5200. Really.

[Ford Mustang]

The issue, however, is that I highly doubt the 6200 LE is available in PCI form.

The 6200 LE is not available in PCI form, no. But, the 6200 is available in PCI. But, do as you wish, Cole. I just suggest getting a 6200 or higher.

[The_Mess]

Personally I'd recommend saving up a bit of cash, or searching for a second hand motherboard which has and AGP slot and has a the right CPU socket. You might even be able to get up to PCI-express motherboard.

Else, go with the 6200, the 5200 is nearly a dinosaur in terms of video hardware and will run source, but only on relatively low settings compared to teh 6200, or the 1550...